Are you already living here?

What is the most essential need in a new place to live? The local church? Healthcare and pharmacy?

All correct. But let's not fool ourselves. The most important thing is actually the nearest IKEA store.

Berlin has at least three stores, depending on what you count. Ours is on Sachsendamm in Tempelhof. It takes us 30 minutes to get there by subway, commuter train, and two brisk walks.

Actually, everything here is the same as everywhere else. There is one difference, though. A lot more is done here without a car than in the rest of the country. The way back from the market to the Südkreuz commuter train station is a caravan with Godmorgon, Indira, and Eket on shoulders, in hand carts, and in the famous blue bags. There are several furniture taxi companies around the market that will immediately take your purchases home for a relatively small fee.