Don't worry about making noise. It's doubtful that you are their first tenant if they are the owners, or co-tenant if they are renters also, and they are used to it. They may even find it comforting knowing that someone else is in the building, especially as they are elderly.

If you are considerate, normal living noise doesn't bother anyone. Just keep the stereo at a level that doesn't break eardrums and you should be fine.

Marti

That may be reminding you that they hear YOU.

I find that I have a mental "deal" w/ my neighbors. I hear them, honest I do, but I don't REMEMBER hearing them.

It's like when you're driving. Did you see every car on the road w/ you? Of course you did Now, what did they look like?

You can't tell me. Bcs they didn't REGISTER.

That's what those people have done, I'll bet you. If you walk across the floor, they hear you. 4 minutes later, if you called and said, "did you hear me walk across the floor?" they'd say, No, what do you mean?

That's how people can say they "never heard a thing" when their neighbor gets murdered next door. They *heard* it--it just didn't sound alarming enough for them to pay any attention.

You're also at a disadvantage, bcs you don't know exactly how much noise DOES go through. I do, bcs I have an upstairs AND a downstairs neighbor. I'm wondering if you could put your stereo on to a level that you like, and then go drop in on them.

Also, we all are willing to overlook minor inconveniences that come at the hands of people we LIKE. Be a friendly, nice neighbor (you don't have to adopt them, just be nice), and they'll hear your friends laugh at a dinner party and think, "oh, how nice, AptGuy is having friends over" instead of "that snobby guy's friends are making too much noise."