I can’t seem to help myself. Every time I walk by the Arc Arcade on Commercial Street in Astoria, I duck inside for a quick free play on Missile Command, my favorite arcade game as a teenager and the only one I was pretty good at.

And why not play? Why not take five minutes to instantly transport yourself to a time in your life that was far less complicated and probably more enjoyable?

Until the Arc opened last year, I hadn’t played Missile Command in over 30 years, and was pleasantly surprised when I wandered in one afternoon and found the familiar console.

When I decided to play on that initial visit, I momentarily forgot how to begin. Then I placed my right hand on the track ball and all the ancient knowledge returned. A few seconds later, I was firing away with gusto and was shocked to learn that my muscle memory for the game still existed! I recorded the highest score!

The Arc boasts a wonderful selection of old-school video games, including classics like Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac Man, and Joust. They still cost only a quarter to play. The arcade also offers the new-fangled flat-screen and peer-to-peer games, but I haven’t tried of any of them yet. I wouldn’t know what to do.

On my most recent visit, the Arc was teeming with people of all ages, and there was a palpable happiness floating through the space. The scene reminded me just how much hanging out in arcades is a community-minded activity that creates unique social interactions among participants, many of whom are completer strangers to one another.

It also struck me as fascinating to observe parents showing their children the video games they grew up playing. It’s even more fascinating to watch a few minutes later when the kid beats the parent at the parent’s beloved game.

Matt Love lives in Astoria and is the author/editor of 13 books about Oregon, including “A Nice Piece of Astoria: A Narrative Guide.” They are available at coastal bookstores and through www.nestuccaspitpress.com