I don't knock on the door, but I walk up and say hi when I see them outside. We've had a lot of new neighbors move in over the past 1-2 yrs. I also give them an index card with my cell #, name, and email address. "Text me if you have a question about trash pickup, are curious about when the city typically plows our street, etc.!"
There are 10 houses on our cul-de-sac. Not one neighbor came over to say hi when we moved in 12 years ago. Not even when we were outside. I had so many little questions pop up in those first few weeks. I also wished I had at least known someone's name in the event of an emergency. So now I'm trying to offer up what I felt was missing when we moved in. It seems to be working. When we find time to introduce ourselves, the new kids in the neighborhood seem to spend more time riding bikes outside when they see us go out.
In the past 48 hrs alone I've been texted by a new neighbor a bunch of questions about where my kid takes swimming lessons, and questions about landscapers.
I’m in Texas; we’re friendly. I’d bring cookies and a piece of paper with our names, kids names, and phone number.
I giggled at this response. I just moved into a house (in May) in Katy, TX, and NO ONE has said hi to me. I try to wave when outside but even that is hit or miss.
I would politely wave, and maybe introduce myself. After a bad experience with my neighbor (who just moved out), I will never try to be friends with a neighbor again.
Post by thatgirl2478 on Oct 6, 2018 20:38:43 GMT -5
what would *I* do? well, I'm a chatty person, so I'd bring some baked goods and stop by to say 'hi'. When we moved in, only one of our neighbors came by to introduce themselves and it made me kind of sad.
If they are outside I will introduce myself. I won't go over and knock mainly because omg social anxiety, but I have no problem saying hi if we are both outside.
Our neighbors mostly ignored us / wave from a distance when I’m out with the dogs or baby. One caught me at the mailbox and introduced herself and mentioned the neighborhood is quiet these days after some people left and used to be more friendly.
I would have welcomed a bottle of wine. Even if they don’t drink, it’s good for company or an easy regift.
Do you live in a more mature neighborhood (with older/elderly folks)? Maybe ppl are just more reserved there. But where you live my impression was people are pretty friendly?!
Not elderly - just seems like everyone is in transition or they travel a ton and are never home (I met one neighbor last week who told me she missed us moving in three months ago because she was traveling!). Our rental home is in a small 6-house cul de sac off a busy road so not a true neighborhood, which I assume makes a big difference. The nanny to the boys next door is very friendly though! She’s the only one I’ll chat with regularly lol
We plan to move next year when our lease is up and I’m really hoping for a neighborhood with an active community.
Most of the new people to my neighbourhood are young professionals moving into their first home. I plan to do the same thing for my new neighbours that my neighbours did for me- offered to mow their front lawn or lend them our lawnmower for the first summer. It’s such a large expense and our front lawns are all small and attached so it sucks to have to go out and buy a lawnmower for a little 20x15 front yard.
New people are moving in the end of October and we’ve already met them in the street one day since they came to the street garage sale last month.
I’m in Texas; we’re friendly. I’d bring cookies and a piece of paper with our names, kids names, and phone number.
I giggled at this response. I just moved into a house (in May) in Katy, TX, and NO ONE has said hi to me. I try to wave when outside but even that is hit or miss.
We usually stop by to introduce ourselves with some kind of sweet treat. This summer 3 houses around me switched hands and I knew young kids were coming so I brought bubbles and sidewalk chalk in sand buckets. I stay away from alcohol since you generally don’t know people’s preferences (I only drink red wine) or if they don’t drink for religious reasons or because they’re in recovery or whatever.
Back when I was married and lived in a brand new sub-development where everyone moved in roughly the same time, no one knew each other. We would wave when passing by but that was about it.
I just moved last year and almost all of the neighbors came over and introduced themselves (some brought baked goods and the awesome people brought alcohol). We are now all friends but not in the super nosey way. It just nice to know my neighbors by name and actually know people are looking out for each other.
We had a couple neighbors come by and bring us treats when we moved in ten years ago. I'm both shy and an introvert so I don't go over and introduce myself ever. My H does, though. He doesn't bring treats or anything but he always goes and talks to the new neighbors and our old ones when they're out. He knows everyone in the neighborhood and I know pretty much nobody, lol. They probably think I'm a bitch but I'm really just shy around people I don't know and my H is a very not-shy extrovert.
Post by imojoebunny on Oct 7, 2018 15:29:03 GMT -5
We have special bags for garbage here, so that is my go to gift for new neighbors. They are cost between $7 and $15, so an accessible gift they will definitely use. We built our house, so I gave my one immediate neighbor beer because they had to live with the noise. The neighbor on the other side is super odd and unfriendly, and I don't waste my time with her. She only speaks to me if she absolutely has too, like when her tree fell on my house.
Post by flamingeaux on Oct 7, 2018 15:36:28 GMT -5
I voted other, as DH and I do different things. I wave from a distance/maybe say hello. DH goes and asks if they need help, and will assist with the heavy stuff. It's much less awkward now that we have a kid and I can use him as an excuse to be antisocial.
I was going to take over wine, but then thought differently in case they're not drinkers. So which option is better, bakery cookies or flowers?
DH thinks I'm crazy. he was all "just wave if you ever see them." Dude, we all have attached garages, that could be in March.
Team you! I’ve been the person that moved in to a new house during the rainy season and nobody ever said hi since we all had attached garages and didn’t hang out outside. Then it was spring and people were outside more and it was so awkward to introduce myself after having lived there for several months. At my last house, a neighbor came over with a small arrangement of flowers (already in a mason jar of water so I didn’t have to find a vase) and I thought that was nice.
I probably wouldn't do anything, but I would absolutely be touched and happy if someone welcomed me. If you want to do something, you should! I love it when people reach out, I'm just not good at doing it myself.
Post by childofhiphop on Oct 7, 2018 18:09:25 GMT -5
When we moved in, neighbors on each side, across the street and about 3 houses down on each side, came to shake hands, exchange contact info and some brought gifts (Costco pie, orchid, baked goods). We likewise did the same when we got next door neighbors.
It’s a very friendly place. My Mom fell and when we got back from the ER several neighbors asked if she was okay and one offered to check in on her while we were at work.
Come to think of it, though, I’ve known my neighbors at each place I’ve lived since I’ve been on my own.
Post by mariafromnj on Oct 8, 2018 16:18:40 GMT -5
3 neighbors knocked on our door and brought a little something. 2 others came over when they saw us outside. We thought it was so nice so we have given a pie from a local farm to the 2 families that moved in after us.
No one gave us anything, but I would have appreciated the gesture.
We had neighbors move in a couple doors down who I could see had kids. I settled on bringing over a cute fall plant b/c I was unsure about allergies, or issues with alcohol. It was nice and they were friendly but I haven't spoken to them since, a year later! Ha! Lots are big here and we don't see people out very much. It's kind of sad and they seem exceptionally scarce. I've only seen the dad driving by and I never, ever see the mom or kids.
The first few places I moved into in London, the neighbours stopped by and gave me a map with all the good restaurants and places to go to. It was amazing and so unexpected. And helpful! It's inspired me to do similar things though where we are living, most people have been living here for ages. But I'll do it one day.
DH and I are super introverts, but when we moved into our house, we actually made chocolate chip cookies and walked over to the four houses nearest us to say hi and give cookies. I think one of those neighbors beat us to it and came to say hi first. The idea was that we wanted to attempt to form a positive relationship with our neighbors BEFORE we needed to ask them any favors.