new house/new neighbors

[LoveTrains]

So, many of you know I recently moved to a new house. This is my first adult experience living in a SFH in a residential neighborhood.

What is the protocol for meeting the neighbors? it seems like the neighborhood is kind of tight knit and I would like to meet them but don't want to seem weird or awkward. We have now had the house for about three weeks, but two weeks of htat we were out of town, so have only really been home for a week.

I met the neighbors next door on one side of me because our driveways are both on the same side and only separated by a thin set of hedges and she was out there one day when I was out there.

My next door neighbor on the other side hasn't come by to say hello, but the other day he came out and yelled at some woman who was parked on the street in front of both of our houses (sort of between the houses) and I was just half a block up walking our dog. When I walked back towards him he kind of scurried away. And my dog walker said he was a creep (she knows him).

Previous owner said that the people across the street are really nice and sort of watch over everyone on the block.

So what is the deal? Should I ring doorbells and introduce myself? Should I just say hello if I see them outside? What is the protocol here? I want to be neighborly but not annoying.

[Deleted]

I would wait to talk to them if they are outside or if they come over.

[kangaroo11]

This sounds pretty familiar to me. Our neighbors on one side are very friendly- love seeing the doggie and ask about the baby/our families. The other side we never really speak to.

Across the street is also our watchdog. She came over once at 11pm to make sure we knew our garage door was open! I'd go say hello to those people and not worry about the creepy dude next door unless he comes to you.

[ECB]

For the most part, I'd wait until you see them outside. We didn't have ANYONE come knock on our door when we moved in, so I wouldn't really expect anyone to do that.

But just watch for people outside, or if you get a feeling that a particular neighbor may be friendly, then sure, go up and knock.

[Susie]

This is a tough time of year for it, but my suggestion is to make an effort to be outside a lot, and just say hello to everyone you see. We moved in in September, and spent a lot of time out for walks with Doggie D, raking leaves, blah blah, mostly just excuses to be out and available. You may have the opportunity to see people out snow shoveling soon.

I would probably find it a little odd if a new neighbor knocked on the door to introduce themselves. But then, I've also STILL never met our next door neighbors on one side. It's been 4 years. (OTOH, we are pretty friendly with our other side and across-the-street neighbors).

[ECB]

Nov 29, 2012 14:55:15 GMT -5 Susie said:

This is a tough time of year for it, but my suggestion is to make an effort to be outside a lot, and just say hello to everyone you see.

We moved the week before Christmas two years ago!! Talk about a bad time. NO ONE was around or out and about!

But once we got through winter, that did start to change. I had already met a few people that got me involved in the neighborhood, but things did also change once the weather started to get warmer.

There was also a post recently about answering our doors. A LOT of people actually won't answer their door if they aren't expecting anyone - so to go up to people's doors might be futile if your neighbors are like that too!

[rosetyler]

We moved in in December, and didn't really meet anyone until May when people were out more. Walking the dogs was the best way to meet people. Once we had an "in", we started talking to people more. One nice couple brought us brownies the first week we moved in, but no one else knocked on our door.

[rosetyler]

If you have an HOA, it might not be a bad idea to get involved there, just to meet people?

[LoveTrains]

Nov 29, 2012 15:12:50 GMT -5 rosetyler said:

If you have an HOA, it might not be a bad idea to get involved there, just to meet people?

LOL, no, there are no HOAs in my area, really. I live in the city, but its a residential neighborhood with SFHs and two families on very small postage stamp sized lots. The neighborhood is older with a mix of homes from the 1890s - 1940s. My house is probably one of the newest houses on the street and it was built in 1940.

[noodleoo]

Nov 29, 2012 14:53:48 GMT -5 ECB said:

For the most part, I'd wait until you see them outside. We didn't have ANYONE come knock on our door when we moved in, so I wouldn't really expect anyone to do that.

But just watch for people outside, or if you get a feeling that a particular neighbor may be friendly, then sure, go up and knock.

Ditto. I'm always jealous when people say their neighbors brought over cookies or something to introduce themselves.

We moved in July so we mostly met our neighbors outside. 3 years later, we're still meeting some of the farther flung ones. I did bake some banana bread and drop it off at our 3 neighbors houses for the holidays (both sides and across the street) but we had already met them casually by then.

[krystee]

I baked cupcakes for my neighbors and knocked on their doors to say hi and drop them off. I did it when we moved in and when new neighbors moved in (I live in a new construction community, so it was common). I think it was easier doing this because everyone was new, but I'd still do it in an established neighborhood. I am not a busybody or a super social person, so this went WAY out of my comfort zone, but the neighbors loved it because they were all looking for ways to meet other people, too.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I moved over the summer, and I've met the people in 4 of the other 5 houses on my cul-de-sac. I think the 5th one may only live here part time because I rarely see cars there. Most of them have been when I was out with my dogs. Like PP, I would intentionally grab one of my dogs and DD and go on a quick walk if I saw people outside in their yards :-)

My 80 year old next door neighbor came over with an orchid right after we moved in and introduced herself. At our old house, our next door neighbor did the same thing with a bottle of wine. It seems more normal to me for the old neighbors to knock on your door and welcome you to the neighborhood, but there's nothing wrong with you introducing yourself.

I'm thinking about making Christmas/holiday cookies and taking them to the neighbors this year. I've never done it before, but I thought it would be a good way to get to know people better!

[froggy76]

I don't know the right protocol, but I would make an effort to meet them sooner rather than later. I've lived in my house for almost 7 years and never formally met some of my neighbors and now it's just kind of awkward.

[hbomdiggity]

Borrow a kid?

My sister and 10yr niece helped us move in. The neighbors with kids practically ran over to introduce themselves, thinking a playmate/potential babysitter had moved in. They were a little disappointed that she was temporary, lol, but easy way for intros.

[chessie]

only reason I know some of my neighbors is by walking my dogs and riding my horse up the street. I would probably just walk your dog a bit get to know the neighbors that way, breaks the ice pretty quickly without any awkward ringing anyones bell.

[karinothing]

I am a crazy person but I would probably throw a house warming party and invite the neighbors.

[cjeanette]

We had a housewarming party and my H invited all of the neighbors. That was torture for my interoverted self.