Meeting Neighbors

[wildernesse]

Ok, so we moved into our townhouse over a year ago--even though I've only been here since May--and we never really made a huge effort to introduce ourselves to our neighbors. No one made an effort back either, but mostly that is excused by the fact that a good chunk of them are students and being "neighborly" is not high on their list. That's fine because we're not far removed from that ourselves.

But I would like to know our neighbors a little bit better and maybe have a little bit more community around abouts here. It's just a little odd to suddenly take an interest in your neighbors when you've been living someplace for a while. So I'm thinking about using New Year as a starting date of making a point to go and introduce myself to my neighbors (technically ourselves to our neighbors, but we'll see if RA is into this).

Tips? Hints? Opinions? Stories of good neighbors? Ways not to be creepy and make people think I'm part of a cult?

[Ensign Steve]

You should tell that that you're required by law to advise them that you're a sexual predator, and then be all, "Just kidding!"

[Dingfod]

Seven months is nothing, try seven years. We know our neighbors to the north pretty well, but the ones to the south are fairly reclusive Jehovah's Witness. I don't even know their names.

[Pinecone]

Oh dear! Why would you want to go and ruin a good thing! Right now you don't have anyone judging your housekeeping or taste, trying to mooch stuff off of you or borrowing your things never to return them or return them all oogied up, and begging favors. Like "Oh I've invited 50 people to a reunion and I need a place for Uncle Cussard and Aunt Whinesalot to stay! Could you?"

On the other hand maybe you want to do that to them! :plotting: WELL! In that case! Do it the easy way! Get an adorable puppy:dalmation: and just take it for walks. :undog: Everyone will flock TO YOU! And you just take it from there! Then when they discover you want them to feed and walk Rover whilst you holiday for two months on the Riviara, and they start avoiding you, you will still have the unconditional love of Rover! At least as long as the milk bones don't run out!:dog:

[Sock Puppet]

Show up on their doorsteps with home-baked cookies. You don't need an excuse for them, nobody other than severe diabetics or gluten-allergics will refuse them, and all will make an effort to get to know you in the interest of getting more cookies in the future.

[maddog]

Show up on their doorsteps with home-baked cookies. You don't need an excuse for them, nobody other than severe diabetics or gluten-allergics will refuse them.
Good idea. Or, you can even invite your neighbors over for a coffee. Give them your phone number. Mail them a holiday card.

#1493

[ITSOZAZ]

You should tell that that you're required by law to advise them that you're a sexual predator, and then be all, "Just kidding!"

haha!! :D

[curses]

Dunno, I haven't made much of an effort, either. The cookie idea is a good one. Or you could have a garage sale, or stop and ask someone about their landscaping/car/yard ornamentation. That's how I met the few people in this neighborhood that I know.

[wildernesse]

Cookies, hmm. I can do that. Woohoo! Actually, I think I will make little mini-loaves of bread in case people are done with cookies by New Year's.

It's hard to actually see our neighbors because we all park basically immediately next to our front doors, so it's hard to catch people outside and learn their names. I met several people the night we all called the police on the party, but we were all in a rather murderous mood at that point.

Pinecone, I grew in a very small town, surrounded by family who did not even ring the doorbell when they would walk in the front door. I didn't know people could live without being all in everyone's business within a 5 mile radius until I went to college. And you are right about the dog--I know our neighbor's dog's name but not hers, though!

Thanks for the advice--I'll let you know how it goes!

[One for Sorrow]

Howdy neighbor! :wave:


What happened with the party? What a horrid way to have to meet your neighbors...

Brian and I bought a house in Fuquay-Varina in September (Well, okay. Mostly Brian. Heh. I'll get around to blogging about this eventually), and we've yet to meet many of our neighbors, although we finally met the family next door when they brought their kids trick-or-treating. Another lady came over a few days later and gave Brian some sweet potatoes, welcomed us to the neighborhood, and invited us to her church. I have no idea which house she lives in, though.

Christmas is coming up--so you'd have an even better excuse for cooking up a batch of cookies for the neighbors! My neighbors in Oregon would always bake cookies give out to the others for Christmas.

I might try that, too.

[viscousmemories]

I chronicled my last "meeting the neighbors" experience here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3407).

[wildernesse]

Oooh, congrats on the house! Do you like living out that way? You should totally meet your neighbors and make Christmas cookies!

Oh, one of the neighbors threw a party that did not end. And they were hollering (really, no other word describes it) outside our townhouses. For HOURS in the middle of the night. The police finally showed up at 3 am, and it was like a pajama party in our parking lot! The police cars pulled in, and doors all around were wrenched open and people in their robes marched out! Well, except the one who was dressed as a playboy bunny. That was pretty hilarious. Of course, the loudmouths had left by then (perhaps because I burst out my front door and screamed--at the people standing 3 feet away--that the warnings were OVER).

[ChuckF]

Congrats on the house, Jess! Fuquay Varina's growing fast. I've got family in New Hill, right on the other side of Holly Springs.

wildernesse, sign your neighbors up for free magazines with your name but their address. Then go say "Oh, what a terrible mistake I've made." Then when they're least expecting it introduce yourself. It doesn't have to be hardcore porn, but it wouldn't hurt.

[One for Sorrow]

:rofl: Screw the cookies; I change my vote to Chuck's idea.