Get To Know Your Neighbors
Jul 25, 2012Share This
What makes a neighborhood good? Neighbors, of course. Some communities, like Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills, are conducive to meeting all your neighbors via events, or maybe like Middleton Hills with it's alleys and front porches, they were planned for neighbor contact. No matter what your neighborhood is like, it's a good idea to know the people who live near you. Not only is it nice to have someone looking out for you and your home, but lifelong friendships often take root.
So how do you meet the neighbors?
1. Go outside. If you have a dog to walk it's easy. But gardening, walking or simply enjoying a cool evening on your front porch are simple ways to put yourself in the path of neighbors. Make sure to say "Hi!" and introduce yourself if you're the newcomer.
2. Have a party. Possibly the last thing you want to do after a move is to invite people over, but once you're settled in, having an open house housewarming, or coordinating a block party if you're ambitious, is a great way to bring neighbors together.
3. Bake. Everyone likes cookies. And this can go either way, whther you're the one who's welcoming the new neighbor or if you're the one who's unpacking. I know this because my kids baked chocolate chip cookies after we moved to our most recent house and and shared them with all our neighbors. They still know more people than I do!
4. Get involved. Go to the neighborhood meetings. Join a committee. Clean up the nearby parks, etc. Every neighborhood association needs help.
5. Borrow something. Can't remember which box the corkscrew is in? I bet your neighbor has one. And if you walk over with a bottle of wine in hand, you may be surprised at how quickly your glass is raised to cheers your new friend.
The point is, put yourself out there. It's not always easy to break the ice, but it's always worth the effort.