How to Get to Know Your Neighbors
July 2, 2009 – 10:08 pm
Moving to a new neighborhood can be scary and uncomfortable. Instead of worrying about who might be living near you, face the fear head on and find out. This can give you a sense of how safe the neighborhood is, and you might make friends who will watch out for your house or maybe want to form a neighborhood watch group with you. Below are some ways to get to know your neighbors.
- Relax outside on your porch or in your backyard and say hello to people walking by. This will give you a chance to meet people who live close to you. Making yourself available to your neighbors makes you seem more approachable and friendly. Or also consider taking a walk, and if you have pets, bring them along too.
- Keep yourself busy outside by doing yard work, because this can give you and your neighbors something to talk about. As you talk about gardening tips, you can ask some basic questions about the neighborhood such as how long they have been living here and what other neighbors are like.
- Host a block party once you know your close neighbors. Ask your small group of acquaintances to invite others to join in. Signs as well as free snacks and drinks will encourage others to stop by too.
- Setup a yard sale over the weekend. This is an opportunity for you to make the important items fit into your new home while conversing with the parents and children from your street.
- Be brave and introduce yourself. Remember when people used to greet new neighbors with desserts and other goodies? Well, do this in reverse. This doesn’t have to be a long introduction either. Just stop by for a few minutes after dinnertime or in the afternoon on the weekend.
- Attend community events that your neighbors might be attending. This is a more casual and less pressured situation, and you can always invite them to dinner with your family if you want to get to know them better.
Having the courage to meet your neighbors or make small talk with them is challenging, because it can sometimes be intimidating. You might feel as though you’re invading their space, but if you want your family to be safe, it’s best to make friends and gain some trust and comfort. Even if you don’t become best friends with these people, you can at least look out for each other’s homes.
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Tags: friendly neighbor, get to know your neighbors, new neighborhood