Unanticipated gift from a newish neighbor

[Anonymous]

My neighbor just dropped off a generous gift basket. We don’t have a tradition of gifts in our neighborhood and I didn’t anticipate this at all. What do I do?
We like them but don’t know them well. We are not yet at the point where we are inviting people into our house for unmasked dinner / drinks / etc.

Thank you note?
Thank you with a bottle of wine?
Thank you with a loaf of bread and some olive oil and balsamic?
Thank you note with a homemade baked good? Gingerbread? Muffins?

[Anonymous]

Thank you note or email/text.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor just dropped off a generous gift basket. We don’t have a tradition of gifts in our neighborhood and I didn’t anticipate this at all. What do I do?
We like them but don’t know them well. We are not yet at the point where we are inviting people into our house for unmasked dinner / drinks / etc.

Thank you note?
Thank you with a bottle of wine?
Thank you with a loaf of bread and some olive oil and balsamic?
Thank you note with a homemade baked good? Gingerbread? Muffins?

You should feel embarrassed. The tradition is supposed to go the other way, you should have welcomed the new neighbor. This is what is wrong with people today.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to give something, just thank them with a note or text. They are trying to become friends/friendlier.

[Anonymous]

I would do a thank you note with the fresh bread and olive oil, maybe something from a local shop they might not know. They’re probably trying to reach out — it’s a weird time to move.

[Anonymous]

It always amazes me how DCUMers receive gifts -- as if they were some sort of summons.

"Here. You've been served."

Say "Thank you" at a minimum. Reciprocate with something like bread/olive oil if you wish. But don't stress about it.

It's a gift. Look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor just dropped off a generous gift basket. We don’t have a tradition of gifts in our neighborhood and I didn’t anticipate this at all. What do I do?
We like them but don’t know them well. We are not yet at the point where we are inviting people into our house for unmasked dinner / drinks / etc.

Thank you note?
Thank you with a bottle of wine?
Thank you with a loaf of bread and some olive oil and balsamic?
Thank you note with a homemade baked good? Gingerbread? Muffins?

You should feel embarrassed. The tradition is supposed to go the other way, you should have welcomed the new neighbor. This is what is wrong with people today.

They have lived here for 6 months. We did welcome them with cookies and I see them every day walking our kids to school. We are friendly, but not social, mainly because they travel a lot for work and spend weekends with local family an hour away.

[Anonymous]

Just say thank you. That’s all you need to do when given a gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor just dropped off a generous gift basket. We don’t have a tradition of gifts in our neighborhood and I didn’t anticipate this at all. What do I do?
We like them but don’t know them well. We are not yet at the point where we are inviting people into our house for unmasked dinner / drinks / etc.

Thank you note?
Thank you with a bottle of wine?
Thank you with a loaf of bread and some olive oil and balsamic?
Thank you note with a homemade baked good? Gingerbread? Muffins?

Being given a gift doesn't mean you need to give one. If they are new to the area they're simply being nice. Send a hand written thank you note in the mail. That's it.

[Anonymous]

You can give them a wonderful food gift basket or flowers too, right? Of course, there is no way you can call anyone over at your place for dinner right now, but, it is a-OK to reciprocate with a wonderful (and in the same price range) gift too.

It is not hard. You got a gift. You can also reciprocate by giving a gift. Were you raised by wolves?