How did your parents treat new neighbors when you were growing up (include where)?

[Anonymous]

My parents grew up in NYC and I grew up on Long Island. We basically just looked at them from afar silently. There was DEFINITELY no baking of brownies or cookies, let alone any ding-donging to introduce ourselves. Eventually my mother would get gossip about the new people from another neighbor and report to us at dinner. "Marlene From Across the Street says the new neighbor, Bridgette, smokes. And her husband works in the jewelry business."

As an adult I have never ever introduced myself to new neighbors or baked them things. I have lived in my current apartment for about 8 years and don't know either of the people who live on either side of me. When I read about people baking new neighbors cookies or whatever, I always assume they are from very small towns and/or the Midwest.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in northern New Jersey with parents who were from Long Island and outside of Boston. New neighbors were pretty rare in our neighborhood, but we always went over to say hello and bring something like a bottle of wine or brownies if they had kids.

As an adult, I make an effort to say hello to new people on our street. There aren't that many of them. For our direct neighbors, we we brought the family next door a pile of cookies when it turned over the first time because they had kids around my kids' ages and it was a good icebreaker. Otherwise a nice hello is all I think is needed.

[Anonymous]

We usually bought something if they were immediately adjacent.

My mom is a gossip and friendly, but doesn't really like people. So yeah lots of "I saw her wearing..." or "I hear she goes to __ church but I also saw her snap at her kid so she must not be a real Christian" kind of stuff.

As an adult, we haven't had many new neighbors but I take something to immediately adjacent ones, and am friendly to same-street ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents grew up in NYC and I grew up on Long Island. We basically just looked at them from afar silently. There was DEFINITELY no baking of brownies or cookies, let alone any ding-donging to introduce ourselves. Eventually my mother would get gossip about the new people from another neighbor and report to us at dinner. "Marlene From Across the Street says the new neighbor, Bridgette, smokes. And her husband works in the jewelry business."

As an adult I have never ever introduced myself to new neighbors or baked them things. I have lived in my current apartment for about 8 years and don't know either of the people who live on either side of me. When I read about people baking new neighbors cookies or whatever, I always assume they are from very small towns and/or the Midwest.

I grew up in LI and not a thing. I recall I moved to DC in 2018 after living in my home in Long Island. I actually was never in a neighbors house. I also grew up on Long Island and we would go to open houses or estate sale of neighbor to see what house looked like.

My time in Manhattan we really did not talk. Not even a nod.

I would think on Long Island, you are swinger, weirdo, in a cult, trying to sell me something or looking for a favor if you came over.

I recall an Indian couple I worked with moved to Long Island and thought neighbors at first racist as no one came over when moved in. They figured out three years in not racist just not a thing.

I think it is dying. I currently don’t know my neighbors names and I live in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Nothing really. My dad would say hello in passing and chit chat. My mom has neighbors who’ve lived on her block 20 years and she doesn’t know their name.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in South jersey & we baked cupcakes for new neighbors

My parents grew up in Long Island & Pittsburgh fwiw

[Anonymous]

My mom would make some type of 70's casserole dish and go over and say hello. Suburban Pittsburgh.

As for my experience, years ago when new neighbors moved in next door to our first house, we'd just had a baby and they delivered shortly after move-in. I made a huge "welcome to your new home and baby" gift bag and left it at the front door. While we've moved on to other homes, we are still get together with these friends several times a month (pre covid) 15 years later!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents grew up in NYC and I grew up on Long Island. We basically just looked at them from afar silently. There was DEFINITELY no baking of brownies or cookies, let alone any ding-donging to introduce ourselves. Eventually my mother would get gossip about the new people from another neighbor and report to us at dinner. "Marlene From Across the Street says the new neighbor, Bridgette, smokes. And her husband works in the jewelry business."

As an adult I have never ever introduced myself to new neighbors or baked them things. I have lived in my current apartment for about 8 years and don't know either of the people who live on either side of me. When I read about people baking new neighbors cookies or whatever, I always assume they are from very small towns and/or the Midwest.

DC native, I've both dropped off baked goods and been a recipient. So much for stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a neighborhood with many long time
Residents. Like people lived there, raised their kids and then died there. My parents never would have baked anything for anyone. My mom was raised lower middle class and she never learned to do this. Thankfully, my dad was higher class and made sure we went to college where I belatedly learned about social etiquette.

[jsmith123]

I grew up in Southern California. We just said hi on the street, nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in Baltimore. New neighbors didn't happen very often and when someone moved into the neighborhood there was no rush to seek them out. You'd eventually meet them in passing when walking dogs or working in the garden and have polite chitchat. And this would be for neighbors within a 2-3 house radius all around us and never further afield. Houses were also not close and lots were large.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Richmond, but my parents never had their $hit together on anything so no way anyone was cooking extra food. They barely could get dinner on the table each night.

[Anonymous]

I actually don't remember there ever being a new neighbor on our block. All long-time families.

[Anonymous]

Also it depends a bit in neighbor. I have a rental, embassy housing and short term owners. No one rushes to say Hi.

A newlywed couple or folks with kids I noticed folks go over.

I don’t go over. But why get invested on a rental property that flips a lot.

One next door to me New tenant figured out guy got dicorced. No wife and partial custody. Lots of drama and he will be gone soon.

My mother used to say don’t get to friendly with folks you might have to sue one day

[Anonymous]

I am the OP from the other post asking what to do. I am from the Midwest. I know most everyone in our neighborhood. When covid hit, I went over to the houses that have really old people and told them to call me if they want me to grocery shop for them. I have stayed with the neighbor kids when the parents have had emergencies. I buy baby gifts for new babies in the neighborhood. I don’t know. Maybe my neighbors think I am weird, but this is how I grew up.