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.