Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, I would never introduce myself to a new neighbour nor eat anyone's home cooked food. I don't want gifts either. I prefer to be left alone and I definitely would not call on neighbours for help. I want cordial relations and nothing more.

OP here - I guess this is why I probably won't go over.

OMG. Don't make your decision bases on one crank! Go!

When I lived in Richmond someone brought us zucchini bread. I could tell when I explained that we were renting and hadn't bought the house she wanted to take it back. Ha.

Anonymous wrote:Just go say hi next time you see them outside. I would love to know my neighbors, but may not appreciate a knock on the door if I am in the middle of something or not prepared for a visitor.

It's new construction. How can you "not be prepared"?

I don't talk to my neighbors. I have no reason to and I hope they feel the same.

One of them, the uppity alcoholic next door, feels the need to bother anyone and every one. I notice after they first meet her they try to avoid her.

Anonymous wrote:Just go say hi next time you see them outside. I would love to know my neighbors, but may not appreciate a knock on the door if I am in the middle of something or not prepared for a visitor.

huh? I normally wait until I see my neighbors get home from work (so I know they're home/dressed/awake) and then I run over briefly. It's not a "visit" really. You just say hi on the doorstep.

Just go say hi next time you see them outside. I would love to know my neighbors, but may not appreciate a knock on the door if I am in the middle of something or not prepared for a visitor.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - these reponses mostly run contrary to my experiences. What's up with that?

Sounds like you have lived in very unfriendly places. Question: do you want to live in a friendly place? Then help make that happen.

and thanks to this post I'm going to say hi to my neighbors who are moving in today.

OP here - these reponses mostly run contrary to my experiences. What's up with that?

When we moved into our neighborhood, our next door neighbors came by with pastries and amazing ground coffee. They were brief, and didn't come in. Now, we are great friends. I will always appreciate that gesture.

We received brownies and a nice bakery loaf of bread, along with cards with contact info when we moved in. We were very appreciative, and yes, we ate the food!

Yes, go introduce yourself and if you have something to give them (cookies, bottle of wine, flowers) even better. We always do this and are friendly with all of our close neighbors. We also help each other out if needed. Then again we also all joke that we have a tiny little bit of the Midwest on our street in Arlington. Maybe it isn't normal around here but it sure does make a nicer place to live.

If you want to have friendly relations, and feel part of a community, then yes!

I'd welcome them to the neighborhood. Give them a piece of paper with your name and phone number in case of emergency. Give cookies or flowers or a small house plant if you like. Then the ball is in their court. If they want to be neighborly, they know you are game. If they want to be left alone, they need never contact you again.

False alarm, I'm pretty sure it's the cleaning people. At least, I think it's the same car that was over there the other day with cleaning people. It was the model and they moved furniture out the other day, so I guess they're back?

.... and let us know how it goes when you come back from your visit.