We moved into a new home a year ago. All of our neighbors greeted us - lemon bars, brownies, a full dinner, and other goodies were all brought over by our neighbors. Most left us with a card with their names and phone numbers. We were so thankful for the goodies and the wonderful welcome.
Of course, everyone on our street gets together 2 or 3 times a year for some type of social event, so it is a pretty friendly place.

I wouldn’t hesitate to walk over and introduce myself and give them some kind of sweet treat. What do you have to lose?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is this a real person expressing a real sentiment, or is it a joke???

That wasn't me, but I would never eat a stranger's cooked food. Not without having seen how clean their kitchen is - I once went to someone's house to discover she allowed her cats to jump on and walk on kitchen counters. I've been in the restroom at work and seen people come out of stalls after flushing and just walk out without washing their hands.

I'm an introvert. When I come home I'm relieved to not have to talk to people anymore. The last thing I want is to get stuck making small talk with someone just because we live near each other.

I'm guessing talking to you is a mistake most people only make once.

I always pop by new neighbors homes, introduce myself, give them my contact info if they ever have any questions. It's important to me to know my neighbors- I don't have to be pals with them, but I really think neighbors should look out for each other so it's good to know each other.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone actually borrow a cup of flour??.

I was wondering the same thing! -op

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people honestly call their neighbours for help? I honestly find that bizzare.

OP here - we never have. Because we've never known them!

How sad! Of course you should be able to call neighbors for help. When we moved in we introduced ourselves to neighbors. We gave each next door neighbor a key to our house (after getting to know them a bit), and we have a key to one of theirs (which came in handy when their kids found themselves locked out). We watch each others' houses/pets when someone is away. I've borrowed a couple eggs from 2 different neighbors. And tools. They have had a relative stay here while we were away. We went to turn off the stove once when they went to work, then realized they left the stove on. Between us, we make sure someone shovels the walk for the elderly woman in the neighborhood and brings out her garbage cans on garbage day. There are SO many ways neighbors can help each other.

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.

You sound like a lot of fun!

Does anyone actually borrow a cup of flour??.

I'm an introvert, but always at least introduce myself, say hello, make small talk, do neighborly favors, etc. It's part of being in a community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people honestly call their neighbours for help? I honestly find that bizzare.

This is just one of the many reasons I hate the DC metro area. Good grief.

+1. You people are insufferable. Yes. I love my neighbors and we have dinners, BBQs and we shovel snow together.

+2 Glad my neighborhood in N Arl is friendly. Everyone introduces themselves when new people move in. We even have an annual block party. I love it!

Same here in Alexandria. There are pockets of civility in this area.

I am not friends with my neighbors, but I am friendly. We all know each others' names. And we do help each other out - borrow a cup of flour, take each others' kids to the bus stop when someone has an early work meeting, collect mail/newspapers when someone is on vacation, help shovel out cars/sidewalks, etc. It's great! And it doesn't require a lot of effort.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is this a real person expressing a real sentiment, or is it a joke???

That wasn't me, but I would never eat a stranger's cooked food. Not without having seen how clean their kitchen is - I once went to someone's house to discover she allowed her cats to jump on and walk on kitchen counters. I've been in the restroom at work and seen people come out of stalls after flushing and just walk out without washing their hands.

I'm an introvert. When I come home I'm relieved to not have to talk to people anymore. The last thing I want is to get stuck making small talk with someone just because we live near each other.

I'm guessing talking to you is a mistake most people only make once.

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.

Is this a real person expressing a real sentiment, or is it a joke???

That wasn't me, but I would never eat a stranger's cooked food. Not without having seen how clean their kitchen is - I once went to someone's house to discover she allowed her cats to jump on and walk on kitchen counters. I've been in the restroom at work and seen people come out of stalls after flushing and just walk out without washing their hands.

I'm an introvert. When I come home I'm relieved to not have to talk to people anymore. The last thing I want is to get stuck making small talk with someone just because we live near each other.

Anonymous wrote:

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 didn't know new construction homes were spotless inside?

Also - I had someone knock on my door when I was at my frumpiest. That is not the first impression I want to make with a new neighbor (don't care so much if it is the UPS guy).

We recently moved and have had a bunch of neighbors introduce themselves. A few brought cookies/brownies and we ate them and survived! My last neighborhood was snobby and quiet, so this has been a great change!