New neighbor etiquette questions

[88GT]

I don't think introducing yourself to your immediate neighbors is a bad thing, but I wouldn't give out any info. Not even for "just in case" purposes. You're new and unproven. Don't force it.

 

[JetGirl]

We are friendly with most of our neighbors,

Then there's the #sshole across the alley from us. Most annoying neighbor ever. He married the woman that already lived there. We didn't know he was such a nuisance at first. Constantly coming over and bugging us, to the point where we wouldn't go outside if we saw him, unless we absolutely had to. Took forever for him to get the hint, we finally had to be downright rude! Everyone tries to avoid him.

Maybe he saw you being friendly with most of your neighbors...
Did you ever just say "hey, we're kind of busy right now. Can we visit some other time?" ?

 

[churchmouse]

Maybe he saw you being friendly with most of your neighbors...
Did you ever just say "hey, we're kind of busy right now. Can we visit some other time?" ?

That usually does not work. Same issue here.

 

[JetGirl]

Well... I can't say "I don't understand". A few doors down there's an old guy who comes over when we're doing anything outside in the front yard to offer "advice". He tells us we're mowing wrong, watering the newer trees wrong, planting the wrong flowers,...whatever it is we're doing. We indulge him. He's lonely. I hope someone treats me with a little bit of indulgence and kindness when I'm a few decades older (if I make it that long!)...

 

[Mark 1911]

I wouldn't hand out cards, too formal. Too much like work. Move in. Live your life.

When the opportunity arises to do something nice for your neighbors, do it. Most people really appreciate little things. Wind blew the garbage cans around? Pick them up and return them. Snow? Push the snowblower a few extra yards and clear their sidewalk for them, you will be surprised how often they return the favor. Hot day? Maybe offer a beer and chat about sports, maybe even guns. Does your wife make cookies? A few care packages for the immediate neighbors will likely be received about 1000 times better than some business card. Just be a good neighbor, things will take their course.

 

[Lucas156]

I don't think introducing yourself to your immediate neighbors is a bad thing, but I wouldn't give out any info. Not even for "just in case" purposes. You're new and unproven. Don't force it.

New and unproven? Lol no offense but I don't have to prove anything to anybody and if they don't like it they can get over it and throw the note in the trash. Nothing is being forced I'm just doing what I would think appropriate and what my style is. Some people get grumpy about it it's not my problem. I'm just trying to be courteous and neighborly.

 

[churchmouse]

Well... I can't say "I don't understand". A few doors down there's an old guy who comes over when we're doing anything outside in the front yard to offer "advice". He tells us we're mowing wrong, watering the newer trees wrong, planting the wrong flowers,...whatever it is we're doing. We indulge him. He's lonely. I hope someone treats me with a little bit of indulgence and kindness when I'm a few decades older (if I make it that long!)...

Old is one thing and I enduer those folks as they deserve it most times. Middle aged and annoying is another.

 

[CindyE]

Maybe he saw you being friendly with most of your neighbors...
Did you ever just say "hey, we're kind of busy right now. Can we visit some other time?" ?

Actually, we have told him we're busy. He even came into our house once without knocking! Oh, and the advice! I swear he began every other sentence with "May I suggest..." This is the same neighbor who sweeps people with his EDC, and says it's ok because it's never chambered! I don't miss his loudmouth one bit. The LGS even said they have customers that will drive around the parking lot and leave if they see his vehicle there. Married 7 times...mind boggling that he found 7 women willing to marry him!

 

[CindyE]

Old is one thing and I enduer those folks as they deserve it most times. Middle aged and annoying is another.

Same here. Our long-time neighbor is 90 and lives alone. Once in awhile I will avoid her if it's truly not a good time to chat. Other times, I will go out of my way to say hi, help her put her trash bags in the receptacle, etc. She and her late husband have always been good neighbors.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

For years we were the only home out here. When the houses started popping up like popcorn, the street still didn't go all the way through to connect to another street and there was just big field at the end. One of the people that moved in (about the 15th house or so) got all the house numbers and sent a printed up flyer in the mail to each home inviting the whole place to an old fashioned "block party" at the end of the dead end street...complete with a decent little fireworks display. Everybody who showed up brought snacky foods to share and their own cooler/drinks and lawn chairs. There was a bonfire for marshmallows and before it got dark, there were kites, frisbees, and Nerf stuff abounding. It was really kind of neat.

In 1970 we moved in to a small subdivision, the last house at the dead-end (before they completed the road and built more houses). After we'd been there a few weeks, it was winter and my dad had us kids sweep off the end of the road real well and he sprayed water on it. Instant ice-rink. Before we knew it, most of the neighborhood kids ended up coming down to ice skate and play.

 

[Gluemanz28]

New and unproven? Lol no offense but I don't have to prove anything to anybody and if they don't like it they can get over it and throw the note in the trash. Nothing is being forced I'm just doing what I would think appropriate and what my style is. Some people get grumpy about it it's not my problem. I'm just trying to be courteous and neighborly.

I'm with you Lucas. I give everyone a clean slate when I first meet them and try to not judge a book by its cover. I don't expect people to prove themselves first before giving them the entry level of trust. I would go the extra step of introducing myself and not just leave a note. Make the visit short and sweet. You will learn a lot from first impressions. I'm not sure why all the don't give out my number concern replies. If they abuse the privilege of having your number just tell them or don't answer their call (caller ID is beautiful thing).

I sent a text to my neighbor the other night that his garage door was open and his daughters new bike was parked behind his car. It was a simple "Garage door open and bike behind your car" message. We were getting mail the next day at the same time and he thanked me for letting him know. He said that his daughter had just learned to ride the bike and hadn't gotten used to putting it up. He also thanked me for the door. He said that he would have went to bed and left it open all night. Been there done that.

For me that would have been the start to a bad morning if I woke up to realize that I was an idiot by leaving my garage door open all night and the crunch of the new bike would have been the icing on the cake.

Bottom line is that I don't see anything negative by going the extra step and make it personal by handing them the note with your information on it (First Name, Last name and phone number). Good neighbors are a true asset and the substance to make a great neighborhood.

 

[JetGirl]

He even came into our house once without knocking!

Yeah, that's not cool no matter what age.
My sister-in-law is like that. When we bought our second house, we made the mistake of saying where/when we were moving.
At the end of the day, she showed up...walked in...went into my kitchen and started emptying the cabinets I just arranged so she could "arrange it more efficiently". Yeah, OK...get out. lol (I didn't actually throw her out, I just felt like it. I was nice...said "thanks for the suggestion...and then put it all right back where I had it.)

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

In my experience, people who need to always be with other people have a real problem understanding that some people are fine without constant social stimulation. They just don't get that some people actually make the choice to keep to themselves.

 

[bradmedic04]

I have one neighbor that I only ever see when she comes tearing down the road. I introduced myself and asked her to please slow down, and she avoids me now. Nicer than what I wanted to tell her.

New neighbor made quite the first impression. He's got 3 of those god awful pugs or whatever who walk around with their *******s displayed to the world, and he doesn't leash them off course. I was working on something in the garage and saw all three of the little bastards come and **** on my lawn. Had my hands full and decided not to deal with it at that time.

Next day, I saw the same thing happening and decided to make things interesting. Walked outside as his dogs were doing their business on my lawn again and screamed "clean your dog's **** up." He looked pretty mortified. Could have been because I was only wearing underwear.

He walks the other way now.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I have one neighbor that I only ever see when she comes tearing down the road. I introduced myself and asked her to please slow down, and she avoids me now. Nicer than what I wanted to tell her.

New neighbor made quite the first impression. He's got 3 of those god awful pugs or whatever who walk around with their *******s displayed to the world, and he doesn't leash them off course. I was working on something in the garage and saw all three of the little bastards come and **** on my lawn. Had my hands full and decided not to deal with it at that time.

Next day, I saw the same thing happening and decided to make things interesting. Walked outside as his dogs were doing their business on my lawn again and screamed "clean your dog's **** up." He looked pretty mortified. Could have been because I was only wearing underwear.

He walks the other way now.

I've seen a sprinkler that has a motion-detector built in to keep dogs and other animals out of your garden or yard.

I'd like to get one of those and modify it so that instead of water, it would spray some kind of awful-smelling stuff on the dog so that his owner would get a nice surprise when he went home.

 

[JetGirl]

modify it so that instead of water, it would spray some kind of awful-smelling stuff on the dog so that his owner would get a nice surprise when he went home.

Isn't that called "pet skunk"? lol

 

[bradmedic04]

Isn't that called "pet skunk"? lol

I've got a local skunk I haven't managed to kill yet. Regrettably he/she is indiscriminate and we end up down wind of the scent regularly.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

Isn't that called "pet skunk"? lol

Equally effective, although probably not patent-able.

 

[looney2ns]

I've lived in the same house for 30 yrs. First week, a neighbor comes across the street to introduce himself. 3rd line out of his mouth "What do you do and how much a year do you make". Suffice it to say I escorted him back across the street.

Like someone else said, you stay over there and I'll stay over here.

Not many Mayberry's exist anymore.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

When we bought our house in Bloomington, we didn't do anything special or formal. We just kinda waited until the situation presented itself to make the introductions. Some folks we met right away, a few we never did meet. It'd usually be, like others have mentioned, while out doing yard work, meeting at the central mailbox, etc. Since moving out into the country, we've taken a similar tact. But it seems most folks out here like their privacy and other than my immediate neighbors, we really haven't met a lot of folks around us now.