Why don't new neighbours introduce themselves anymore ???

Aquatronixjenny

I'm very shy with new people, but we're really lucky to have lovely neighbours. We moved in to our rental property almost 2 years ago now and while we were moving the people over the road came over and offered to help (I suspect they were just being nosey!) They are lovely and we quite often help each other out now. We aren't at the point of just wandering into each others houses though!
We are on first name terms with all our neighbours (there are about 10 houses in the street). We all exchange crimbo cards and I bought the lady next door a card and a pressie when she had her little baby a couple of months ago. We all occasionally meet up in the street for a gossip too!
Rather than actually going to peoples door and introducing myself (which I would find really awkward!) I just made an effort to say hello if I saw them out in the street or getting into the car. Seems to have worked for us.

Meatballs

tyllwyd wrote: »

We rented a house recently (long story), and when we went round to see the house the neighbour popped out of her front door and said 'Hi I'm Belinda by the way don't park over there because that's where my husband parks and don't let your kids climb over that fence" (neither of which we had done). And that's pretty much all she said to us in six months. The other neighbour knocked on my car window when I'd parked (perfectly legally) on the road and asked me not to park near her drive because she had a gate across the driveway that opened out onto the road and she wanted to be able to pull it back across the pavement and tie it back onto the fence. We didn't feel very welcome.

People can be so precious about car parking spaces. It's worse if they dont have their own driveway. I've been shouted at for parking opposite my sisters house, the owner had to park a whole 2m away from their spot...:rotfl:

clairecymru

We were first to move into our block of four flats, so we put a welcome to your new home card into each of our neighbours letterboxes and it has been lovely getting to know them all. They were all very thankful for their cards and commented on how nice it is to have friendly neighbours.

hazyjo

Just thinking, I remember when I bought my first flat in Blackheath with a (now ex) BF. It was a shared FH so we all had to get together to discuss certain things. Some of us really got on well and hosted the odd dinner or drinks, and I remember going shopping with a couple of the gals from other flats. The weekend we moved in, one neighbour was having a party and came round to invite us. We did go

Such happy memories of that flat. Loved it. One of the best places I ever lived. Some lovely, lovely people as neighbours. Sad how things have to change sometimes.

Next flat was upstairs in a Victorian conversion. Didn't really know those either side of me, but downstairs were lovely, if a tad noisy sometimes. They'd have Bob Dylan on as loud as it got on the weekend, the guitar came out, whacky baccy drifting up the floorboards and the red wine fumes made me pie-eyed just leaving the house every day Pretty damn decent neighbours though. She'd paint the communal entrance hall or hoover. Felt like it was more of a strange sort of house set-up than two separate flats. Again, happy memories! Joined them for the odd glass of red. No managing agents, a non-existent freeholder, all a bit dreamlike now I look back.

God, I miss those two flats! And, yes, the neighbours in both definitely helped make them happy places. And, tbh, I didn't think I was much of a 'neighbours' sort of person. Keep myself to myself, barely have enough time to fit my own friends and family in... yet nice neighbours made those two flats very memorable!

Jx

danielley

My cousin moved to the US about 4 years ago and she recently moved to a new apartment and this is how she integrated herself into the new place.

'We have a lovely neighbour downstairs, her name is Clare and she is about Mum's age. She has a garden (a rare American treat) and I popped down to introduce myself with some cupcakes the other day. She showed me round her apartment and was very lovely. The next day, she called round with a beautiful orchid, which she had bought from the farmers market in Campbell. Oh, it was so lovely, it felt like Fairfield Road, such a nice, friendly thing to do. I cannot wait to introduce Mum to her!'

As much as I would love to do something like that, I cant help but think that us British are far too reserved for all that.

BTW she lives in California which is very laid back, I doubt this would happen in all area of America.

I live in a terraced and I have rentals either side of me which has been a bit of a trial over the 6 years, but at the moment we have nice people in both properties and we all exchange Christmas Cards etc.

There is an older lady who lives next door but one and she is so lovely and often takes in packages etc, I'd like to think she could rely on us if she needed anything.

Over the road are a few nieghbours who we wave to, but have never really spoken to, however over Christmas my car just wouldn't start and me and my OH were on the front trying to figure out how to jump the battery and after about 15 mins on of the neighbour that I dont know came out and helped us then leant us a battery charger to charge the battery over night.

6 years I have been here and it takes is a broken car to get the conversation flowing!

Sublime_2

I've never gone around to introduce myself, but my neighbours have for me. I've always been fortunate in having great neighbours who keep themselves to themselves, unless I want to socialise with them.

One lot I did used to go to parties at, and have BBQs with, but not all the time, and they were never in my face, just really friendly.

pupsicola

PottyHouse wrote: »

I don't consider myself old fashioned nor want to be best buddies with my neighbours but I find it quite unsettling when we gain a new neighbour in our road and they never introduce themselves.

I live in a Cul-de-Sac of just 5 houses and the one adjacent to my property is a rental. In the last 3 years these will be our 4th set of neighbours and not one of them have ever knocked on the door just to say "hello" - before anyone replies "well why don't you go and introduce yourself" I would say I don't want to be classed as a nosy neighbour and for them to think I'm prying (I obviously am!!).

I am due to move home myself in a few weeks and already know I want to go and say hello to my new neighbours - I want to know who I'm going to be living next to !! Like I said, keep it to that and not get too involved.

I wouldn't say I'm "rentalist" but is it because it is a rental property ????

I guess it depends on what their experiences have been of neighbours in the past. Ive never gone and introduced myself to new neighbours.

I have had a few knock at my door and welcome me to the street, some with a bottle of wine, they are definately allowed back. One didn't even knock, just walked in and tapped me on the shoulder as I was loading the washing machine :eek: I nearly died. She has not been back :rotfl:

The neighbours I have at present are the friendliest I have lived by since I was a kid. There is a nice little community spirit and we look out for each other.

Some people are just very private I guess.

SnowBelle_2

It's lovely to read about nice neighbours we moved into our new house last June and had three christmas cards!
Our neighbours are older than us and seem really nice and the area just 'feels' nice even though it's a big, busy but well established estate.
I lived in my last house for ten years and did'nt once have a christmas card,I regularly took parcels in(most days in fact, as she was an avid shopper!)& not once did the lady thank me also when her husband spoke to me outside she used to call him in!!Sometimes that made me feel bad as he was so downtrodden and she made me feel like some husband pinching hussy!
I literally bumped into her in town in December and asked her how she was getting on with the new neighbours and she said really well,these neighbours are nice! Miaow....... that told me then!
I was so stunned I just said 'happy christmas' and walked away!

danielle1977

I like where i live (even though we are moving abroad), one sides daughter babysits for us, we all helped each other clear snow and grit, will help each other if cars aren't working, 2 doors up from me, we help each other out with school runs, cot and lots of other baby stuff went next door for their daughters baby, man next door fixed other neighbours gate when her hubby was working away, man over street lets my dog in when she runs away from my parents, they looked after my chickens, we don't pop round for tea or anything but I know if I need help someone will be there!

Abbafan1972

Well we have lived here (our first house) for 15 years and have seen a few neighbours come and go (and pass away unfortunately). We live in an end terraced and the neighbour joined on is not the same neighbour from when we moved in, she is fairly quiet and works shifts, we aren't overly friendly but will always say hello if our paths cross.

The other side that isn't joined had a old couple living there when we moved in, they had lived there since they'd got married, they were keen gardeners and would frequently keep us talking over the fence, but they got to a stage where they couldn't do the garden anymore and the conversations were with their son and daughter as they came round to help. Eventually the couple went to live in nursing home, but the one died and then the other died about 3 weeks later. The house was sold and a bloke bought it to renovate, he was supposed to be selling, then renting, but nothing has happened yet. He frequently stays in the house when he has an argument with his girlfriend. :rotfl: