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

Slinky

I do think it's sad the people who say they want nothing to do with their neighbours. I'd hate to think what would happen the day you need some unexpected help. My neighbour came round one day a couple of weeks ago when she noticed I'd forgotten to put my rubbish out. I work from home, she was concerned I'd had some sort of accident and was lying there undiscovered.

My friend's MIL had a stroke and was only discovered after somebody noticed her curtains were still drawn in the afternoon.

OK, so I don't want my neighbours living in my pockets and vice versa, but I'd far rather they showed they care about my welfare than not.

Kaysie86

I've lived in 3 rental properties in the last 3 years. The first place I owned was a council estate which was know for its criminal neighbours (obviously this was explained to me the day after I moved). My neighbours let us park our cars on his drive for 6 months - we only ever spoke to them about 3 times the whole time we lived there, they just kept themselves to themselves.

Our next property we went up in the world and lived in a small, new village just outside Lincoln. We got on really well with our immediate next door neighbour but she worked in the RAF and was away nearly every weekend so we didnt see a great deal.

We moved to South Wales a year ago and we have a most fantastic neighbours - they bake cakes, make my boyfriend dinner (I'm vegetarian) and service my car.

aylithuk

When I moved into the house I am currently in I met my next door neighbour by posting a christmas card and now we always talk and he waters our garden while I am on holiday. Met my neighbour across the street as the poor lass was trying to get a washing machine into her house BY herself!

maya+2

There are pros an cons to knowing your neighbours and keeping your distance.
My ideal is a relationship whre you say hi in the street and may occasionly stop for a little chat, but i'd prefer it if the knocking on each others doors bit didn't happen, thats when I get uncomfortable.
When a neighbour knocks on your door you don't have much choice not to answer it, as they know your in. And because you have no idea when they might do that, you kinda loose a bit of freedom to do what you want in your own home.
If you've had a horrible day and want to just have a good cry, its akward having to answer the door.
If you want to slob around in your house semi naked also quite akward.
If your in the middle of watching your fav tv show or having your tea, also akward.
And I speak from experience.
And well I think for sanitys sake everyone needs at least one place in the world where they feel they can slob out, cry, be naked and just generaly do whatever they want without anyone else interrupting.

Northern_girl_2

Growing up we knew all of our neighbours. I remember them coming round to introduce themselves when we moved in and they bought their children to say hello if they were about the same age as us. We always lived in quiet cul-de-sacs with gardens, which maybe made it more likely for us to get to know each other. We had BBQs with our neighbours and drinks at Christmas.

I'm now 26 and living in an inner city terrace. My older neighbours popped round with a bottle of wine when I move in and the others introduced themselves too. I probably know another 6/8 to smile at in the street too. With not having a garden there are fewer opportunities to chat and get to know each other but I could call on them in an emergency, which is nice.

jackieb

When we moved in here 2 years ago, our next door neighbours brought us a card and a bottle of wine. The old lady across the road came over to introduce herself, and let me know who lived in what house - and to tell me that 'there are an awful lot of widows here', like my husband should be worried that it was a black hole for married men.

buzzyy

did you know this day and age we are all very lucky to have any1 we get on with right next to us,that will wear out to,as they say to much o good thing blaa bla,i got good neighbour next door,this is the third,we av kids,nd they av also they understand council estates like it or lump it ,or wait to get put on the exchange list.as for my daughter well diffrent again,...each person has their own stuff going on so ya never now,my town to small not to no new1s,its the uni peeps that put there walls up even before they met any locals to moan,its always nice to say HELLO dosent cost anything and you never know what your next freind ..etc..guna be unless you at least try wherever you live!!!

JQ.

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

Yes, I think a lot of people think it's better to live your life on the internet, where you can be the person you want to be without that messy reality ruining things.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

telfordwhite

jenny74 wrote: »

Totally agree...

how times have changed. When we moved into our previous house, in November 1999, all of our immediate neighbours (and some a little further up the street) sent us 'Welcome to your new home' type cards.

We moved here in October last year and got no cards at all from our neighbours, only friends and family. The people round here are nice and friendly enough... They just never thought about it, I guess.

Similarly, when we left our old house we left a card and a bottle of wine for our buyers, but didn't even get a card from our buyers.

People just don;t bother so much these day, I guess.

Probably got summat to do with Health and Safety or Political Correctness or even Infection Control which have all spiralled out of control this last decade.

People are scared to do anything anymore in case they Hurt/upset/infect somebody.

vet8

maya+2 wrote: »

There are pros an cons to knowing your neighbours and keeping your distance.
My ideal is a relationship whre you say hi in the street and may occasionly stop for a little chat, but i'd prefer it if the knocking on each others doors bit didn't happen, thats when I get uncomfortable.
When a neighbour knocks on your door you don't have much choice not to answer it, as they know your in. And because you have no idea when they might do that, you kinda loose a bit of freedom to do what you want in your own home.
If you've had a horrible day and want to just have a good cry, its akward having to answer the door.
If you want to slob around in your house semi naked also quite akward.
If your in the middle of watching your fav tv show or having your tea, also akward.
And I speak from experience.
And well I think for sanitys sake everyone needs at least one place in the world where they feel they can slob out, cry, be naked and just generaly do whatever they want without anyone else interrupting.

Exactly! When I come home from work on these hot days, I often walk around the house and garden semi-naked and I don't want one of the neighbours knocking at the door. Also my OH and I quite often have some personal time to ourselves on a Sunday afternoon and the last thing we want is someone barging in at the wrong moment. :eek: Believe me, it has happened.

I find it odd that some posters on here seem to think that you are unsociable if you do not make real buddies of your neighbours. As others have said you do not chose your neighbours, but surely you chose your friends. We have absolutely nothing in common with any of our neighbours. We have met them at barbecues etc. and we have no similar interests at all. I see no reason to make great friends of them. When we go to the local village fete we meet dozens of people we know and spend all day chatting to friends. Noticeably, none of our neighbours ever go. They have a barbecue or party and invite all the neighbours around because they have no real friends in the village at all, the only people they know at all are their immediate neighbours.

And if I need help in an emergency, I would never ask a neighbour. I would ask a real friend, who would be happy to help as he was my friend and not a neighbour who might just help as he feels obliged to.