become better acquainted with my neighbors

This is harder than I thought. I still do not know any of my neighbors. I walk the dog almost every morning and some evenings, I see lots of people while I am out, but I have not talked to any of them. I had new neighbors move in next door a couple of months ago. I went over, said hello, asked if they needed anything, and have not talked to them since. I am not good at this, but I am not going to take it off my list yet.

We moved into our neighborhood in 2003, but for some reason this summer it just clicked. I feel like I really know my neighbors, and not just the folks next door.

The best way to meet my neighbors is my twice-daily walk through the neighborhood to catch the bus to work and home again. Seems like everyone is outside walking the dog or getting the newspaper or taking the kids to school… it’s gotten so I allow extra time on trash day b/c I know I’ll have so many chats as people take their cans to the curb that I’ll miss the bus! (Sometimes, a neighbor takes pity and actually drives me to the bus-stop.)

The best conversation happened last week. Everyday, I walk by a house that had a blue star posted in the front window. I knew this meant that a family member was overseas in the military. Last week, the star was gone and the woman told me that her son is safely back home from Afghanistan. I felt such a strong connection because I had silently prayed for that family every morning on my walk to the bus.

Last night, a neighbor called just to say that he hadn’t seen us around lately and was everything okay? Felt pretty good.

I’m not done with talking to my neighbors, but I think I’ve definitely gotten to know them better. At least now I know some of them by name, I’ve had a beer with them and we even got some potatoes from them too.

Last week one of our neighbors left a bag of potatoes and some lettuce for us. Her husband also offered to help us fix our front steps. I think when you get produce from your neighbors you must be getting to know them.

It’s the people directly next to us that we hardly ever see so it’s hard to really get to know them.

Last night we actually had a drink with the people down the street. They said hello as we were walking home from the park with the baby and asked if we wanted to stop for a drink. I never really spoke with them before that.

I should probably invite them to something.

I’m going to have to talk to my neighbor at some point and ask if they mind if I go onto their deck. They have a small deck that goes up to their side door and one of my bushes that has gotten way out of control really needs trimming. I’ve gotten as much of the top of it as I think I can without trying a ladder or going over on their deck to reach the top of the bush.

I saw one of my neighbors the other day while I was taking the baby for a walk. I stopped for a second and waved and I said “hi.” I am not sure that is really a good way to become better acquainted with my neighbors.

I’ve spoken to a man who lives in the same house as this woman and I think he is her husband. His name is Ed, but all the time we’ve lived here I haven’t yet introduced myself to her or anyone else who lives there. I think the etiquette is that if someone new moves into the neighbor hood you (being the existing neighbors) introduce yourself, but that has never happened so I think I need to do the introducing. I guess “Hi” is a start though.

Our Neighbours had lived nextdoor to us for about 5 years before we got to really know them. They both worked and I was a stay at home Mum. It wasn’t until their first daughter was about 2 years old that we got to know them really well. We all get on really well and their second daughter is just as much a part of our family as their first daughter. They are now part of our extended family and we are there for each other no matter what.

This is one of the many goals that are going to take some time and the more goals I get the less time it seems I have for each one. It’s a big circle. I work so much I hardly have time to see my neighbors. They seem to work a lot too, so it won’t be easy. I’m hoping with the warmer weather (supposedly) on its way things will be easier. Usually I see them more often when everyone is out in their yards.