New to Neighbourhood

LegacyUser

Hi,
Not sure where best to post this.

Anyway, I have just bought a new house in an area I have not lived in before.
I am anxious about meeting new neighbours. I do not know ho to do this.

Should I call over to introduce myself or should I wait until we meet by chance or wait for them to welcome me into neighbourhood.

This is probably very trivial to you all but makes me feel very anxious and tense.

Thanks!

tenchi-fan

I still haven't spoken to my neighbours! aw well!

If you want to meet them, you're best to try to catch them when they are outside their house maybe gardening or just returning home. If they want to meet you, they'll make themselves approachable.
At least, that's the easiest way to get talking!

LighterGuy

what tenchi-fan says.

when ever you notice them outside, etc.
Just go over and say hello we havent properly introduced ourselves etc etc.

because you're a neighbour its easy. its not like approaching some randomer on the street

Maybe go round to the nearest houses, just 2 or 3, and say that you're new to the neighbourhood and just want to introduce yourself. I had new next door neighbours do that a few months ago, and I thought it was really nice of them. Also, having said hello, gotten to a first names basis, makes it easier to go round and ask them for stuff, if you have any issues or need any information about the neighbourhood. Can't do any harm either. If you don't want to, it won't be rude or anything, or if you feel more comfortable waiting till you bump into them, but it will be quicker and take far less tact and thought to just go straight over and give them a "hullo".

calex71

Wouldn't get too hung up about it OP like all relationships the develop naturally over time, as long as you don't give off the impression that you are stand offish etc. no need to call round with the cookies etc.

In fairness though it's the generally accepted rule that the new guys make the effort. Being new to an area I'm sure there are a million questions you have about life in there area so use one the next time you see them to start a chat. Not time to resort to can I borrow sugar yet

dolphin city

here is a good motto to live by

"good fences make good neighbours"

In other words - keep your distance from your neighbours. You can say hello, make small talk if you meet them on the street, feed their cats or dogs while they are away, talk about goings on in the neighbourhood, but do not become so close to them that you make friends and run in and out to each others houses - and never gossip or talk about other neighbours because when things go wrong (which they will), you cannot walk away - you are living in the thick of it, and who wants to live beside people with an "atmosphere" . It's good advice - take it.

Aglomerado

I agree with the last post, I'm friendly with my neighbours but we are not immersed in each others' lives, just chatting over the fence and doing the odd small favour for each other from time to time.

I've seen family members become way too involved with neighbours and then getting fcuked over (being owed money, being used as a free taxi, etc) as a result so I'm determined not to make the same mistakes. (Not everyone is out to take advantage I know but when you're new to an area it's advisable not to be overly keen to make friends).

tenchi-fan

dolphin city wrote: »

here is a good motto to live by

"good fences make good neighbours"

In other words - keep your distance from your neighbours. You can say hello, make small talk if you meet them on the street, feed their cats or dogs while they are away, talk about goings on in the neighbourhood, but do not become so close to them that you make friends and run in and out to each others houses - and never gossip or talk about other neighbours because when things go wrong (which they will), you cannot walk away - you are living in the thick of it, and who wants to live beside people with an "atmosphere" . It's good advice - take it.

I somewhat disagree. A married couple moved in next door to us. They were great craic. Would have been lost without them!
However I have moved since then and haven't really bothered with my neighbours. I suppose that's the difference between people from the town and people from the country.

dolphin city

tenchi-fan wrote: »

I somewhat disagree. A married couple moved in next door to us. They were great craic. Would have been lost without them!
However I have moved since then and haven't really bothered with my neighbours. I suppose that's the difference between people from the town and people from the country.

i don't understand what you mean when you say the difference between the town and the country.

Why did you move?

seamus

No harm to drop into your immediate neighbours to introduce yourself. Just suss out what they're at maybe to figure out if they'd appreciate you dropping in.

That is, if they have kids or are older, then they may not appreciate you calling around at 9pm on a weeknight to say hi. However, if they seem to be much younger and coming home at all hours, then they won't appreciate a knock on the door on a weekend morning

You will likely encounter them in due course anyway - if you start working on your garden at the weekends you're likely to see everyone coming and going and you can greet them then.

Tbh, it's not that big a deal. We've been living in our place for nearly 3 years now, we met our next door neighbour (attached) quite early on and have chatted to him most times that we've seen him since. But we still only found out was his name was about a month ago.

You'll find that unless you have children, then most people aren't all that concerned with getting to know their neighbours. They already have friends, they don't need any more.

If you really want to get to know people, getting a dog is the best way (assuming you'd like one). You will encounter people as you walk around the area and you will get naturally chatting to other dog owners.