Being Neighborly?

[finn's mom]

I've never really known my neighbors well. I lived in trailer parks as a really young child, and probably knew my neighbors best then. I lived in apartments as an older child, and was inseparable with one of my neighbors (just found her on facebook, actually!), but didn't know any others. I lived in a house as a preteen, and kinda knew one of my neighbors but the kids were really rough and I didn't interact with them too often. I was good friends with a boy down the street, though.

My high school years were spent in Germany, and I didn't really interact much with my neighbors when we lived in German homes, and not a lot more when we lived in the American housing either. My best friend did live in a building right in front of mine when I was in Munich, though. That was awesome.

Overall, I've never lived anywhere that a wave wasn't returned. That seems really strange! I don't think I've ever been waved at and not waved back. The neighborhood we live in now with David's sister is really friendly, and I do know one set of neighbors by name. Everyone is always outside and I wave to anyone I see. I walk the dogs and Clara in her stroller and people always wave to us.

We have borrowed stuff from our neighbors before, and vice versa. Actually, David was talking to our neighbor (the husband of the couple that I know their names) about needing to borrow a pressure washer to clean a spot on the driveway, and the next day he came home and Scott had cleaned the spot for us. They're a really nice family. Shelley gave me a DVD and a hat at their last garage sale, when I tried to pay for them.

I would like to be closer to some of them, and I'm a super friendly person, but I guess I just don't make much of an effort. I am going to change that, though, after reading this thread.

[ramanth]

I grew up in a rural area, but knew the neighbors very well. We were the second house from the corner, but we knew everyone from the corner house, 3 houses down from them and 4 houses down from us. Knew them by name, could ask them for favors, were babysat by them, worked with them, went to school with their kids.

I'm currently in an apartment complex and it's hard to get to know the neighbors. Many keep to themselves or people are constantly moving in and out (or being evicted), that it's often a moot point.

We are on a first name level with the neighbors right across the hall (owners of Calypso) and of the neighbors above (owner of Max). Takes the dogs to get us together and chat.