There are lots of reasons you may not be on a first-name basis with your neighbors. I’ve lived in my current home for 11 years, and have very few connections to show for it. It’s not that I don’t want to know my neighbors; I’m just excellent at awkwardly keeping to myself. While some people are happy to invite the whole street to a dinner party or hand-deliver baked goods door to door, some of us will never ever be that outgoing. Here are a few neighborly strategies for the rest of us.
The easiest way to get to know the people in your neighborhood is to exist in plain view! Spend regular time in your front yard. Sit on the porch at the same time every day and eventually someone will say hello. If you feel weird just sitting there, pick up a hobby that you can do in your front yard, like reading, bird watching, or pretending to pull weeds while you drink a beer.
We are all more comfortable socializing with screens between us these days, right? Take advantage of that tendency and get active in your neighborhood’s social media groups on the Internet. Yes, it feels corny (老套的), but it’s a low risk way to get the ball running.
Look for community gatherings that you can drop into, chat a little, and leave the second you start sweating. Try a garage sale or library book sale. When there’s an activity going on, the focus won’t be on you, making it easier to casually interact with people. Try five minutes; if you have to leave, no one will notice.
If you are interested in gardening, you will spot the neighbors who are also into gardening. Ask them about their garden! Asking questions is the easiest way to connect because you are placing the focus on the other person. If you have a dog, talk to other dog people on your walks. If you have a kid, ask other parents about stuff to do with kids.
Why bother? In case you need a few reminders for why it’s good to be friendly with your neighbors, here are a few practical benefits of getting connected with your community.
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