From making friends to enhancing safety, here’s why connecting with neighbors matters
Connecting with neighbors can enrich your life
Image by Gosia K.
When you think about the quintessential American neighborhood, it usually involves cute little homes, well-manicured lawns and gardens, and neighbors all being the best of friends. It’s a bit of a throwback to the 1950s when life seemed to move a little slower, and everyone knew each other. The odds of you knowing all your neighbors nowadays aren’t very high, but you don’t want to go in the extreme opposite direction either.
Getting to know your neighbors is more than just a cute idea. Here are some of the top reasons it’s important to put yourself out there.
You Can Create a New Social Circle of Neighbors
Socializing in your youth can be relatively easy. You meet people at school, in clubs, sports, and plenty of other areas. As you get older, however, it can be harder to make friends. The question adults often ask is, “Where do you go to meet new people?”
This is why neighbors can be great, as they open the door to possibility in terms of friendships. While there are of course those neighbors who don’t respect boundaries, you’ll likely find most are amicable people who add to your life rather than take away from it.
If you live in a subdivision, you are surrounded by neighbors, giving you even more opportunities to meet other people. You can connect with different age groups, people with different interests, and at different stages in life.
Neighbors Can Be the Closest Friends in Terms of Proximity
While your neighbor may not necessarily become your best friend, they can be your closest friend in terms of proximity. As people grow up, move out of their childhood home, and settle down in life, it’s common to move to a new town, city, or even another state. This means getting together with your best friends can be much harder. You may only get to see them occasionally.
Strong social bonds are incredibly important to your mental health, so creating nearby friendships makes good sense. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with a quiet night in and watching your favorite TV show, reading a book, or perusing online casino reviews on Casinos.com, but it’s also nice to spend time with others. You can get the neighbors together to enjoy a potluck meal, an evening of board games or card games, or even a movie night. Because you are within walking distance of each other, it makes social events much more convenient.
You Know You Can Rely on Them in Case of Emergencies
Nobody wants to imagine an emergency happening, but the fact is that sometimes they do. Should something happen to you, one of your other family members, your pets, or even your home, it’s great to know your neighbors are there to help.
It doesn’t even have to be a dramatic situation. It could be something as simple as needing an egg because you ran out in the middle of a recipe, or you need someone to check your mail while you’re on holiday or let your dog out when you’re away for a long day. Having someone you can rely on and trust nearby is a great feeling and can come in so handy. Just remember to return the favor whenever possible!
Neighbors Help Each Other in Times of Need or Misfortune
Neighbors can also reach out and check on you during times of need or misfortune. If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of losing someone close to you, just imagine what it would mean to have a caring neighbor stop by with food, a heartfelt card, or just a hug. Or maybe you’re out of commission due to a cold or flu bug and your neighbor offers to get you medicine or food. Gestures like this are very much appreciated.
Some Simple Tips to Help You Meet Your Neighbors
If you have just moved in recently, then you may not have met your neighbors yet. Maybe you’ve been in your home for a while but you’re shy or just don’t know how to reach out. We’ve got some fabulous tips that can help you meet your neighbors and expand your social circle.
- Walk over to your neighbors and introduce yourself. Even if you’ve been in your home for a while, don’t be afraid to take the first step.
- Take something small with you, such as baked goods, a flower arrangement from your garden, a homemade bottle of wine, or anything else. This is a thoughtful gesture and will be appreciated.
- Invite your neighbor over for a coffee or a cold drink.
- If you both have children, suggest you introduce them to each other. This is another gesture of friendliness.
- Join a group or club like a neighborhood watch group or parenting group.
- Make an effort to spend time outdoors, especially out front where you’re more likely to see neighbors.
- Use the neighborhood common areas such as a park, a pool, or any other shared amenities.
The main message is to make an effort. Doing so will help your neighbors open up and feel comfortable with you, paving the way for a pleasant coexistence.
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Knowing Your Neighbors
There are some people who want to move far away from others and live a life of solitude. Maybe they want to live off the grid or on a big piece of land where there’s nothing for miles. While that may be ideal for some, the vast majority of people benefit from having and getting to know their neighbors. When’s the last time anyone said, “I have too many friends in life?” Generally, that’s not a problem people suffer from.
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