Do you really know, talk to, and get along with your neighbors?

I moved to a house about 3 years after living my whole adult life in apartments. I interact occasionally with my neighbors, but it's pretty superficial for the most part. Thankfully they all seem like fairly reasonable people and we basically stay out of each other's hair. I have a colleague that is in the opposite situation, with a neighbor that is constantly in his family's business, arguing about everything. But then again, my colleague has a rooster in a pretty dense neighborhood, so maybe the annoying neighbor has a point.

Yes, we are friends several of our neighbors on our street. We are closer with a few of them than others. With those we are closer to we will hang out, ski together, go to each other’s parties, help clear the snow on each other’s drive ways, have each other’s house keys in case of emergency, watch each other’s house while on vacation, etc... Back when we lived in apartments we became friends with a couple of our neighbors because we had common interests, but I found apartment/condo neighbors didn’t get as close as house neighbors. This may be because people in apartments often don’t stay long term, where in a house you may live next to each other for years or decades. We’ve owned 3 homes in 3 different cities in the past 17 years and have become close with at least a couple of our neighbors each time. Our first home and current home are in the suburbs, our second home was in a transitional neighborhood in the city.

Seems to me that adults in the suburbs become friends when their kids pal around. Otherwise, how would they come into contact with each other?

Yes. I b@ngg several of my female neighbors. During pillow talk I hear the gossip... I know far more about my neighbors than any of them know themselves. Knowledge is power.

FredGSanford wrote:

I'e been Living in apartments or condos in or near cities most of my adult life, and i realize now that,my neighbors have always been complete strangers. No one ever says anything more than "hi, how are you? Nice day" on their way to and from work.

Is this typical? Do people really know their neighbors in the suburbs? Do you like them and do things with them?

Yes for sure. I love it. Not best friends with neighbors, but good solid relationships. Folks help each other out. Know each other. Know the kids, Kids play together, etc. quite a bit of interaction. it’s the way things should be. A real sense of community, not fake bs.

When I was in my twenties and living alone..my neighbor broke into my apt while I was asleep. He was married with a young baby. Go figure.