Anyone moved into a new house and neighborhood and not one neighbor has came over to welcome you?

Question

We lived in our last house for 12 yrs and everytime a new neighbor moved in close to us, we would take over cookies or cupcakes and tell them our names and welcome them to the neighborhood. We have lived in this new house since Dec. and not one neighbor has came over to welcome us or introduce themselves! Are people just becoming more unfriendly these days or am I just overreacting? Do you welcome your neighbors?

Answer 1

I think people are just unfriendly these days. I moved into a house that my boyfriend and I rent and not one person came to introduce themselves even. Not even the woman who lives in the downstairs part of the house (totally separate from the upstairs part).
When we got a new neighbor (she moved into the downstairs part after the one I previously mentioned), we went out to introduce ourselves and asked if she needed any help moving. We didn't bake her anything, but we did let her know if she needed anything she could come to us (she's new to town as well).
People are more individual today and rely less on each other. In the past neighbors were like best friends. In my childhood home we always helped each other out, shared food with one another, and we would go to visit the old grandpa-like man :). Today your lucky if someone even knows their neighbors names. It's rather sad, but what can we do?

Answer 2

I assume you're American because from what I can see on TV, you're the ones with the "welcome to the neighborhood" custom. It is very nice really, but I wouldn't panic if I were you. It's not that people aren't friendly, maybe they're just less sociable than the neighbors you were used to. In Europe, we don't do the whole welcoming deal, but still neighbors still help each other and say hello when they meet and so on.
You'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know your neighbors, the time will come. Some people just need more time to make a connection.

Answer 3

I grew up in a small southern town where everyone knew everyone. Sometimes it became a little too close for comfort but we would welcome people in and show them around. A few years ago one of my neighbors died and her family from a neighboring state were willed the land and house that she lived in. My dad went by to let them know that he was just a couple of miles down the road and that if they needed anything they could call on him. Just as he was stepping out of the truck, the new neighbor stepped out onto the porch and said rather gruffly, "This house is NOT for sale!" My dad's response was, "Good, I don't want to buy it." These people are the same way with all of the folks back home. I am told that they are ex-military and have probably lived all over the country. The small town atmosphere may seem a little too much like nosy to them. Your neighborhood may have people there who have responded in the same manner and caused others to not want to be insulted as my father was. Just do your best to wave at them or at least smile as they see you out and about. It's sad to say but these days it is almost a thing of the past to be neighborly. Sorry, and by the way, Welcome to the neighborhood! :-)

Answer 4

I think it depends more on the neighborhood than on the times, or perhaps some of both. Here I think about half the people will go over -although without cookies, but at least to introduce themselves- and the other half won't. I can't remember about moving in, I'm not too sociable so I don't really care or remember such things. When the last new neighbors came I can't remember who was the first to go over, but I did introduce myself right away (the driveways are right next to eachother too, so when they're carrying their stuff in they're less than 10ft from my front door). But when I lived in an apartment right after college, I only saw my neighbor once. Apartments are often more impersonal, especially in the city. In homes with gardens you'll see people outside more often, and it's easier to just say 'hello' that way even if you or they don't want to go over, ring the bell and come inside.

Answer 5

I think things are different these days. When I was a kid ( I'm 24), everyone in our neighborhood was friends with everyone. In fact. once a year, we would have a block party. We would block off the street, everyone would bring some type of food, and we would set up a net and play volleyball. We had bike decorating contests, and just had a blast. Since then, I have moved to Oklahoma, where I have lived in 2 different small towns where people are generally pretty nice (when you are at the store, driving, etc.) But, as far as being neighborly, I haven't seen much of that. No one came over to say hi when we moved in or anything, and we don't really talk to each other.

Answer 6

yes its true Today people are too busy in the rat race too even acknolage their neighbors. I remember when I was a little girl and the neighbors used to have block parties and every day all the kids would go to a different mother andspend the day playing over there. they kind of took turns.. I think that the thing that has changed since then is nowadays both parents have to work to make ends meet so there arent any stay at home wives or mothers like there were back then. its ashame that our ecconomy is so bad.It keeps people super busy so they dont have time to think of going to meet the new neighbor. Also alot of people are more untrusting.

Answer 7

I can't say I make a special point of welcoming new neighbours. I say hi if I see them, though the latest ones who've moved in don't speak much English and I don't speak much Dutch so we don't have long conversations. We usually have a big party every year in the summer and invite all the neighbour so we tend to get to know the sociable ones then.

Answer 8

It's nice to know that people still have neighborly hospitality, I grew up like that in Hawaii, but nowadays people are so stand-offish because the world is a much more dismal place than it was 20-30 years ago. With all of the crime and unthinkable horrors happening everyday, I can see peoples point in remaining somewhat secluded. It's sad, but evil people made the world what it is. We can pretend that the world is "Peachy" but unfortunately it's not.

Answer 9

I think things are different now. Most neighbors just don't talk to each other. They work all day, watch some tv, and go to bed. On weekends, they might mow the lawn, but that is about all you will see of your neighbors in most neighborhoods nowadays.

Answer 10

For the last 12 years you DID everything right, so you are cool. Maybe you are learning something about your new neighborhood and the neighbors.