Do you know your neighbors?

[babylonsister]

Do you BBQ with them, go out to dinner, etc.? Just wondering; people move a lot more nowadays then 'in the day'. People such as ourselves are on the 'puter an awful lot. I live in Houston and, partially because of the heat, never see anyone outside in the summer. Is this also a result of all the technology available, ya think? Between gameboys, blogs, websites, forums, TV, DVDs., etc., do you think you've been less likely to establish other outside relationships? Or is this just too damn heavy a topic for this wild and crazy lounge?

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Yes I do, but it's pretty easy when you've got

a social son who can make friends with a brick wall. We have lots of boys in the neighborhood around his age so we've met the parents by default. Besides, when you sit at the end of the driveway and hand out beers to the parents on Halloween, people tend to come back to get to know you. ;)

[ruthg]

47. Yup

Both on either side. And they are terrific. We lucked out. One of them turned me on to this very forum. And hi there other UU person...

[redsoxliberal]

2. we know ours...

I live on a deadend road, so it's a lot easier... but one of my post friends is my neighbor, and whenever I'm not here, I'm out there playing football or frisbee.

[Merrick]

3. The guy in the apt. next to me is a bit strange

he never seems to go anywhere (unless he just happens to always be home when I am - including the middle of days I take off work) and is constantly turning his faucets on and off. I think maybe he has an abblution ocd or something.

[lumberingbear]

4. Yes, Thank God !!!

They, bless their souls, kept me informed about my house in Florida during the hurricanes, while I am taking care of my mother in Indiana.

[Cadence]

5. Nope don't know them.

Just know what they sound like having sex and that he plays guitar. That's about it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. I do,

but have drifted away from a few of them and grown closer to others.

Some think shedding innocent blood in other countries and deficit as far as the eye can see are cool and some think those things are horrific.

Guess which neighbors I tend to hang out with?

[UNIXcock]

7. Yes, among my our best friends ...

... our neighborhood and church regularly have pot-lucks, BBQs, summer camping-trips and social get-togethers. A tight-knit community is great.

[Polly_Sorbate_60]

8. about half and half

We just got something in the mail from one of our neighbors to come worship at their church. (No tanx, naybs.) Two neighbors are elderly, two families in the vacinity are about our age with little kids (so disappointed one of them turned out to be pro-Bush...*sigh*), and one is a single guy who hates yardwork. Then we've got his polar opposite across the corner from us (you can set your watch by his holiday / football flag decor). Quite the mix! I prefer this mix to a Stepford-esque gated community.

[babylonsister]

18. I know mine, but I don't?

Quite a few couples older than us around here, and the balance is made up with Vietnamese, hispanic and llack families. Great melting pot, one would think. We had a lovely neighbor, VN, but couldn't really communicate. He sold his home recently so don't know who is moving in yet...

[cali]

9. I visited with two of neighbors tonight

One asked me to drive them to the hairdressers tomorrow as her car is in the shop, the other was walking down the road and we stopped to chat about holiday plans. Of course, I live in a teeny tiny village where everybody knows everybody.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I can't remember all their names...

I know most of their first names, though I've forgotten the names of the people directly across the street from us.

We all greet each other when we see each other; and I once went to a neighbor's open house, and had a lovely time socializing.

I'd invite them all over here, but my house is a wreck!

[babylonsister]

15. That's what I'm thinking.

I have the same type of relationship with my neighbors. Wave, chit-chat. I was afraid to ask who they were voting for, and no one advertised their preference except moi. Very superficial but everyone is into their own thing, I guess.

[yvr girl]

11. I saw him for the first time the other day, but only because I knocked on

his door. (I wanted to see if his heat was out too.) I didn't know if it was a man or woman who lived next door. That would be a no for me.

[n2mark]

12. Neighbors

Never see my neighbors outdoors, could be the heat here, could be their schedules not sure. Sometimes I think my house is on an island. Two blocks away the neighbors have block parties, not here although I've suggested this to our homeowner's association but nothing ever happens. Here in our area the association rules are more important then knowing each other.
I don't know their lives but feel people are wrapped up in themselves rather than caring for others.

[AlCzervik]

13. i live on a dead end so i know all of my neighbors

enough to say hello to. The couple across the street we hang out with once and a while and my daughter's friend lives 2 doors down, his Dad is really nice and fun to have over for a beer but the Mom is like a total downer, always with a migraine or tired or boohooing about something. the neighbor that lives next door to me is a republican funder, I'm always polite but i stay away from them, their 7 year old daughter told me i was going to hell because i am a Jew, nice huh, 7 years old. I told her Mom not to let her kids darken my door again until they learn some manners and become tolerant, needless to say 4 years later there isn't a whole lot of interaction between us except for the wave and the quite hello. Did i mention i live in a sub-divsion? We are moving in the next year to a place with sidewalks and a town center, a very liberal town, i can't wait.

[CRK7376]

14. We'll talk with our few

neighbors when they are getting their mail, their mailbox is beside ours, but they live another 4/10 mile from us, our other neighbor we talk with when he checks his cattle and fence line, pbut no, we don't go out, grill or socialize with our neighbors. We don't live in a neighborhood either so the kids are out in our yard/pasture etc on their own or with the cats/dogs/siblings...And we like it athat way too! The fewer neighbors for me the better...Guess I'm somewhat anti-social, like the peace and calm....

[GOPisEvil]

16. We know each other enough to say hi, but that's about it.

They seem nice enough, and they stay outta my life. :D

[Shoeempress]

17. Nope and don't intend to. Sold our last house because our neighbors were

all clinically insane, or at least that was the only explanation we could come up with for their behavior. Moved here and have systematically snubbed our neighbors so they won't talk to us. The coincidence of living next door to someone does not mean I have to speak with them or even acknowledge their existence.

[Left Is Write]

19. Not really. I wish I did.

I have lived in this neighborhood for four years, and while we are friendly with the next door neighbors, they are a retired couple and we are a family with young children. Just not a lot in common. I don't know most of the people in this neighborhood.

I have *one* good friend, and she lives several miles away. The rest of the people I socialize with are colleagues/associates of my husband's.

[Kire]

20. I don't really know mine.

We moved when I was 12 to a new neighborhood, and I never got to know any of my neighbors, other than the ones on either side of my house, so now when I move to a new place I usually don't bother to make friends with my neighbors.

[scarlet_owl]

21. No. I don't think we would have a lot in common with our

neighbors.

[realisticphish]

22. Since they live 4 feet away

in the next dorm room, yes, i know them :)


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[cally]

23. Not really, but about a month ago I knocked on lots

of doors to introduce myself. I just thought it was crazy to not know my neighbors after 3 years. It was successful. I met many and feel a little more comfortable in my neighborhood. I asked a woman to let my dog inside one night and today she asked to use my fax. The sad part is that I was happy about this.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. Hi neighbor! I'm in Houston also.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

35. Hi, catgirl!

Whereabouts do you live in this sprawling metropolis? I'm south of Hobby Airport.:hi:

[Gothic Sponge]

25. No, and i don't want to know them (Bush lovers)

[likesmountains 52]

26. yes

I know the neighbors on either side of me(on one side college students renting, on the other side a 96 year old woman who has lived in her house for 54 years) and the people across the street and kitty corner from me. I wave at the people down the block, but don't know them.

[Nicole]

27. most of them

About 10 of us have lived on this street for years. A couple of them are close friends.

[Digit]

28. My neighbors are freeps.

Even though I am recently disabled the neighbor kid behind me who actually attached a flyer to my mailbox will not mow my lawn for me.
His parents screened my call in reply to his ad, and when the kid called me back I explained I had become disabled (gave him the description), and he gave me a quote saying he was familiar with my yard. I accepted, but now the kid gives me the cold shoulder. I think the parents objected....they are kinda strange anyway.
The parents are fastidious about their yard and it must be driving them crazy that I am letting my yard go. (our yards adjoin)
As long as I am able to still work a fulltime job, I am not going to risk becoming MORE disabled by trying to keep the leaves raked!
My other neighbors know I am alone and disabled and will not lift a finger, either.
I am still playing catch-up from being out of work for almost two years with this damn injury!
I figure some of the leaves will blow into their yards anyway.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

31. My neighbors filed a nuisance complaint against me...

...because I let the yard go just a little bit. They thought I might be disabled, but they don't care. (Actually, I'm not disabled.) The city inspector proceeded to inspect my yard without a search warrant and every rule (including imaginary rules) was
enforced against me despite the fact that at least 100,000 Portlanders are violating the same rules.

[RevolutionaryActs]

29. Why? Do YOU know my neighbors?

:tinfoilhat:

[Paranoid_Portlander]

30. Self-delete.

I meant to reply to someone else.

[crispini]

32. Yep.

The neighbor on one side is the president of the HOA. He's very nice, I have borrowed his mower on occasion. His wife voted for Shrub though. Two doors down, both big artists and fun people. Don't see them much, though, they're busy. Ditto across the street.

The neighbor on the other side of me is a very nice good ole boy who sits out in his yard drinking beer. We chat. He doesn't have enough brain cells left to have an intelligent thought so I avoid politics. He occasionally smokes pot in his yard. He has a renter who is of the same stripe. They showed up at our polling place on election day blind drunk (but voted) and the renter told me (publicly) I had nice titties. I laughed and kicked him out, pronto.

I'm gradually getting to know more and more of them... they are good fun, it's an odd neighborhood, which I like. The showing up to vote completely plastered, though, is my All. Time. Fave. Just because, you know?

[Chicago Democrat]

33. I try to be friendly and they are arch right wingers....

it is good for the soul...

Republicans are our fellow Americans!

GOD SAVE OUR REPUBLIC!!!

[dogonarug]

50. The Bush's are my neighbors

Across the street from me live a nice retired couple named Bush. I am pretty sure they are repubs...have family in Texas. He once told me he respected dubya cause he reduced the secret service entourage down from the Clinton years...That being the big issue, I have never tried to talk politics with them as they seem out of touch. They are however very nice and helpful...last year I had to have a house call vet come out to my house to euthanize my 15 Y/O very ill G. shepherd. I couldn't stand the thought of being present during, and then after... helping the vet load him into the van...no way! This neighbor volunteered to be there and to help the vet get him in the van while I went for a drive. His wife treats my two terriers to carrots every time we visit (they know she's a softie)Sometimes people are just good.

[ImADeanDem]

34. Nope, just smile and wave! eom

[ZenLefty]

36. They leave the blinds open when they undress.

I don't really know their names, but I feel like I know them, uh, intimately. In fact, it's safe to say that I know more about them than I ever wanted to know. :o

[cmf]

37. Many of them

We live in a condo, so it's hard not to meet your neighbors. My husband often helps out the elderly ones with heavy lifting and stuff. But we have a pretty full social calendar as is, so we don't often socialize with neighbors other than at the meetings and events like the swap meet.

[no name no slogan]

38. Definately! That's part of the reason we moved here

We specifically moved to my neighborhood because we knew that it had an active block club, neighborhood association, and was probably one of the most liberal precincts in the state, too! If a Dem gets less than 70% in my precinct, he would have to be to the right of Zell Miller.

We live in a small, urban enclave about one mile west of downtown Minneapolis, surrounded by parks on three sides. In fact, we often see deer crossing through the neighborhood, especially on autumn nights. I just saw a pair on Halloween, actually-- it was pretty amazing, considering we live so close to downtown!

We have a big National Night Out block party every year, and we regularly have neighbors over/go over to the neighbors. We also have a very low crime rate, because everybody always looks out for each other.

There's still many great inner-city neighborhoods out there, but you have to actively look for them, and accept the bad that comes with the good.

[skygazer]

39. Yes, I know all of mine

But I live in a little neighborhood consisting of 5 rental cabins and the large house that our landlord lives in. I know all the other renters though we don't really socialize. We do look out for each others' places and chat when we're out doing stuff around the place. Our landlords are like parents to us.

I know a couple of the other people on the road just to wave to or say "hi". I know what you mean, though. When I was a kid, my parents knew all the neighbors and my mom would have coffee with the other moms and they'd all get together to drink and play cards sometimes. People seem to find their friends further away from home now.

[One_Life_To_Give]

40. Nope!

Hardly ever see the neighbors at all. When the trees are leafed out, you can barely tell their houses are there, except for the houses across the street. Where I grew up I knew almost everyone on the street. But not up here.

[shesemsmom]

41. I sure as hell know them . they are nuts

Has threatened my Hubby, myself and our 15 year old, all on separate occasions It is in the hands of the prosecutor. I tried to get a restraining order yesterday the judge told me that it wasn't restrain able because he only threatened to kick our asses, and do damage to out house our cars and other property. I told the judge to remember that when he hurt one of us or I take the ball bat to him. I assured him that I've taken to keeping it by the front door.I guy has a criminal record as long as your arm for threats intimidation, weapons charges and 8 DWS. He has been banned for life from driving in the state of Indiana, but guess what he drives. I turned him in once when I saw him leave and he spent 4 hours in jail, and guess what HE DROVE HOME go figure

[TrogL]

42. You do understand the part about Canadian weather, right?

You can't exactly stand around chatting during a blizzard. We know each other more from disaster recovery scenarios. "Hey, Jerry, you'd better put up a few more guy wires on your antenna farm or it's gonna come down in the next big blow".

[Padraig18]

43. Yes, we know everyone on our block.

8 houses of nice people, and one house of asshats.

;)

[Neoma]

44. No

1 has a Bush sign out (has not dragged it down!)
The other has cutesy flags out. (well they are fundamentalists,they go to church allot,and Ive met em before)

thats pretty much it,i don't care,they don't know me and I'm glad about that.

[notadmblnd]

45. Yup, we pretty much know the entire neighborhood

it's one of those blocks where we may not necessiarily bbq or go to movies, but we do all stand on the sidewalk and chat, help each other with lawn work, go to each others garage sale, swap crafts etc.. and I just happen to be the house on the block where everyone comes to collect their kids at the end of the day. I feed them and entertain them with the pool in the summer. We have a big yard. The boys ride motorcycles and quads. the girls go upstairs and play music and talk about boys. I'd really much rather have them here doing something than hanging on the streets getting into god knows what.

[personman]

46. My Neighbor...

http://www.orwell.net/~whoadude/

I don't know for sure if he voted at all, but I'm fairly certain he would be a * voter...

I've lived where I'm at for about 4 years and this is his first communication with me. Needless to say I never got in touch with him.

[ProfessorGAC]

48. Yes, Almost All Of Them

I guess it depends on how one defines neighbor. We know the people in the three houses whose yards touch ours. (We live on the corner.) We know all the people who live across both streets and a few where the front steet ends (about 100 yards passed our house).

We know most of the folks on our street for the rest of the block. But, when you get to the next cross street, i only know one person in the next block.

But, as far as "right there" neighbors, we know most of them.
The Professor

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Yes! And they are amazing. We bonded over the "Great BlackOut"

when we offered to share our generator with them. They had just moved in; the house previously being occupied with holy water throwing freepers. They are a breath of fresh air. She is a teacher and he is a "shop rat" like MrG. We had coordinating Kerry signs and stickers. It's been a match made in heaven....or hell as the previous neighbors would see it.

I do agree with you. If it had not been for the huge power outage, I doubt we would have gotten so close. I bake bread for her...she sends the kids over with watermelon, and I just adore them!!! :bounce:

Now, as to the neighbors on the other side: Bush loving, Church of the Nazarene fundies who think we are going to hell. But her son is in love with my daughter...funny, eh?

[u4ic]

51. Nope

Moved into this apartment 3 months ago...and still haven't heard the neighbours.