Member-only story
I’ve always had good neighbors
Some suggestions on getting along with yours
Today one of my neighbors sent me a Facebook message. She noticed one of my tires was low and let me know she had a tire pump and a gauge in case I wanted to fill it up.
I went over and we took care of it.
After, I felt grateful to have such a good neighbor. I thought about it, and I realized — I’ve always had good neighbors.
Is it because I’m lucky?
That may be part of it. However, there are some things I’ve done that might have helped. Here are my suggestions for getting along with your neighbors.
Smile and say hello
It sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? But a lot of people don’t do it. I always do. Even when I feel like a bit of an idiot, because the other person looks confused.
Maybe it’s because my parents are from India, a place known for nosy neighbors. But my Mom, when we were growing up in New York, made friends with everyone on our block, even the grumpy people who never smiled at anyone.
So smile and say hello. Don’t be intrusive and try to engage if the other person makes it clear they don’t want to, but do smile when you see them.
