How long does it typically take to meet your neighbours?

[crislem]

My wife and I bought a house about 6 months ago and in all this time I didn't meet my neighbours.

Last night, after a short walk with my wife, we saw my next door neighbour's wife and talked to her for about 30-40 minutes. She is about 50 years old, pleasant to be around and have a conversation with (at least this is the first impression ). She told us her name, her husband's name and her kids' names. It took us 6 months to get to this point.

I saw my next door neighbour twice during the winter when he was cleaning the snow off his driveway, said "Hello!" and that was it. With the other neightbours, I didn't even do that. Was I supposed to go with a "welcome to the neighbourhood" gift to them? (I'm saying that because people in movies come to say hello when somebody new moves in the neighbourhood). Being form a foreign country and living in a different way there (in an apartment building) I am not sure how things are supposed to happen here in the US. My wife (who is an American) doesn't seem to be concerned about it, she said that we'll get to know them all, the process just requires more time. I thought 6 months was a decent amount of time, but...

So I am curious now, from your experiences: how long does it typically take to meet your neighbours?

[ldcdc]

Well, knowing you and all... I find it interesting that you didn't socialize with your neighbors.

I don't think there's anything to be worried about though. You'll get to really know each other when you do. After all, they seem quite relaxed about it as well.

[crislem]

You'll get to really know each other when you do. After all, they seem quite relaxed about it as well.

I am relaxed too, I just feel that the whole situation is a bit strange. After six months I don't even know how the people from nearby houses look like (or how many they are ). I feel like I should know at least that, but I am relaxed and I am going to take things easy. As you said, it is going to happen at its own time. The reason I created the thread was this curiosity of mine to see if this is how things customary happen in the US.

Well, knowing you and all... I find it interesting that you didn't socialize with your neighbors.

I'm aproaching things a bit different because I'm not at home anymore. I look and sound weird as I am, I don't want to scare them even more by trying to push any friendships.

[Montypaks]

Lived in my flat for two years and only met my neigbhour once.

[crislem]

Lived in my flat for two years and only met my neigbhour once.

The first year I was here (in the US) I lived in an apartment and I met all of my neighbours. I only talked to one of them for more than just a few words (that was my next door neighbour), but I can't say that we became friends by any means (we just chatted once in a while when we met outside of the building). Anyway, apparently I am not a singular case.

[PN-Matt]

Don't socialize massively with my neighbors. Say the odd hello and tell them about my driving lesson progress though

[leighmcc]

It's a bit embarassing to say, but in the 3 places I've lived in the last 2-3 years, I have never known my neighbors :S.