What happened to the good ol’ days when new people moved into a neighborhood and the people who lived in the houses next door walked over to the new neighbors house, introduced themselves, and brought them a pie, muffins, or some other enticing baked goods?

OK……so it is the 2,000’s and people don’t do much of that “neighborly” thing anymore, but still….how hard is it to welcome someone new to the neighborhood by saying hello?

When we moved to our new neighborhood 8 yrs ago, no one really went out of their way to find out who we were, why we moved here, etc.  I knew the last name of my neighbor to my right because I saw it on his license plate.  His wife did introduce herself one day at the mailbox, but I haven’t really talked to her since.  My neighbors to my left did meet us on the sidewalk while we were raking leaves after about a month of us living here.  Come to find out the previous owner of our house and this neighbor were pretty good friends because they were both DIY’ers.  My husband and him have not continued that close relationship.  You’ve heard of the TV show “Tool Time” with Tim Allen as Tim, the Tool Man Taylor…..well, let’s just say that my husband and Tim Taylor have more in common than the name Tim………just sayin’.

I met our neighbors across the street when my eldest son backed his Tahoe out of our driveway and into the side of their aging car.  Needless to say, that was a bit awkward, and, we obviously paid for the car to be fixed.  Now I know both the husband’s and wife’s names, their kids names, their phone number and their insurance agent’s number.  The wife still says Hi to me each time she sees me, so I guess we didn’t piss them off too badly by hitting their car.

So, all of this got me to thinking……there should be laws written on how to be a good neighbor and distributed to each new family that moves into a neighborhood as well as the existing people in the neighborhood……just so everyone is on the same page.

Law #1–INTRODUCE  YOURSELF WHEN A NEW NEIGHBOR MOVES IN AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM EACH TIME YOU SEE THEM

I covered this in my opening paragraph…….however, when someone you know lives on your street and waves to you from their car as they are driving past your house, don’t do the “quick turn around” like you didn’t see them, or the “put your head down and look at the sidewalk” move…..LOOK AT THEM AND WAVE!!!  It won’t kill you!!

Law #2–NO LAWN MOWING, TREE TRIMMING OR ANY OTHER USE OF A NOISE-MAKING DEVICE ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY BEFORE 9 AM

We rarely use our air conditioning in the summer.  Our windows are wide open to let the fresh air in and to hear the sounds of birds chirping.  With that being said, BIRDS CHIRPING DOES NOT WAKE ME UP!!

Law #3–IF YOU HAVE A YAP-YAP DOG, DO NOT LET HIM/HER OUT ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY BEFORE 9 AM

And you know who you are!  That dog will bark from the minute you open the door and let him out until the minute you open the door and let him in.  That is just annoying as hell.

Law #4–LADIES, IF YOU ARE TAKING YOUR MORNING WALK BEFORE 8 AM MONDAY-FRIDAY OR 9 AM SATURDAY-SUNDAY, USE YOUR INSIDE VOICES

I really don’t need to know, nor do I care, that Sara called you last night and complained about Ann not bringing the right amount of donuts to the PTA meeting or the fungus on your toenail that is spreading.  I am trying to get the last ounce of sleep in before I have to face my day!

Law #5–IF YOU LIVE IN A STATE THAT GETS A FAIR AMOUNT OF SNOW AND YOU OWN A SNOW BLOWER, CLEAN THE SNOW OFF THE SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF BOTH SIDES OF YOUR NEIGHBORS’ HOUSES

You don’t have to clean their driveway or the path and steps leading up to their house (unless they are old or disabled).  It will take you an extra 15 minutes, and who knows, you just may have saved your neighbor from suffering a heart attack!

 

So there it is….my 5 simple rules for being a good neighbor.  And I promise, if you are my neighbor, I will try to abide by every one of them!!!