Try as I might, I just can't seem to get past a superficial relationship with most of my neighbors. Smile, wave, the occasional conversation...

Is being a good neighbor a lost art? I can't figure out if people are just so busy they have no time to get to know the people next door, or if we all just think the people next door are so weird/different/whatever we just don't want to be bothered.

Any ideas?

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Do you live in a viallage/town or city... or a development?

Just curious.

Oh, I have lived in cities/suburbs and have this same issue. I think it is a combination of all the things you listed. Works becomes consuming and when a person gets home from work all they want to do is veg-out in front of the TV or spend time with the family. I think that some people end up having other family and friend related activities that then consume their time as well.

I had one older neighbor that wanted me to stop by her for a visit often, but I found myself avoiding this because she wanted to talk for hours and hours ........I just did not have the time to do so when I was working 40 plus hours had a new born and a husband that had to travel for business while we were selling our home. Ouch, those were hard days.

Anyhow, I have found abouit 10% of our neighbors ever made the time to be our true friend. It was nice when we wanted to borrow each others yard tools.

I've wondered that myself for awhile. Growing up I remember the neighbors often stopping by and bringing food gifts. So every year for about the past five years, around the holidays, I decide to make a batch of something and take it over to my neighbor's house and briefly visit. Do you know how many times I have actually done this? Zero times! I just get too busy and forget about these great plans ... this year though I'm going to do it!

I live in a nice neighborhood of a typical subdivision- a medium sized town close to a big city. Even though I see and talk to the other moms in the neighborhood almost every day, it's all on a very superficial plane. We'll be moving soon, so I'll have a new crop of neighbors to meet. I hope I can get to know them a little better.

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them