Know Your Neighbors

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you will more than likely haven neighbors. In the last four years, I've lived in four different homes. I moved into the home I'm currently living in one year ago this month. I knew the neighbors at the first place I lived, but not on a friendly basis. I didn't know any of the neighbors I had while living in the second home, but I did know the people that lived in the apartment underneath us in the third place I lived. They were an elderly couple and were definitely friendly folks. I would say hi to them whenever I saw them as a I walk by. Since I moved into this current house a year ago, I hardly know any of the neighbors. However, the one set of neighbors I do know (they live across from us) are some of the nicest people I know.

Not every one of your neighbors are going to be friendly, though. You might have that one set of neighbors that annoy you to no end, whether it's directly or indirectly. I have never talked to the people who live in the house behind us. Not once. From what I know, it's a father who lives with his two college kids. I'm not sure if they come from college or if they live there with him, but one (or both) of the boys throws multiple parties every summer. I noticed it last year, and it continued this summer season. They would be up until the early hours of the morning playing music and doing all sorts of chaotic things. However, the important thing is learning to deal with it. 

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Going back to the nice neighbors, they invited us over to their house on the Fourth of July earlier this month. They've allowed us to use their kayaks in the past and such (we live near a lake), so this wasn't the first kind gesture of them. I enjoyed it for a number of reasons. Firstly, all I had to do was walk a few feet and I was there, so I was able to go back to my place if I needed to. Secondly, it was a nice gathering with great food and such. What am I getting at, you ask? Well, it's simple: know your neighbors.

Obviously, if we didn't know these people, we wouldn't have been invited over. If you aren't familiar with your neighbors, get to know them! You could instantly form a friendship that you didn't even knew existed. Neighbors come in handy, too. If you're an adult, you may need someone to get your kid off the bus or watch them while you're gone. Neighbors are there for those kind of things. Forming a friendship with neighbors will allow you to be invited to more social gatherings and such, which is always a good thing.

As previously mentioned, not all of your neighbors are going to be great and as giving. That's understandable. The best thing you can do is ignore them and to not make an enemy out of them. It's as simple as that. Regardless of whether their generous or grouchy people, at least make an attempt to get to know them. It could potentially open a lot of doors, both figuratively and literally. 

One thing is for sure, though: Neighbors are there for you in times of need. If you're going through a tough time, they'll be the first ones to help you out. If you don't attempt to make a connection with your neighbors, you're losing that opportunity. Neighbors come together in times of triumph and trouble, creating a community, so make sure you're a part of it.