Making Friends With The Neighbors

Work days are long and hectic. Nights and weekends, it’s easy just to cocoon inside with Netflix DVDs, delivered pizza, and internet shopping. Between outside obligations and the ability to access most leisure resources without leaving the house, it’s possible to go the entire tenure at your apartment and never meet your neighbors. Though it can be peaceful to live a little farther away from our families, urban living can get a bit lonely. So, outside of work and the bar scene, how does an adult make friends? Look next door. You already have one thing in common if you’ve chosen the same complex, there might be much more. Even if you and your neighbors don’t become bosom friends, there are some real benefits to at least acting friendly. 

The Benefits of Neighborliness
Once you’ve started some friendly chatter, you will enjoy:

• Collective bargaining against management. If there are any problems at your complex, it helps to have other tenants voice complaints with you.
• Convenient plant, pet, or house sitters.
• A close place to stash emergency keys.
• A resource for borrowing milk and sugar.
• A more receptive ear when there is a problem. It’s easier to talk to your neighbors about issues like late night noisiness when you already have a relationship.
• Safety and security. A neighbor who knows you better will be both more concerned and better able to recognize unusual activity around your place.
• Help moving, carrying large items, and unwieldy household tasks.
• The ability to share some big ticket purchases. Save money by splitting the cost of items like rented carpet cleaners, lawn mowers, or even bulk purchases of household goods. Save space by splitting storage of infrequently used items, like pool rafts, with the understanding that either of you can enjoy them.
• New friends, of course!