doing stuff in your neighborhood

[KayLR]

Ok...this should make it easier...
http://nextdoor.com

Actually, some of the people I've met through this site do not live very close to me, but they do live in my neighborhood, so I likely would not have met them otherwise. My experience has been different neighborhood to neighborhood. Some are friendlier than others. Luckily, my current one seems to be very friendly.

[chrissieq]

Around here if you want to meet the neighbors, you walk your dog. You will meet all kinds of people.

Got a dog 3 months ago and can't believe how friendly people are when they see my super cute dog!

He is a great companion to me, gets me out walking several times every day, and has added a dimension to my neighborhood experience.

My sister just sent me a card that said "Anyone who thinks diamonds are a girl's best friend, never owned a dog"!

[Packy]

My recommendation is to get a large guard dog breed, that intimidates people. Then, they will mind their own business and leave you alone.

[awakenedsoul]

My neighbor just had a baby boy. I asked her if she would like something hand knit for him, and she was thrilled. I just finished a merino wool sweater for him. She picked the color, green. I'm going to make him a pair of booties, too. She has a daughter who is around eight. I'm going to teach her how to crochet and knit. She's really cute. I always stop and talk with her when I'm exercising my dogs on the Walkydog.

[profnot]

I've taught free classes at the library down the street.

I live next to a little cafe. They open before dawn and there's no street lamps here. So I turn on my big front light at 6:30am when the workers arrive and turn it off after full light. Most of their customers park in front of my building and I don't want them walking in the dark and possibly falling.

I did a huge clear out last year because I am moving to a new town soon. I put lots of things on tables on the front porch with a "free" sign. Someone new to town got most of my furniture. A friend helped with packing his van with my things and taking them to his favorite charity.

I discovered last summer I'm allergic to grains. No more baking. I gave the KitchenAid, baking pans, etc to the lovely gal who runs the cafe next door.

I was extremely ill last fall and lots of neighbors helped me and the dog. There are some VERY generous people here.

[iris lilies]

This thread is some months old.

I've written, over the years, so much about our neighborhood and the work everyone does in it that, no doubt everyone is bored by it, including me.

But suffice to say that we have strong neighborhood association (NOT an HOA--no HOA here!) in an urban core. It is active in improving and beautifying the neighborhood. Our house tours raise around $80,000 annually and that plus grants and membership dues makes for $100,000 operating expenses. From that, volunteers band together for work in safety & crime patrol, gardening and park beautification, public relations and promotions, etc.

DH has served multiple times as treasurer, we've both been on the board of directors multiple times, have chaired a house tour, we work in the community garden, I've ridden crime patron, DH is a handyman who goes around fixing things. Our last big effort was to organize the first booth for the Park Conservancy during our annual neighborhood Antiques on the Park sale. We made around $5,000 if I remember correctly. We gathered donations of nice things from neighbors, stored them in our house and garage, sorted and tagged them with prices, etc., then hauled them and set them up at the booth. We sold most everything because I wanted them GONE and we priced them accordingly.

[Packy]

Well, irislilies, I, for one am dee-lighted to hear the accounts of paint cans being left in the alley, bulletts richocheting around da hood and so forth. Tee-Veez & Merc-o-reez bein' rip' offed. Riots n' Robberys over at the 11-11. It is also remarkable how a former denizen of ho-hum has been treasurer of the Neighborhood Home Owners' Association(NHOA). People from that area seem to have an uncanny knack for that kind of thing.

[ctg492]

Does it matter that threads are old? My old memory not as good and I re read to see if I responded.

[catherine]

Around here if you want to meet the neighbors, you walk your dog. You will meet all kinds of people.

Same here. In NJ, people stay in their houses a lot. But walking the dog gets you exposed to at least other dog-owners, although I only know them by "Casey's Dad" and "Schotzie's Mom"

I live adjacent to a park/school/baseball field and I have dreams of a block party. When DH turned 60, I dropped "open house" invitations in several neighbor's mailboxes and they actually showed up! So I think people would like to be asked and would appreciate the chance to get together.

NOTE I don't mind recycled posts--I do appreciate it if I have the heads up, though, before I write a response to one I've already responded to.

[sweetana3]

Our next door neighbor started a women's group by inviting neighbor women for a "gin and tonic" get together. We really got to know one another. Now we need to expand the group. Mostly a summer group as we meet outside on the patios. Even with dogs, the neighborhood is pretty full of workers who seem to work long hours and are seldom out and about.