Youngest family in neighborhood? (townhouse, warm, siding, outside)

[Bella05]

Hi,
We moved a few months ago. I think we're the youngest family in our neighborhood. We also are not in walking distance to anywhere. No sidewalk streets, either. I thought the warmer weather would bring people outside and not many people are out. I'm really bummed because I don't like it here. It's so hard to make new friends. I think I joined everything possible. People seem more to themselves here.

I talked to a neighbor and she said she's glad we're "gentrifying" the neighborhood. I didn't understand at first. But now I see what she meant. Ugh, I don't know what to do.

Anyone move to a new area you didn't like? How did you like it in the end? If at all?

Thanks.

[Billy_J]

They come out of their houses during power outages (no TV)!

If you have a front porch near the street, sit out there and say hi to people walking by. Every once and a while someone will stop and chat.

Also volunteer for things. Senior center - they are lonely and love to talk. Habitat for Humanity. Etc.

[Bella05]

Thanks, billy. I would do that, but we live on a culdesac. No one walks by. :-(

[raveabouttoast]

Sounds like you'll have to cut the power to your neighbors' houses then. That'll get them out!

[mls012]

This was my life 5 years ago. Bought a townhouse in a nice area... Green space..bike paths..neighborhood pond and tot lot out front. Thought it was prefect for my family. Thought there must be tons of kids.... Nope. We were the youngest family and a bi racial famlily at that. Mostly original.owners.. Empty nesters. No kids... Actually had signs in the parking lots.. No playing alloud. But all in all.. Were fine. Most like our children.. Even leave xmas and bday gifts. Allot of people have sold since and new younger families have moved in. Hang tight itll be fine but it may take abit.

[Squirl]

Is there a town community center with volleyball or other activities you could join?

[Sheepie2000]

We were some of the youngest people in our old neighborhood. Mostly original owners who bought in the 1950's. We stayed there about 14 years and by the time we left, a lot of those people had died or moved into nursing homes and young families were moving in. You could really see the change with the bikes and trikes and kids toys in the yards and families taking walks after dinner. Awnings started to come down and siding was replaced with the "modern" narrow siding. Overgrown bushes and hedges were starting to disappear and new landscaping started to appear. I'd be interested to go back now, 5yrs later, and see it.

[Hopes]

We live in a very age-diverse neighborhood. It has always been that way. We were among the younger families 20 years ago. Our children had surrogate grandparents across the street and next door. They really loved our kids. One of them has died, but the other two are still kicking.

Now our children are young adults, and younger families have moved into the area. The young family across the street says we're the only people they talk to. That's really their fault. They never leave their yard. (We're very outgoing.) They have designated our house as the place their children are to go in case of emergency. Another young mother from up the street befriended me last year----introduced herself due to our common interest in gardening. We spend many mornings together having coffee or breakfast, and her children love to visit my house.

Next time you talk to a neighbor, invite her over for tea or whatever. You've got to put yourself out there and make the first move.

[Bella05]

Thanks, all. Does it take a long time for a neighborhood to turnover? I'm trying to meet people but it's hard. People keep telling us theyre so busy. Are you close with any of your neighbors? I would love to be close with one neighbor... It must be so nice to be able to walk to a friend's house anytime.

[amazin09]

Your situation sounds like mine! Our street is kind of evenly split between young families and not, but we still rarely see the kids outside, everyone seems to play only in their own backyard. Strangely, the friendly ones seem to be the patents without small kids. Although to be fair, maybe the parents of young kids don't get time to step out? I don't know. I just joined some meetup groups in the hopes of meeting new friends, did you try something like that? So what if they don't live at walking distance.