Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't think a Sunday is necessarily the best day for an event like that. Between church (for some people twice that day), NFL football, and Halloween, that's a lot of competition for people's time.
I haven't read the entire thread so this may already have been suggested, but I would bring it up at the next HOA meeting. Most people who attend those meetings are looking for ways to meet more of their neighbors. My neighborhood just had its annual pig pickin' and some of us talked about this same issue in our own neighborhood. Our subdivision has large lots and lots of trees plus many are older and I think that makes it much harder to meet your neighbors. Don't give up though.
...Two weeks ago we decided to have a Fall Festival at our home and proceeded to print up colorful flyers and took our 2 and 3 year old on a walk and put an invitation into every mailbox in our community of approx. 50 homes. To date we have received 3 responses(email), 2 cant make it, one family will. Needless to say we are quite disappointed with the lack or responses and will have to accept the fact that the neighbors don't want to be bothered. My wife is at the point she wants to sell and find a more kid friendly subdivision. Based on others experiences, any other ideas on how to break the ice or is it all in vain?
Welcome to North Carolina. As a former New Englander, I've noticed the same thing.
Two observations from my 4 years here...Is your event on a Sunday? Bible belt here, don't ever plan on having guests on a Sunday.
Second, and I find this incredibly rude, people here don't understand what R.S.V.P. means. We had a cookout and only got one RSVP, yet everyone showed up. I was appalled at the lack of common courtesy.
And as a future reference, and I know this from personal experience, you need to put the flyers ON the mailbox. My sister in law did the same thing as you and someone called the postmaster on her.
**And I have to note that these have been my experiences thus far. I got called out on another thread for making "generalizations" so in the interest of fair reporting these are the experiences I've had since living here. Your mileage may vary. Not valid on Sunday. Batteries not included.
It's definitely illegal to put anything in or even on someone's mailbox. I doubt anyone really gets prosecuted for doing so, but I know I'd find it odd if someone was shoving something in my mailbox. After all, I don't want them to see my daily deliveries of drugs, pornography, and explosives...
I'm sure this isn't the reason that few people responded though, and I'm not sure I can offer much suggestion. I'm new to the area as well and while our community here isn't super friendly, I do run into neighbors frequently when walking or doing yard work, and they're always open to chatting. I think organizing something through the HOA, or any sort of community message board online would be a better approach.
I moved to my new house about 6 months ago and not a single neighbor has stopped by to introduce himself/ herself. I guess I'm the one who will need to bake something and take it around. Seems like it should be the opposite, but I had to do it at the last neighborhood too.
So, people- if someone new moves in on your street- at least say hello! Jeez.
OP, I'm just curious, what neighborhood do you live in? If it's a newer n'hood, chances are good you're not living with other native North Carolinians.
My husband and I have been here going on 3 years and have yet to have neighbors say more than "hello". Apparently if they didn't go to high school with you or are related to you already, southerners aren't interested in knowing us northerners.
I don't think its a north/south thing as I have the same thing going on further north of you in Va where I live. Everyone here, like there, is from some where else and most tend to keep to themselves I have found.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Jeez.
Don't hold your breath
