Even if you’ve just moved in and don’t feel like talking, a simple greeting and a smile go a long way to show that you are a friendly new neighbor. People will be more likely to talk to you later on if you give a good first impression.
If you have a dog, you will be walking anyways. Keep an eye out for other neighbors with dogs and take the chance to say hi and talk to them when you bump into them around the neighborhood.
For instance, say something like, “Your flowers are looking beautiful today!” After that, your neighbor might invite you over to see their garden close-up and have a conversation.
For example, help an older neighbor carry groceries to their door, or shovel snow in front of a neighbor’s home if you are shoveling in front of yours. If you accidentally receive a neighbor’s mail, take it to their door and deliver it to them personally rather than just tossing it in their mailbox or sliding it under the door.
For example, you can ask them what the best restaurants are, where to find a good cup of coffee, what parks are nearby, or if there are any local events they can recommend.
You can invite people in person if you have already talked with people. Another option is slipping invitations under their doors or into their mailboxes.
For example, if you ask a neighbor about local coffee shops, you could follow it up by asking if they want to go for a coffee and chat sometime. Don’t be afraid to make it clear that you’re new to the area and just want to get to know people. Don’t worry if not everyone seems to want to get to know you. It’s completely normal for some neighbors to keep to themselves.
For example, find a local coffee shop to go sit at and get some work done on your laptop and strike up a conversation with someone. Find a park with basketball courts if you enjoy playing basketball and join a pickup match. Say you are sitting reading at a coffee shop and spot someone reading a book you have read or heard of, this is a perfect opportunity to spark up a conversation by asking a question or commenting on what they are reading!
It’s a great ice breaker when you already have a mutual connection with someone who lives in your new area. If you can’t think of anyone off the top of your head that might have a connection in your area, you can just post a question on your social media and ask. You might be surprised!
For example, if you play a sport, find a local league in your new area. You could also sign up for a class at a local gym if you are into fitness. Search on Facebook for groups you can join relating to a hobby you have. For example, if you like to play board games, there is most certainly some sort of local board game meetup group on Facebook that you can join!
For instance, https://www. meetup. com/ is a very popular site that helps you find local groups and people who are doing certain activities to meet up with. There really is an app for everything these days. You can download apps that specifically help you find local workout buddies, join supper clubs, find a date if you’re single, and pretty much anything else you can think of!
For instance, if you are an avid gardener, you could look for a community garden to volunteer at to meet other like-minded individuals.
