Good neighbors are a lot like electricity or running water: we don't know how
much we depend on them until we don't have them. They make our lives more
pleasant and give us a sense of who we are, both as an individual and as a member
of the community. Here's how to develop your relationships with these very
important people in your life.
Strike up a conversation. Often neighbors don't even know each other's names.
But it's okay to be the one to break the ice, even if you've lived next door for years.
Most neighbors enjoy making small talk with the folks on the other side of the fence.
Avoid causing inconveniences. Return anything that you borrow from a neighbor,
such as tools, in good repair and as soon as you've finished with them. Replace
anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil.
Care about the details. In a good relationship, it's really the little things that count.
Help to bring in the mail for the elderly neighbor when there is a heavy rain.
All it takes to develop your relationship with neighbors is the respect for their feelings.