Love Thy Neighbor, or at the Very Least, Meet Thy Neighbor
I’ve lived in the same building for a year and a half, and I’ve never met my neighbors. I’ve barely done anything other than exchange a smile, nod, or “thank you” at the front door. This is typical of New York, where everyone lives their lives quietly. They live their lives behind closed doors, despite the fact that their head rests at night just three feet away from a total stranger’s head on the other side of a wall.
That’s the first time that thought has actually crossed my mind. That sort of creeps me out. Looks like I won’t be sleeping well tonight.
On Saturday, I walked into my apartment, and my roommate pointed out a neon green post-it on our counter. “Look,” he said, “the neighbors want us to meet them.”
“Huh. Interesting.” I studied the note, touting a chance to meet our new neighbors and have some free cookies. “Free cookies? I didn’t know I lived in a dorm.”
Given the average age of the tenants in my building, it pretty much is a dorm, aside from the creepy old lady downstairs who cooks foul-smelling food at 8am. She’s definitely a rent-control case and has probably lived here longer than any other tenant has been alive.
I could have been yet another case of a New York recluse, but I felt compelled to meet the people who live on the other side of my bedroom wall. So, unlike most of our neighbors, who stayed shacked up in their apartments all night, I went over, greeted them, and had some cookies. Actually, their oven wasn’t working, so they bought donuts instead. Either way, I actually met my neighbors. And they’re actually very nice people.
Of course, they also just moved to New York from Virginia, so I give them another couple years before they’re ignoring their neighbors just like everyone else.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 10th, 2007 at 9:15 am and is filed under Life in NYC. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:31 am
sid says:LOL! That pretty much explains why they felt the compulsion to invite complete strangers over to their home.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Sam says:HAHAHA - I love your blog.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Courtney says:There’s been an interesting dynamic in my building of all the older people moving out and young people moving in. Then, we actually become friends. It blows my mind, we sometimes even hang out! It’s getting all Friends all up in this joint.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Adrian says:Just be careful, could be a little too good to be true. Watch for the multi-level marketing sales pitch.
September 10th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Underemployed Girl says:Who invites someone over for cookies and then goes and buys donuts? I’d have been pissed, even Duane Reade sells cookies.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Anna says:Give them a break - damn no wonder people think new yorkers are mean!
September 10th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
admin says:Adrian: Oh, crap. So you mean that timeshare I bought last night was really a pyramid scheme?
Anna: How am I mean? I did give them a break! I said they were nice people! Underemployed Girl, on the other hand… well, I can’t speak for her.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Malcolm says:I live in Jersey City and know and hang out with my neighbors all the time. Of course, inviting people over for “cookies” is a little creepy….
September 10th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Tyler says:Yup. This confirms that 95% of non-trust fund Manhattanites are anti-social castaways from Bumblefuck.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
admin says:Tyler: What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
DrunkBrunch says:I met all the neighbors on my floor last year when I was confronted by a man with a gun in my hallway.
September 10th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Anna says:oh not you! sorry, that comment was meant for underemployed girl only
September 10th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
StuyGirl says:Man, I WISH I had neighbors who were interested in being social. It’s hard when you grew up some place where everyone knows one another and then move to New York where no one will even make eye contact. Good for your VA neighbors for making the attempt! I hope they never get jaded and New York-y.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
amelia says:after living here for a bit, i have to say new yorkers (on average) have been nicer than i thought they’d be. the note they posted on everyone’s door is too cute.
ps i was at the donut party, i like your blog!
September 11th, 2007 at 9:02 am
fbl says:Holy shit. That may have been the most boring story I have ever heard in my life.
Which says alot for my life, as I took the time to read it.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
me again says:Creepy. Time to move out.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
downtown says:Yeah you must be a real new yorker with that attitude.
Wife has lived in nyc for over 25 years, me about 15. We have made friends with in our apt building, on the street, in the kids park, at the kids preschool and other classes.
Get over yourself and your idealized notion of what makes you a real new yorker.