Getting to Know Your New Community After a Move

Relocating can be tough for you and your family. Even if you’re only moving a few miles away, it’s hard to deal with so much change. Not only are you facing different commutes to work, school, and grocery stores, you’re also contending with joining a new community. Getting to know your neighbors and neighborhood can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve gathered a few easy ideas that can help make the process easier. Even if you’re not a social butterfly, don’t worry. These are easy ways to help integrate yourself into a new community and learn about a neighborhood. Take Regular Walks Around Your Neighborhood Assuming you haven’t moved in the dead of winter, take some time in the mornings or evenings to walk around your neighborhood. If you can’t manage this every day, at least try to get out and about on the weekends. You are likely to discover new bakeries, restaurants, or shops within walking distance from your new house. As you’re walking around the neighborhood, you will probably also run into your neighbors. Besides, moving is so stressful for you and your entire family. Taking some time, even just five minutes, to walk around and get out of the house is an excellent de-stressor. Recharge your batteries every day, so you don’t wear yourselves out. Take Notes On Your Neighbors (Without Being Creepy) Not everyone feels comfortable approaching strangers. But even if you’re on the shy side, you can still get to know the people who live in your area. While taking walks through your neighborhood, pay attention to the kinds of activities your neighbors are into. For example, maybe you see a neighbor wrangling kids carrying soccer gear. Or maybe you see the same neighbor working daily in a gorgeous garden. You can strike up a conversation later about community sports or ask for recommendations about local greenhouses. Finding common ground with the people living near you can be an excellent ice breaker. You can learn about your neighbors this way without feeling like a stalker, which will make it easier to get to know them. You can also take a stronger approach and invite your neighbors over to your new home. Which leads us to... Throw a Neighborhood Housewarming Party No doubt your friends and family would love to join you in your new home for a housewarming party. But if you’re looking to get to know your neighbors, consider hosting a neighborhood get together after moving in. First, give your family time to settle in, unpack boxes, and paint the walls. Then, within the first month of moving in, send out invitations (by mail or in person) to your neighbors inviting them over. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors in a relaxed environment. There’ a good chance you haven’t met all your neighbors yet. After all, moving can be so time-consuming! So, hosting a get-to-know-you party is a great way to meet everyone. Sign Up For Next Door Have you ever heard of Next Door? It’s a private social network for neighborhood communities. People living in your area can post about neighborhood news or alerts, sell or give away items, and generally interact with each other. What’s great about Next Door is it offers you the opportunity to interact with people right away after moving into your new home. Since each neighborhood community is only open to those living within the area, it helps keep interactions local. Sign up for your neighborhood’s Next Door community and introduce yourself! Start up conversations with people in your area, find common interests, and even learn about ways to get involved. People are always posting about intermural sports teams, community events, and other meetups. Joining a new community can be a lot of fun. You have the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests and get involved in new activities. Pay attention to community events and attend them with your whole family. You’ll have a good time, and it will make the entire relocating process that much easier.