When we first moved into our old neighborhood 33+ years ago, we either knew, or came to know, our surrounding neighbors well. We specifically moved into a house at the very end of a dead end street, so there wouldn’t be any through traffic when we started having children.
The family across the street and one house over we already knew, as their oldest son (of 2) was one of my youngest bros good friends. Although they were really great neighbors, the wife was definitely our streets Mrs. Kravitz…she seemed to know everything about everyone on the street…!!!!!
The family next door to us, quite surprisingly, turned out be people we already knew from years past, as DWifey worked with the husband at one point. We only found out when we answered the door and there they stood with a pie to welcome the “new neighbors”…we were all “Oh my, no way…!!!”…!!!!!
They had 2 young children at the time.
The parents of the family directly across the street from us were both military, and Vietnam vets…she a nurse and he a grunt. They were both still in the National Guard and had 2 almost grown children at the time. They were great, and used to throw a Halloween block party in the “dead” end every year…!!!!!
The family next to our surprise neighbors was a single mother with a young son at the time. They were great neighbors too, and we talked often…!!!
Over the years, all those neighbors ended up moving, and the homes changed hands several times, so we hardly ever knew anything about any of them, at all.
We moved to a new home in a different neighborhood at the end of last year, and know nothing about any of our neighbors. Although vehicles are comin’ and goin’ during “normal”hours, the neighborhood is pretty quiet.
No big deal though, as the most important thing is that our home and our oldest DDs family home, including our 2 young granddaughters
is within walking distance, across a neighborhood park/pool, and a few blocks down, so not too close…!!!