<p>We have a lot of threads on problem neighbors, but I wanted to start one on GREAT neighbors. Tonight I was out snowblowing the 14" of new snow from my driveway at 10:30 pm, and was struggling. Usually my snowblower handles it all, but it was taking 3 passes to get down to pavement (and I have a big driveway). I got stuck even trying to get to the mailbox, before the plow has even come past and buried it.</p>
<p>Enter my neighbor Bob with his John Deere and plow/blower attachment. Cleared the whole driveway and mailbox for me, and apologized because he could not get the small amount up against the garage door. All I had to do was the small sidewalk and a little touch up with the shovel.</p>
<p>Who else has great neighbors that they would not trade for anything?</p>
<p>We have wonderful neighbors that have lived in our neighborhood since before we moved in two decades ago. We store a spare key with them in their house and they are always home to let us back into our house when we lock ourselves out or forget our key. They also are great about picking up our mail & newspaper when we leave town, have encouraged our kids and are just very nice folks. Our other neighbors are nice as well, but the ones across the street are exemplary. We feel very grateful to have them. They are very fond of our kids and have watched them grow up.</p>
<p>A few years ago, we had another great neighbor who lived about 4 houses away. The older D & our D were best friends for several years. Unfortunately, the husband got a great job & promotion & they moved away to a lovely house that is great for entertaining. About that time, the our D & theirs were growing apart anyway, but it was nice for all of us while their friendship lasted.</p>
<p>Glad you have a great neighbor too & glad you started this thread.</p>
<p>We have great neighbors too. Similar story to intparent. We are new to the neighborhood, and not really prepared for the snow which got dumped here today. First one neighbor lent us his snow shovel, then later he came by and blew the snow off of our sidewalks with his snow blower. Then another neighbor noticed that my son was having trouble trying to pull out into the street, helped snow blow the area around my his car so he could move it off the street. It is nice when neighbors look out for each other like that.</p>
<p>We also left a couple of great neighbors behind in California. After we moved, one neighbor took it upon herself to keep an eye on the house, and forwarded a package that came to the old house. Never asked her to, but was happy she was watching the house.</p>
<p>We also have great neighbors. Some of my favorites have moved away in recent years, but the general vibe is to help each other when needed and sometimes just to be nice.</p>
<p>Great neighbors in our new location of six months. Still getting to know people but feel welcomed. Friendly cul de sac and and many dogs- my kind of people.</p>
<p>The old neighborhood was good but we downsized and moved on, as have most of the people we knew for so many years.</p>
<p>Enjoyed seeing the Packers win in the snow showers sitting here in my T-shirt and shorts. Left our snow blower to my sister. Do still have a couple of snow shovels (for any potential car trips northward in winter) we can lend out if the need ever arises…</p>
<p>For 16 years, we have had wonderful neighbors on one side of us – nice older couple. When D was learning how to knit, she knocked on our neighbor’s door and our neighbor welcomed D in and helped her with some tricky needle work.</p>
<p>We had some shared steps that needed fixing. The whole process was done with absolutely zero fuss about sharing the cost and who to use. </p>
<p>This couple ended up renting the house out to one family then another – both families were simply the nicest people. They ultimately sold their house to another lovely family – they wave, say hi to us, stop and chat. I think the house itself has good karma.</p>
<p>Before we moved two months ago, we had the best neighbors in the world. They would blow our leaves, watch our dogs, and just generally look out for us. Drove DH to the hospital once in an emergency. I could borrow a cup of sugar, an egg, etc., from them any time. And – they were extremely nice.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. We should have them over. We only moved five miles.</p>
<p>We also have been blessed with good neighbors. We watch out for each other and help each other out. I don’t think we have one bad thing to say about the neighbors next to us. Good people. I hope they think that about us!</p>
<p>We’ve had great neighbors. One of them left town for Christmas one year. They knew we had several of our relatives coming for the holidays, so they let us use their home. That way no one had to stay at a hotel.</p>
<p>A few years ago, during a windstorm, a large tree branch fell right across our driveway. When the rain and wind stopped, our neighbor across the street was out in my drive with his chainsaw and cleared our driveway for us.</p>
<p>We’ve been here in this neighborhood for 33 years now (yikes, how did that happen?).</p>
<p>Our kids grew up with a wonderful group, block parties, you plow my driveway and I’ll pick up your mail kinda place.</p>
<p>There were actually FIVE kids graduating from the HS down the street several years ago.
Our son was one of the group. Young man down the street ended up being valedictorian and gave the BEST speech. Recognized each of the four others, their accomplishments and told what it was like growing up in our neighborhood. Beautiful…many wet eyeballs in our group.</p>
<p>We’ve lived in our house for 22 years. Right now its too big for us and the yard needs too much work. We really should move. However, both H & I know it would be very hard to find the same great neighbors we already have. Our neighborhood is a mix of other long timers and young families still having babies. I know that if my life gets hairy, I can count on almost any one of my neighbors to help me out.</p>
<p>I do! My neighbors are a great bunch and we count them among our friends. In nicer weather we have happy hours and barbeques in the cul-de-sac together. I know that I can count on them their help if we need it and vice versa. Actually we have all helped each other at one time or another.</p>
<p>We have wonderful neighbors also! They are willing to check on the dogs and get packages, mail, etc. One of them also helps with clearing the driveways and streets of all the leaves which is so helpful this time of year!</p>
<p>My last neighborhood was a big one and I didn’t care much for most of the residents but I adored my neighbors across the street - a gay couple who were always helping us with house/yard stuff, cooking terrific food and sharing, hosting lovely parties. They are so dear. I am in another state and when I travel back I stay with them. We’ve been really lucky here in NJ. A much smaller neighborhood and a close one. Great group that walks every morning. We get together and socialize but not to the point where it’s too much. Just right. Have generally had good luck with neighbors.</p>
<p>We had the best neighbors in our first home. We were mid-twenties; they were our parents’ ages. One had no kids. The other had children in California. They became like parents to us, and eventually, like grandparents to our girls. Let’s not even discuss how much our dog loved them! We used to joke that our three houses were like the Kennedy compound in Hyannis. Never did we come home from work in the summer that there was not a perfect ripe tomato waiting for us. Never did St. Patrick’s Day come without Mary’s corned beef and cabbage party. When they downsized and moved south, we couldn’t bear to stay there anymore, and we moved. They are all dead now. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about them and remember some special moment.</p>
<p>Our neighbors are fine, but I would love for people to be more friendly and interactive. I don’t need to party with them, but it would be nice to sit out on the patio/deck together sometime. </p>
<p>I will give my H kuddos though. When he starts up the snowblower, 9 times out of 10 he also does two single older women’s drives/walks that are next to us and sometimes another neighbor . So I guess he’s the good neighbor. :)</p>
<p>My neighbor is so wonderful that when one of my daughters was 18 months old and had a case of hand, foot and mouth disease (highly contagious), she invited us over to stay cool in her air-conditioned home. It was over 100 degrees out and we didn’t have air-conditioning at the time.</p>
<p>She did this despite the potential exposure to her own kids.</p>
<p>Twenty years later we are still the best of friends and neighbors.</p>
<p>She, her husband, and children are a true blessing in my family’s life!</p>
<p>Add us to the blessed with great neighbor list. We relocated here 13 years ago, not knowing a soul. Several of our neighbors treat us like family! Could not ask for a better situation…</p>
<p>We have an amazing cul-de-sac. 15 houses with 35 kids. People on other streets in our subdivision always remark on what a good time we have. At least 2 block parties per year, but more than that we all LIKE each other. It’s not unusual to drive home, see a few people chatting at their mailbox & next thing you know everyone is out & catching up. We’re all very protective of each others kids & pick up mail, papers, move the garbage cans etc. when others are away. I can’t even count the number of times DH gets a call to move a piece of furniture from one of the guys & he gets there and 4 of the neighbors are there to help. </p>
<p>I <em>know</em> that next year we should probably think about downsizing, but there is no way we could replace our neighborhood vibe. So we’ll stay :)</p>
I got stuck even trying to get to the mailbox, before the plow has even come past and buried it.</p>