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Getting to know your neighbors comes with a wide range of benefits, including enhanced safety and community events. Whether you need to borrow an egg or need a shoulder to cry on, a good neighbor is always there to help. In both challenging and joyous times, these relationships remind you that you’re surrounded by friendship and support.

Here are some of the most important reasons to get to know your neighbors.

Keeping an Eye on Your Home and Family

Perhaps one of the most important benefits of getting to know your neighbors is the extra home protection. Because your neighbors know your regular comings and goings, they are more likely to notice someone lurking around. Many neighbors have thwarted thieves because they were keeping an eye on their friend’s property. Other cases include watching over your house while you’re on vacation and calling the police if something is amiss. Through neighborhood watch, you get an extra set of eyes on your home.

Enriching Your Social Life

A friendly, social neighborhood is more likely to have social events like block parties, potlucks, pool parties, game nights, and more. Close relationships with your neighbors enhance your family’s social life and create meaningful connections. A friendly neighborhood dynamic encourages you and your family to get out of the house, have some fun, and meet new people. Plus, Lincoln Military residents have access to FREE events throughout the year! Simply log in to your resident portal to see what’s going on in your neighborhood.

Lending a Helping Hand

Creating and maintaining a friendly demeanor with your neighbors can come in handy. Whether you need to borrow an ingredient for a recipe you’re trying out, or you’ve just run out of dishwashing detergent, your neighbors can save you an impromptu trip to the store. And what comes around, goes around! As a friendly neighbor, you’re happy to return the favor when the family next door needs something, as well. Show your appreciation for their giving spirit by gifting a plate of food from the recipe they helped you complete or slipping a thank you card in their mailbox.

Sharing Mutual Chores and Responsibilities

It’s especially beneficial to know your neighbors when you both share similar lifestyles, such as in military housing. For example, if you both wake up at 7:30 am to take your kids to school, you could carpool and switch off every other day. If you water your lawn weekly, you could alternate weeks and water each other’s lawns. If you’re hiring a babysitter on a Friday night, have their kids join and split the cost of the sitter. Sharing these types of responsibilities can make both of your lives more comfortable.

Making Lifelong Friends

If you have children, look for families in your neighborhood with children around the same age. Neighborhood kids can quickly become best friends, as play dates are always accessible with a simple knock at the door. Organize a neighborhood event so all the kids can meet each other and watch the friendships grow from there. This can give your kids something to do after school, on weekends, and during school breaks. Instead of sitting at home and spending all their time indoors, neighborhood friendships can encourage your kids to get outside and stay active.

Providing Emotional Support

Getting to know your neighbors is especially important in military housing. Military life can be hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Building relationships with fellow military housing neighbors allows you to share your mutual challenges, accomplishments, and everything in between. When you need support, such as during a spouse’s deployment, you know you have a shoulder to lean on right next door. And vice versa - if your neighbor is struggling, they know they can turn to you.

At Lincoln Military Housing, we understand the importance of getting to know your neighbors, which is why we go the extra mile to facilitate these bonds. Neighborhood social events and family-friendly amenities set the stage for meeting new people and strengthening friendships. Whether you need a hand with chores or want to plan a backyard barbeque, know your neighbors for a memorable and beneficial set of relationships!