Should I get new neighbors a welcome gift?
The house next door went up for rent recently and became available 1/1. The new people apparently took that move in date very seriously because when my husband and I returned from an NYE party, a U-Haul was outside and lights in the house were on. We were getting ready for bed at nearly 2am when our doorbell rang (scary, actually). We figured out it was the new neighbor and answered the door. Turns out they had locked themselves out of their detached garage with their vehicles and garage door opener inside. She asked if we had a spare key or a knife to help pick the lock. My lock picking skills are zilch and I didn’t really know what to give her, so I just handed her a utility knife. I don’t know. She was polite but it was still kind of a weird interaction.
I was planning on getting whoever moved in a dish towel, some soap and a welcome-to-the-neighborhood card with our names and my phone number on it, but like, it’s been a week and she hasn’t returned our knife? We live in a city suburb, our houses are close together, it’s absolutely not a big deal to walk 20 feet over and leave it at our doorstep. After ringing our doorbell and knocking on our door at almost 2 in the morning, I guess I’m a little peeved. They’ve also lived here for a week, so I’m wondering if I should go through with my welcome stuff, all things considered, or if I missed the window anyway? What do you think?