Socializing in an Apartment Complex

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Socializing in an Apartment Complex

Eva R. Marienchild · Feb 27, 2015

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If you’re like many friendly, people-loving singles and couples, you’ll jump at the chance to meet other great guys and gals at your apartment complex. After all, the setting is ideal and safe.

What better place to meet new pals than on your home turf? You’ve already eyeballed the comings and goings of your neighbors and their weekly rituals are somewhat familiar to you. Importantly, you’ve vetted their conversational style: you know who’s low-key and who’s too loud for your tastes.

Don’t stop at merely waving at your favorite fellow residents. Instead, arrange to share a cup of tea or a burger at the local eaterie. As an outdoor alternative, take advantage of the picnic tables and benches your apartment complex provides and set a time to brown bag it. It’s a great way to get to know each other.

Once you’re across the table from your neighbor, stay on neutral, common ground when chatting. Share apartment stories—you can’t go wrong with those. After you’ve told your erstwhile new pal about the sweet elderly lady downstairs who bakes you gingerbread cookies, encourage him or her to talk. Then it’s your turn to listen…and to be discerning.

You’ll get to hear if your neighbor has the same values as you do. Does he or she put people down mercilessly? Does he or she boast about things you find distasteful or out-and-out “wrong”? Consider yourself fortunate that you know! You’ll have learned what you need to know in that particular situation, and are free to move on.

If, on the other hand, you find each other laughing uproariously at the same oddball happenstances–like the time the dishwasher and the compactor both backed up–that’s a sign you might end up pals for life!

Whether the lunch date works out or not, you and your neighbor can still wave to each other. However, it takes two people saying “I’m in” to forge a new friendship. If you didn’t feel comfortable, chances are your neighbor picked up on it, and they also sensed the lack of rapport. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

You say you’re not giving up? That you’ve only begun to go down your list of potential pals? Good for you. The next time around, go to the apartment complex office and check the bulletin board. There will likely be a posting for a get-together of some sort. Ask your office ladies and gents what they know about the event, and decide whether it’s your cup of tea. If it is, by all means, go! Chances are you’ll run into one or two or more of your neighbors. If your building doesn’t have a bulletin board, request one, and check nearby stores for their bulletin boards.

Does your complex have a workout room? Fabulous! Make sure to frequent the facilities and, while there, chat up the other participants. At the end of a workout session, when pleasantries have been exchanged, there’s nothing wrong with suggesting you meet again, “same time, same bat channel”. Many folks working the machine or weights circuit look forward to working out with someone else.

Finally, tell your friendly neighborhood janitor or superintendent what you’re up to and ask if there are any residents around your age who seem nice. You’d be surprised at how observant these men and women are. If you count the hundreds, if not thousands, of renters whom they’ve seen come and go, you’ll realize their opinion is worth much.

Lastly, your building super is sure to have an idea of what you’re like, and they are apt to “match you up” with like-minded individuals. (Don’t forget to tip them if you live in a state where this is the norm.)

Whatever happens, be polite, respectful and not overly inquisitive. And don’t give up! You’re not the only one who’s eager to make new friends at your apartment complex.

Think positively!

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