New to the neighborhood..what Would Be the Polite Response?

I would write out a nice thank-you card (for the baked goods and warm welcome to the neighborhood) and take it over in person. Then invite them over for a drink or whatever to get to know them.

I think you should call the cell phone number and say "thank you, how lovely" and invite them for lunch on the weekend so the kid can play or offer drinks one evening. No, baked goods and a card arent' apprioriate gor the reason you said. Although a thank you not e would be fine, you still should call and invite them over.

You are correct...you don't need to return the favor. They want to welcome you, and know you are busy moving in and don't have time to whip up a Baked Alaska or something (it isn't a bake-off :).

It would be lovely for you to go over and invite them over for drinks or something (if you want)...but even that is not necessary.

If they brought the item over in a nice dish or pan, wash it, and retun it with a card (with all your information - if you are comfortable with that since it is generally just so you can know what to expect, and keep an eye on things for each other) thanking them for the warm welcome, and telling them you look forward to spending time getting to know them better.

~ Sidenote: My mom helped an Amish neighbor get their special needs daughter into public school in Special Ed many years ago (which is quite uncommon for Amish due to their religious beliefs).

A few months later they brought over a big basket to thank her with baked goods, vegetables, canned goods, etc. My mom kept the basket until Christmas where she filled it with items they don't usually buy in their culture - fresh fruit and some candies, and stuff; and brought it back to them.

Now it has become a tradition to swap the basket a couple times a year. It is really great idea, and fun to see what is in the basket and when it appears. Quite a great suprise after a long day to come home and find a basket with fresh baked bread, caramel rolls, canned pickles, and things.

The proper thing to do is go over, thank them for the delicious baked goods, and invite them over for dessert (or dinner or drinks, whatever you feel comfortable with) one night. You don't bake something in return...men definitely don't get it! ;) Yay on having good neighbors though!

Wow that was nice of them. I'm kind of on the private side so I would be alittle uncomfortable with exchanging phone numbers or any pertinent personal information until I was more moved in and had time to get to know everyone better. I would just introduce myself, I think that is all that is needed since it was a welcome gesture on their part.
Congratulations on your move ")
C.

I agree 100% with you. As the newbies to the block, you do not and should not bake them anything or do anything! Just walk over to their house, thank them for the delicious baked goods, and invite them over for drinks, just like you suggested. Your husband is wrong! Have him read this!

I agree that inviting them over for a drink or supper would be the better way to thank them. It also gives you a chance to get to know each other better in a more personal manner. How nice to have neighbors who want to get to know you, our new nieghboorhood is like that. At our old one poeple would pull into their garage and shut the door and you would never know them. Hope this helps and congrats on the move :)

What a wonderful welcome to a new neighborhood! I would suggest going to their door and saying a polite "Thank you" and introducing yourselves. Keep it casual and short. If you have kids close to the same age, a great way to get to know a neighbor family is to suggest that the kids play together sometime soon. Again, keep it casual and easy - an hour over at your house or theirs when schedules permit.

I think a dinner invitation might be a bit much until you know if you have anything in common, or like each other. But would certainly be something to offer after you've had a chance to determine that, and can be suggested as "once we've had a chance to settle in and unpack"...

Sounds like you landed in a nice neighborhood. = )

IMO you are more right than your husband. They were welcoming you. The next move is yours and it should be kept simple. Walk over and knock on their door and offer a sincere thank you for the welcome. A small gift might be in order. 'Tis the season and so maybe a wreathe or some small holiday candle, etc. would work.

Do you have kids? Are they close in age to their kids? If so, maybe ask about kid happenings in the neighborhood: "The new snow we got has really got my kids begging to go sledding. Do your kids have a favorite sledding hill?" That could open up an offer to have a sledding play date.

I don't think you owe anyone a gift---you're the new one, and you got a welcome gift. It would be a nice gesture to invite them over some afternoon for coffee and cake, though. That way you could all get to know each other, including the kids. You can ask them about local restaurants and shops, who collects trash on what days, any good babysitters in the area, stuff like that.

Hmm. I would probably just walk over there and personally thank them and introduce myself. I think that would be enough! :-) I met my new neighbors briefly - then about a month later they had a housewarming party & invited me. I thought that was a very nice gesture!

I am the one who always brings the baked goods over. I never expect anything in return. I just like to let the neighbors know if they have and emergency or need to borrow a cup of sugar, I am there.
It is hard in the winter getting to know the neighbors. I am sure you will see more of them in the summer and relationships will form.

I'm one for parties, so I would probably call the #s and thank them and then arrange an afternoon cook out or holiday get together.

M.

I think you are right. Go over or call them. Thank them for the welcoming gift and ask them over for coffee or drinks (where you can also have baked something to go along with it). This will thank them and give you a chance to get aquainted without locking yourself into a full dinner before you get to know them.

I'd call & thank them personally, as I'm sure your husband did as well. If you feel like entertaining, invite them for x-y-z at a-b-c on date l-m-n-o-p! No need to send a written thank you note in this case (as long as you call!)

Nice neighbor! You don't need to send them anything; call and thank them, and make plans to invite them over for a drink/coffee.

Hi,

wow, wish our neighbors were like yours! I would call them and introduce yourself, thank them and if you feel inclined to invite them over, do so then. Maybe they have kids the same ages as yours and you could do a playdate? Good luck~
Molly

Your dear husband is a little off on this one. You're busy unpacking boxes, trying to figure out where to buy groceries, the best dry cleaner, the shortcuts through the neighborhood. Your neighbors were being gracious - how very nice! Call them back, thank them for the baked goods. I have to imagine that they saw your kids - or the kids stuff get unpacked and thier kids were eager to see if there are playmates. Invite them over for a short visit. Be sure to do it when you only have an hour - and tell them at the time of inviation that you are limtied due to nap times, etc. The one hour limit allows you to meet the neighbors without getting yourself to wrapped up in a situation that may end up being completely lovely - or the exact opposite. ;o)

The only reason I suggest that you limit the initial time is that you may find that the kids or the mom are nightmares. There's a family on our street that has been the first to go and introduce themselves to any new neighbors - not sure why they race over - but the wife has issues - borderline psych problems and the kids are a horror once you get to know them - they'd steal toys (ALL the time), the kids would curse or give adults the finger, etc. All of our other neighbors are perfectly normal people - but I've never seen them race over to the new neighbor's home. Not sure what that's about - but it's worth a note of caution!

Of course, they could just be nice people with excited little kids who want to have new playmates - hopefully that's what this is all about!

Good luck in your new home!

I think you should let them know that the act was appreciated and get together with them. It's a great way to help you fit into the neighborhood.