How involved are you in your neighborhood? Do you know some of your neighbors by name and check in from time to time? If you know a local Realtor, we enjoy getting to know our neighbors and being involved in the community we live in. We strive to get out and meet our neighbors, spend time at community events, and keep our finger on the pulse of what matters most to our neighbors and community.

These ambitions extend beyond the function of our business and become who we are and what we enjoy doing. One recent Pew Research study showed that 57% of Americans know some of their neighbors and 26% know most of them. The island life does contribute to knowing more of your neighbors but when it comes to connection, there’s room to grow, even on an island. As a B.O.I. (Born On Island) and a local with most of my family and friends living on the island, I know a lot of the people I see around town.

When you look closely, many B.O.I. families have overlapping connections and have spent generations here. It’s not uncommon to meet a local for the first time and immediately the conversation turns to the rabbit trail of how “else” you’re connected. Many times, they were a grade ahead or behind you in school but in the same grade as your sibling or cousin, maybe your parents were friends or you worked at the same local store at some point along the way, or you learned that you’re distant cousins. Whatever the connection, there usually is one among longtime locals in Galveston. Today we have a growing population of I.B.C. (Islander By Choice) neighbors who have come for the beauty and culture of our island and often stayed because of the feeling of connection to a broad community of welcoming and familiar faces.

With an ever-growing and changing community, it can be difficult to remain connected and it requires the intention to meet new faces and allow them to become part of our fabric.  As our neighborhoods grow, we can do our part to make our community a welcoming and familiar place to be. If you only focus on the negative outcomes and unfortunate circumstances of the nightly news, you’ll crawl into your shell and miss the point of human connection entirely. If you don’t already, I encourage you to try a few neighborly ideas to improve your block, street, cul-de-sac, building, or neighborhood and welcome the quality of community it brings to your life. Ask for an introduction. If you’re new to the neighborhood, chances are good that your local Realtor mentioned their connections to the neighborhood when showing you around.

Your local Realtor will often point out which houses on the street or in the immediate area they’re familiar with or have sold in the past. Or maybe they have friends or family on the street or grew up around the block. Whatever that connection may be, don’t be shy about capitalizing on it. Getting to know a neighbor through a trusted source like your Realtor can help you feel more neighborly, right away. Smile and say “Hi”. I know our daily lives can be hectic and you have somewhere to be when you’re leaving the house, but a simple smile or a wave can open the door to a great neighborly connection. The next time you walk the dog or mow the lawn, smile at your neighbors, and introduce yourself. Wave at your neighbors when you bring the trash cans up or put them out. Cross the driveway and shake a hand with a genuine smile that welcomes new connections to the community you’ve settled in.

Your connections may not always be reciprocated, but you will learn the patterns and communication preferences of your neighbors to help you figure out what types of connections are possible, and new friendships will begin to bud. One of the most alluring and charming characteristics of our island is the historic and charming layout of our community. Island life is very different from the modern city layout and along the Gulf freeway. When choosing an area of the county to settle in, talk with your local Realtor about more than prices, schools, and square footage.

Chat with your local Realtor about livability and what your needs are in a neighborhood. If you’d like to be sure you connect with neighbors and find a place walkable and close to a neighborhood haunt, they’ll help you find just the spot. On the island, many of our neighborhood streets are close to a great place to catch a parade, a local eatery that has weekly specials, a corner store, a great stretch of beach, a community center, a house of worship, or the meeting place of a charitable organization. These neighborhood gems can be the perfect way to get connected. Perhaps volunteering will be easier in a location you can stroll to or maybe you’ll find a house of worship where you can meet all the congregants and develop a deeper connection. You could even meet up with neighbors at local restaurants and share a neighborhood feast no one had to cook. And don’t neglect the power in seeing if an elderly neighbor needs a small item when you’re heading to the corner store to grab your daily needs.

The simple act of walking down the sidewalk, saying hello to strangers, and telling someone who you are builds community and as the community grows, the fabric gets stronger, and the neighbors feel a deeper sense of connection. Whether you’re a longtime local or a recent I.B.C., be a good neighbor and make your community a better place to live. Local Realtors make great neighbors and talking with your local Realtor about ways to connect to your new neighborhood or community is a good place to start.