New neighbour ignores me

[Echo65]

A young lady moved in next door a few weeks ago (mid terrace house, low fences). I have attempted to start a conversation on 3 separate occasions and she has completely ignored me. My DH said maybe she’s deaf, but I heard her today on the phone speaking normally in perfect English! I’m baffled, any explanations?!

The thing is you are a complete stranger. Yes, you're neighbours, but under most circumstances if a total stranger walked up to you and tried to befriend you, it'd be weird.

A lot of people want to keep firm boundaries with neighbours because there's so much potential for it to go wrong, and because it's hard to have any privacy when someone you're friends with (or who thinks you're friends) is right there all the time. A lot of people unfortunately have poor boundaries and aren't willing to accept a friendly smile and nod or brief chat, but want close friendship and lots of contact which is a total nightmare and can really prevent you from living your life.

Of course she could nod and smile but there are all sorts of reasons, from autism, deafness, anxiety, mental illness, or even wearing earbuds, why she's not doing that.

If you tried to strike up a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop and they didn't respond you wouldn't think anything of it, so don't feel rejected just because she's a neighbour - she's still a total stranger.