The Unwritten Rules of Being a Good Lubbock Neighbor

I recently moved, and let me tell you — I hit the neighbor jackpot. On one side, there’s a sweet couple who both teach school and have two adorable dogs (I'm not sure if the dogs like me yet, but they will...) On the other hand, a quiet guy who loves video games and minds his own business (a quality I deeply respect).

Don't Be A Bad One!

After years of living next to folks who treated the sidewalk like a confessional and couldn’t resist sharing every piece of gossip in a five-mile radius, I feel like I finally made it to neighbor heaven. Peace, respect, and knowing they would be there for me if I truly needed them really helps me sleep at night.

The Unwritten Rules

It got me thinking: there are unwritten rules to being a good neighbor in Lubbock. We don’t talk about them much, but we all know them. Make sure you're being the best you can be by following this easy checklist.

1. Wave, Always.
Even if you don’t know their name. Even if you’ve waved to them three times already that day. In Lubbock, waving is like saying, “I see you, I respect you, and I’m not here to start drama. Just saying hello.”

2. Don’t Be a Porch Talker.
You know the type. They catch you on the way to your car, say “one quick thing,” and suddenly you’re in a 45-minute conversation about someone’s cousin’s ex-boyfriend’s parole hearing. Don’t be that person. Read the body language. Please. Do it for us all.

3. Know the Dog Etiquette.
If your neighbor’s dogs bark, act like you didn’t hear it. If your dog barks, act shocked when someone mentions it. Also: never complain about someone’s dog unless it’s literally starting a band.

Read More: What To See And Do Beyond Downtown Lubbock, Texas

5. Help When It Matters.
A true Lubbock neighbor will show up when your car won’t start, when the wind blows your trash cans into the street, or when you’re trying to wrangle a trampoline back into the yard. No questions asked. Be that person.

6. Gossip Is a Weapon. Please Use It Responsibly.
A little light chatter about who redid their driveway is fine. But full-on gossip? That’s a social wildfire that spreads faster than a haboob. Keep it friendly, not fiery. If someone is filling your head with gossip, rest assured, they are gossiping about you when you aren't around, too. It's just the truth.

7. Give the “Driveway Nod” Goodbye.
When you part ways, you have to stand there another two minutes making small talk about the weather, your lawn, or Texas Tech football before you actually walk away. It’s tradition!

Lubbock neighbors are a special breed. They are equal parts friendly and fiercely respectful of your personal space. I’m lucky to have landed in a spot where people wave, smile, and mean it. They don’t pry, they don’t judge, and they’d probably lend me a shovel if I needed to bury my old doorbell camera (or something else).

If you’ve got good neighbors, hang on to them with all your might!  Around here, they are worth as much, if not more, than curb appeal.

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