Dating A Neighbor

I really enjoy living where I do. There are a LOT of beautiful women in my neighborhood, and a few happen to live in my building.

There is a bad side to it though. Dating a neighbor can have it's benefits, but things can get ugly fast and it allows you fewer options than normal. No sweat. Let's look at how to date a neighbor and not create a bad situation.

The first thing to consider is this: how well do you handle break ups? Are yours generally good, or are they explosive, ugly affairs? In the long run, you'll want to take a good hard look at how you handle these things. If you break off badly, you'll have to deal with her on a regular basis.

Conversely, you need to know her fairly well, as you are making a judgment call on the possibility of the same thing happening on her end.

Listen to how she talks about other people. Is she is petty, conniving, and does a lot of backstabbing, there is a good chance that things will end nastily. And if she mentions an ex boyfriend, pay heed to that too.

In most other relationships, I wouldn't worry too much about these things at the start. But n this situation, you REALLY want to avoid things turning sour.

Once you have decided, you'll want to talk about the potential situation. I recommend approaching it by reminding her that you are both mature adults. It's a good frame to go with. See how she reacts. If she agrees and shows she understands the risk, that is good. It won't prevent a blow up, but you'll have the opportunity to tread cautiously and see the problem coming at least.

You will want to set some boundaries as far as privacy goes. It will be tough, as she's right next door. Does she have a bad habit of stopping in whenever? Do either of you work from home?

There is a serious risk of annoying each other immensely if you aren't careful.

ALso look at how close she is. Is she in the apartment next door? A few down, or on another floor? Across the street? This is important, as the closer she is, the more your privacy will be encroached upon.

It's a lot to consider, but believe me, these things are important. You don't want World War 3 happening in your building. It's not nice to your neighbors and can make your life a living hell. If it gets bad enough, you might have to move.

That said, there is a lot of obvious fun you can have. Your proximity is very close, and it allows for a lot of intimacy. Dating can be as easy as walking down the hall!

The key to it all is using your judgment and talking about the issues BEFORE you make the plunge. Just be smart, and remember if things go bad, it's your responsibility to deal with the issue.

You can still have a GREAT relationship this way, just be smart!