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Go knock on the doors. Introduce yourself. Suggest a neighborhood get-together. Not as an HOA (if you have one) but as an ‘after work’ (having a few drinks together). You’ll soon realize these might be your best friends. I regret not having done it on day one, but over time, years later, wonderful neighbors are my best friends. We’ve had very little movement on the street (less than 20 houses) over that time.

Unless you’re in a truly weird area, you’ll find people far more open and inviting to this idea here, compared to in the south (both lived and traveled there) where people might be more open on the surface, but far shallower more of ‘mind your own business’ when it really comes down to it.

I do the passive thing of doing some hobby/chore outside and someone usually will wander by to chat or help. So wax those skis or build a giant piñata out on your driveway and you'll meet your neighbors :-)

I would like the intro, but I'm also not a fan or subscriber of the WA freeze.

I like to know ALL my neighbors, and I give them my phone number and it has been really nice. I think etiquette says that the old people welcome the new, so it's not surprising that they haven't introduced themselves. Also, you're overthinking it. Just say hi.

Lifetime Washington native here, ao happy to see you describe the 'Seattle Freeze' as the quiet politeness I always assumed it to be (rather than the cold aloofness it is often taken as).

That said...I'm not a big fan of people and happen to live behind a locked gate, BUT still do think it's important to know my neighbors and them know me. You never know when things are going to go sideways, and neighbors are your closest community.

I say go for it, just be careful none of them get the impression they can drop by for frequent unannounced social visits in return (~shiver~). 😀

I don’t think you can go wrong extending a welcome, with or without baked goods. It’s a well-known practice, and most people will find it to be a kind and friendly gesture. If they’re not interested in interacting with neighbors, you seem like you would be respectful of that and give them their space. No harm no foul. If they are interested then you have a neighbor-friend and the potential for a stronger, safer community.

We live in Seattle and know all our neighbors. We’re not friends, but are friendly. It’s no big deal to wave when you get home and the neighbor’s out gardening or whatever, and it adds a lot of positive benefits. People on our street look out for each other’s property (without being intrusive), like our neighbor has put out our garbage when we’re out of town so we don’t miss the pickup. And it definitely helps when something goes wrong - for instance, we had to negotiate a shared sewer line problem that crossed three yards. It helps to start that kind of conversation from a friendly place.

I bought a house 6 years ago, and for 5 of those years, I never met anyone other than my immediate neighbors.

Last June I adopted a dog, and now I know everyone. Well, I know their dogs. I still don't know any human's name.

In Rochester, just a little outside of Olympia, I live on a private street and I’ve met three people. I only remember one name and she has moved. I’ve been here for 10 years. Our properties are 5 acres a piece. It’s normal for people to keep to themselves where there’s a lot of space between. At my old house in Olympia, I’ve actually talked extensively with my neighbors on both sides of my house. And I do know their names. The property is 0.25 acre. So maybe it depends on the proximity. I tend to like to be left alone in the country. I do know that I could probably run to a neighbor if I’m getting murdered at both locations, so not entirely secluded.

Yes, that's part of it.

OP is saying they can't use fresh fruit or veg and I assume it is in the context of making the hot sauce they mention.

Cottage Food Permit allows for cooking in an inspected home kitchen and baked fruit pies are approved under that permit.

I don't typically talk to my neighbors, but there is a good age gap between all of us. I feel like there has to be a reason to socialize between neighbors. Maybe something like trying to arrange a block party would be in order just to give people an excuse to socialize might be the way to go.

As a person also born and raised here, if you keep a respectful distance from other people then that distance never gets breached then you're just a polite stranger.

My neighbor knocked on my door. Introduced himself. We had a 5 minute chat. Now we're friendly and neighborly. No weird awkwardness.

Way better than seeing neighbors and being awkward and pretend not to see them.

You go ahead and do your thing. Most of your neighbors will appreciate you. And the rest, well, they can just as easily be themselves, and that's fine too.

More like because that’s what auto manufacturers lobbied for. America had a long and storied history of auto manufacturers squishing public transit

Fruit baked in a pie is not fresh. It’s baked and sterilized. It also has to be made in a commercial kitchen that has passed DOH inspections.

Seriously. This place it beautiful but it’s also so damn soft when it comes to rules.

Well, that is not quite correct since you can use fresh fruit in a baked pie and you can cook vegetables for meals prepared and sold from a home kitchen under the cottage food permit.

Hot sauce and salsa are considered higher risk of foodborne illness so are not included products for the cottage food permit. You would need to rent time in a commercial kitchen for that type of product since you would need to be licensed as a food processor.

Get a food handler's permit. Can your goods properly. (Vacuum packed and sealed). There are vendors selling salsa and foods at craft fairs around.

More likely Rattlesnake mountain or part of the same ridge to the west.

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However the WA Dept of Agriculture and the department of Health make damn sure you aren’t spreading insects across the state or blasting fruits and vegetables with toxic crap that makes people sick.

> Just a guess but Washington makes reveue off sales tax,

Washington State doesn't tax most groceries/food.

I could be wrong, but perhaps Red Mountain https://www.google.com/maps/@46.4012223,-119.4447906,3a,86.3y,177.4h,80.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDPh85r__wfgdWsncji9-DA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I despise that road. Two lanes for miles and many semi trucks to get stuck behind where oncoming traffic prevents you from passing. I was also ran off the road twice from passing vehicles getting greedy and almost colliding with me head on at 80Mph.

This road runs along the southern edge of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and is most dangerous on the end of Fridays when Hanford employees work (they have every other Friday off).