I learned a long time ago to keep neighbors as just that neighbors.
To many horror stories about neighborhood parties and get togethers that later produce bad feelings.
You got that right!
Yes, good advice. Keep neighbors as neighbors. Neighbor relations should be viewed like office romances...keep it professional only at work and keep the distance with neighbors...polite but not buddy-buddy unless completely sure.
We knew the neighbors on either side of our suburban house. I felt we should get to know the neighbors a few houses over as well. So we did. And are sorry we did because one turned out to be a jerk and the other such an asshole that we had to call 911 on the guy.
A sad day in America when we have to watch our backs in our own neighborhood like in the old USSR...trusting no one.