My quiet month in Lisbon taught me the opposite about local friends

Everyone says to focus on work and skip small talk with neighbors in short-term rentals. I tried that, but feeling isolated made my projects harder, not easier, because a quick chat can lead to real help. What's your take on building quick ties in new cities?

3 comments

3 Comments

hayden14429d ago

It’s easy to forget that short term neighbors are also new in town. I made a point to ask the guy next door where he bought his coffee. That turned into him showing me a cheaper grocery store, which saved me a bunch of time and money. Those tiny asks break the ice for bigger favors later.

iris_fisher5429d ago

I asked where he got his coffee and somehow ended up dog-sitting for a week, TYPICAL me.

sam_thomas29d ago

Totally get that, I asked for a pen and wound up babysitting her kids overnight.