Neighbors and your lights...

Let me ask everyone this, cause its been kinda bugging me... I am not one to spend much time talking to my neighbors, not because I don't like them, I just am not the kind to go knock on a door and say "What's up?"  With that said, if I see one outside when I am out, I will wave and say Hi, but that's it.  I have lived here just over 3 years and actually have several neighbors I have not even spoken a direct word with...strange, maybe, but none have contacted us either, so fair is fair I guess.

With that said, since you're doing a big lights display, would it be best to go talk to your neighbors to see how they feel about it, or let them come to you?  If you chose to let them come to you, is it fair enough to assume that if none do, they must be golden with it? As I mentioned in another post, some neighbors have mentioned it to me in approval, none saying they didnt like it, but none of my immediate neighbors have said a word to me.  I was told that the guy that lives almost directly across from us come over on Christmas Eve last year to tell me he loved the lights, but I wasn't home.  From the story I got I was unable to tell if it was a serious or not, really. I mean when I kick on the icicle lights, it's bright enough to light his front yard across the street and the reflection in his living room window can't be missed.  I still say that they have the best seats in the area, especially this year with us broadcasting our music, they can sit in comfort, flip on the radio and enjoy... but would they? Ya know?

A big reason I am worried about this is that we are going from 32 channels last year to 112 this year and from about 7K in lights last year to over 20K this year....so what do y'all do... proactive or sit back and let them come to you?

Ken - sounds like we live in almost the same neighborhood. Last year I ran the 6 channels of Mr. Christmas lights-N-Sound. Basede on the amount of sales I expected there would be alot of these boxes running lightsw on homes. Didn'e see another one anywhere around. If we saw 1 or 2 cars stop we thought we were doing good. It wasn't until later in the year through some idle conversation with our neighbors we found out there were cars parked up and down the street watching. All the neighbors seemed to like what we did. I warned them that this year will be much more, 112 channels, a bigger display, and possibly alot more traffic.  Everyone came back positive and are anxiously awaiting the display.  Several had  tuned radios and commented on how they liked watching from their homes and how they look forward to doing the same this year. So I'd have to say the reaction around me has been positive.

We're going to end up with a little party, family and neighbors to come to the grand starting. Unfortunatly for us, we're about 400' back from the road, and nothing is near the road (this year). We're also on a dead-end road, so that helps as well. Beyond that, the ONE neighbor next to us has already seen previews and sings the preview song all year. And the one OTHER close neighbor is across the street 2 lots down. :)

I'm in the same boat...I'm not the type to go mingle with our neighbors.

UPDATE:

I wanted to mention that yesterday while putting up lights and while running power cords and such I actually had a few of my neighbors comment on our lights... ALL POSITIVE!  The ones I was afraid of most, the ones almost directly across the street, said they LOVED the light show, even commented on how much they liked our Halloween show (wasnt much really, but thats still cool to hear).  Mind you, this is the first time I have ever talked to this guy and I told him I was glad to hear they did cause I was worried about the amount of light I was throwing their way and he says, "Really? No, we dont notice it at all when we close our curtains, so its great!"  After talking for a few minutes I felt so much better.  Had been worrying about that... especially about them.

A few others stopped to comment as they drove by as well.  I must have talked to a dozen or so that live in our neighborhood yesterday.  Heck even my direct neighbors wife commented on how it was looking really good and how she really liked the little trees (mini trees) down front.  Others commented on how they cnat wait to see it all lit up.

Thats a load off my mind...