Woman Comes Home To Find Unusual Note From Neighbor: 'Apologies in Advance'

Making new connections can be difficult, so when Chloé Casteel received a post-it note from a neighbor inviting her to a party, how could she say no?

After moving to a new apartment building in Joplin, Missouri, last fall, Casteel, 24, had seen her neighbors from afar but had had no interaction with them. But that changed in December, when she and her boyfriend, Travis, found a post-it note on their door from an upstairs neighbor, saying "apologies in advance for any excessive noise" at a party they would be hosting.

Having not spoken to her neighbors previously, this was the perfect opportunity for Casteel to finally integrate herself. She told Newsweek that she "was nervous about sending a response, simply because they were strangers," but fortunately she did, and it couldn't have gone any better.

"I felt a bit awkward about communicating through post-it notes and I was more worried that they wouldn't respond or find us weird. I think what made me really want to respond was that there was something very fun and childlike about it, like kids passing notes in class," she said.

Casteel asked her neighbors what type of party it would be, and two days later, there was yet another post-it note on her door inviting her to join. This was a wonderful "opportunity for friendship and community" that Casteel had been hoping for in a world that can be very unsociable at times.

This is especially true for younger people, who are less likely to know their neighbors than older generations, according to the Pew Research Center. Data shows that 57 percent of Americans only know some of their neighbors, while 26 percent know most of them. For adults under 30 years old, 23 percent don't know any of their neighbors, which compares to 4 percent of those aged 65 and over.

Even for those who are acquainted, meeting up is still uncommon, as 58 percent of Americans who know some of their neighbors have never met them for parties or social gatherings.

To Go or Not To Go?

Upon receiving the post-it invitation, Casteel went "back and forth" over whether to attend or if that might be a step too far. She told Newsweek: "Travis was down to go immediately, without hesitation. But I'm a bit more cautious in social situations where I don't know anyone. Plus, what would I do there? What would I say? Did they expect us to show up, or was it just a curtesy invite?"

Casteel detailed the unusual turn of events in a TikTok video, with images of each post-it note, asking her followers: "Should we go?" The clip instantly went viral with 1.8 million views and 56,200 likes at the time of writing.

Ultimately, the couple decided to show their faces late in the evening, and though her "heart was racing" initially, she was glad to finally get to know her neighbors.

She said: "We ended up exchanging numbers and deciding that we would host a game night for all of us to hang out. We've stopped and chatted on the sidewalk when we're outside, and it's really nice to see a friendly face and have those quick little chats. I really want to grow the sense of community within my building, and responding to their post-it was just the start.

"I feel like post-COVID human interaction with neighbors is still pretty sparse, but I'd love to change that and get to know the people around me. I hope my video inspires other people to reach out to their neighbors and build connections."

With over 1,200 comments on the viral TikTok post, there was a mix of people encouraging Casteel to attend, but some were more reluctant. Regardless of their stance, many people were desperate for an update. After sharing the happy ending to her tale, she urged more people to give their neighbors a chance. "You never know who you might meet," she said.

Among the many comments on the post, one TikTok user wrote: "It's either going to be the most awkward time or you're going to meet your best friends. Never know unless you go."

Another person responded: "Party is about over, and I need an update."

While a third comment reads: "This is so wholesome, and Kyle is a top-tier neighbor with such respect! Love this for you!"

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