Moved in with parents and don't know how to respond to nosy neighbor?

Give a non-commital answer (“working on that!) said with a smile then immediately ask hima question that requires him talking about himself (“so how do you like you car?” or “how’re the grand kids?” or whatever. Obfuscate then deflect.

Learned a phrase that I keep in my back pocket so to say. “If you forgive me for not answering that I will forgive you for asking.”

Agree with @Neurotic_David. And if things get sticky, talk to your folks. If you avoid this guy long enough he might go talk to your parents. If they know what he’s doing, I would hope they would defend you if he asks them.

By the way, do your parents live in a senior community? If so there may be rules against younger people living there.

Say you are in the CIA and are unable to divulge information about your work!

Just tell people that’s something you rather not share with everybody. He’s probably just showing interest in you in a friendly matter, in which case he’ll probably understand if you don’t want to spread the word on your situation. Just have a friendly conversation about something else.

Oh, forget everything else and go with @sarahjane90‘s answer. Just don’t do it in a sarcastic way but a joking endearing way.

And just how is this any of his business?

His busy body issues are HIS, do not EVER allow another to intimidate you!

I would avoid him to the best of my ability but if he becomes too nosy I’d speak up and let him know that your business and that of your parents is none of his concern.

If you still don’t have a job, consider doing some charity work. Then when asked you can say, “I am gainfully unemployed.”

Simply change the subject, ask about his garden/car/kids/cat or the weather. It should be perfectly possible to be cordial and even pleasant with him, without a sense of your boundaries being invaded. It may build your confidence too. We are not necessarily just ‘what we do’, your reasons for being at your parents’ are private, but the fact of your presence makes you part of the community, even if only temporarily. Don’t be embarrassed, look him in the eye, smile – you have nothing to lose here.

This man needs a big dose of “none of your business”. I understand you wanting to protect your parents, especially when you leave and they are left behind to deal with this person.

I would just keep on avoiding this person as much as possible. You do not want to start a domestic squabble in your parents neighborhood and then leave.

Why the sudden interest in you, anyway?

What the hell?

The dude is just being nice! Smile and nod, keep it light and learn the art of changing the subject. In the meantime, change your definition of nosy. Maybe try and nurture your people skills. All he’s asked you so far is how long you’re staying, same as asking how long you’re in town. You’re assuming he’s trying to get details out of you and you’re paranoid he’ll tell the neighborhood.

Trust me, darling. You probably aren’t that interesting.

The way I see your post, you’ve been rather rude to HIM. He asked you a question to get to know you, you responded shortly and ended the conversation abruptly. The next time you saw him, you dashed past to avoid his approaching you.

I’d be more offended by your behavior than his.

Just do what I do and go Socratic (answer question with a question)... it confuses the hell out of people and turns the conversation focus away from you. Not to mention people like to think you’re actually listening/paying attention.

I have always found the best way to answer a nosy person’s nosy question is with a smile and my own question: “why do you want to know?”
It doesn’t matter what the question is, you will put them on the spot with that question. The only logical answer is because they are nosy!! Unless the neighbor wants to pay your rent or offer you a job, he is just being nosy!!

It sounds like the biggest issue is what you think might happen. Nothing terrible has actually happened yet. Relax. And if he does approach you again maybe you can use that as a networking opp. It is a great idea to use every resource available to you when job hunting. Who knows who he knows.

Is this really considered to be annoyingly nosy, almost hostile? I’d ask a question like this just out of politeness. I could perfectly well understand if someone wouldn’t want to share these details, but would expect someone to just tell me that. Indeed, as @asmonet said, I would consider it rude to try to end what to me was an attempt at friendly conversation. Approach it like that- in fact, approach everybody as if they mean well and have good intentions, and life will be much more pleasant, because often, they do :)

I agree with @asmonet.

Man, I love it when you post.

I can understand your sensitivity and it is important to be “polite” with boundaries to this person who probably has nothing better to do. You are under stress as it is so don’t need anymore from HIM. Maybe joke a bit back: How long am I staying? Why? Do you need my room? Are my parents not telling me something? (something better than that of course)..
Sometimes a simple Why Do You Ask? cuts off the nosiness or leads to another direction. You are lucky to have parents to go home to for a while, so I hope you can enjoy it to the fullest! Best wishes to you.