It's been my experience that words, alone, are often the most appreciated thanks that one can give...and receive. If I were you...considering all the caveats you're listed above...I would meet with him and tell him how deeply appreciated he is as a neighbor and friend...without sparing the praise for his magnanimous and generous assistance with your downed tree. If I were he..that would make my day.

I agree with Winter...and maybe ....at the New Year....give him a really nice

card, again thanking him for being such a great neighbor.

If he hunts, he probably needs hunting supplies so a gift card to Cabela's would be nice. Perhaps a basket of fruit. Or how about a nice pot of homemade soup? Or if he drinks, a bottle of something might be nice be it wine or whiskey or vodka. I think mostly he would appreciate the gesture and would appreciate the hello too.

I like the idea of a simple "thank you" card (not too frilly, maybe an outdoor scene?). No gift or gift card, because you're pretty sure he does not have a financial hardship, and quite sure he wasn't angling for anything in return.

He sounds like the sort of person many of us would like to have next door, too :-)

A heartfelt Thank You given verbally will be perfect.

Wonderful neighbor you have.

If I lived next door to Annie, I'd prefer Gin, Hendrick's, along with a pot of beef/potato soup.

I agree, just a very heartfelt thank you is all that is needed in this case.

I agree with the above followed by "If there is anything I can help you with let me know". That way if it is something you are uncomfortable doing you can say no.

Yes, offer to help him in some way. Keep it simple, but make the gesture (today if possible). Tell him that you will remind him in a few weeks and he ought to think about what you might do. If he says no, then there isn't much to do.

Most people just feel good about doing something good so a big hug and thank you would suffice. Beyond that, some homemade soup would probably be nice.

I believe that good deeds are not reciprocal. As a retired person with a flexible schedule, I am in a position to help several people around me, and I do, frequently. I imagine they help other people in some way.

As I said to a neighbor when I was offering to sew some simple curtains, I sew for you, and you organize the monthly community dinner of your church. So by making curtains, I am feeding the poor.

If he is a gardener/likes plants, a pretty, cheerful seasonal plant with a thank you card would probably go over well. Even manly men like to get flowers. :)

The best ty you can give him are heartfelt words, either orally or on paper. He was obviously happy to do it and that is a great feeling. It might even make him uncomfortable to receive a gift from you.

My sister has some wonderful neighbors like that, though she can technically afford to pay for help. They have often cleaned her gutters and raked up giant piles of leaves from her large tree, especially while she was undergoing chemo, but even before that happened! She did make them something for dinner once or twice. It can be a gift to allow people to do things for you. You sound like a lovely person. :)

It can be the hardest thing to do and yet is the most appreciated and that is a simple Thank-you. I agree with others. If you want, with this being Thanksgiving is perhaps finding a Thanksgiving card that says what your neighbour means to you.

I do a lot of gift baskets.....for instance. Go to Dollar Tree. make a spaghetti dinner: A can of Hunts spaghetti sauce, dry spaghetti noodles, a nylon spaghetti fork/server, a gift bag, a thank you card! $5=mission accomplished

I would write a thank you note/card. Most people love to have their acts acknowledged, but not necessarily reciprocated. Perhaps in the late winter/early spring you could do a little basket with pansies or some other inexpensive, early flowering annuals for him....as a "just because" gift.

I agree that in this particular case, a really warm thank you is all that is needed. When someone takes it upon themselves to do a good deed such as this, they are the type of person that doesn't want a gift.

I think that we all appreciate a thank you.

You probably don't need to do more, as eid161 said, but why not invite him for a family dinner? Doesn't have to be Thanksgiving or any holiday.. Perhaps he would enjoy watching a movie with you after, or playing a game. If he has become quite comfortable with being alone, he may turn you down, but on the other hand he may be thrilled for the company.

People who are alone, without close family, sometimes lack and would appreciate being recognized as someone to be social with.

If I do anything just out of the goodness of my heart, just a "thank you" is all I would like. Sometimes, I do things that they don't even notice that I've done which is fine too.

I agree with blfenton--write a heartfelt note. In addition, next time you see him mention your deep appreciation again. He'll appreciate the thanks, doesn't need another thing. Just tell him what a fantastic neighbor he is.

(((anneliese))) something for which to be truly thankful. I'm so happy he's helping you my dear friend!

Tell him he's your hero and how much you appreciate his kindness, then send him some home made cookies.

I think many people are happy to help out their friends and neighbors when they can. That makes them happy. Maybe when he comes back from his trip at Christmas, you could fix a good diabetic safe dinner for him and take over to him. He might hunt but this would save the cooking part of it and give him a break from that.

I get very tired of my own cooking (if it can be called that). I'm always happy to take leftovers from my sister (her dh does the cooking these days). He makes roasts and things I don't anymore. She'll send a piece of that, potatoes, dinner roll and sometimes his home made cookies or lemon bars. If he grilled steaks, she'll often send the half of hers that she couldn't eat. tho, she is my sister, I wouldn't take him half of a steak - ha!

Thanks everybody for the advise. I thanked him this morning, but will do so again. He is the nicest neighbor anyone can have.

Do you knit or crochet? If you do, make him an afghan or lapghan. You'd be surprised just how much a gentleman appreciates such a thoughtful and well-intentioned gift. It's not something they can, in most instances, can do for themselves.

It's something special. It's made with care and if you can knit or crochet, it's something easily enough done by you. You could have it ready for Christmas.

A thank you card with a note saying what he did was appreciated. When I worked in a hospital, it was always nice reading cards from our patients and their families. Loved when the patients came back to say hi and give us a hug and thank us for taking care of them. So much better than material gifts.

I agree with a thank you. Someday, under different circumstances, you may have an opportunity to do something nice for him when he needs it.

Often, one of the biggest problems people have is being able to accept a wonderful gesture without feeling they need to "pay" for it some way. A nice, quiet, sincere "thank-you" will be far better than any card, gift or other offerings.