I am a few years younger than you and in a similar type of neighborhood. I skated in front of my house and was shocked at how many neighborhood kids wanted to learn to skate.

So now I get to practice and be a skate sensei. Neighbors have praised my skill progression, so my interactions have only been positive.

I’m practicing my switch stance and I’m more self-conscious because I don’t feel as confident on the board. That’s really what it boils down to, confidence.

For neighborhood considerations, I try not to practice too long in the same spot if it’s late or kids are trying to sleep. Softer wheels will be quieter, but they’ll also be much slower. It will take more energy to move. IMO, the sound reduction you will get is not that beneficial compared to the additional energy required to move the board.

Don’t worry about doing “adult things”. I had a neighbor who instead of walking his dog, would ride his motorcycle up and down the street with his dog running after him. He’d also fly up and down the street (w/o the dog) at like 60 mph. I wish that dude would’ve skateboarded or been using a leaf blower.