topic Re: Speaking of Neighbors.... in Community Chat

Speaking of Neighbors....

QueenDanceALot — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 19:50:29 GMT

Recently new people moved in next door where a grumpy old guy used to live. He and I got along fine as I just avoided him. hahaha Other than being grumpy and VERY opinionated on everything from how people should keep their houses and who I should vote for (oy) he was a good neighbor.

The new people are a 30 something trio - a guy, his sister and a guy roommate. I've met the guy (the home owner) and the roommate but not the sister. I was going to say "hi" to her one day when I was out in my backyard and she opened her door to let their dog out (I love dogs!!) but she just looked at me and shut the door. Okay, she doesn't have to be friendly or say "hi". I'm a private person and don't get into the neighbors' space or faces.

But speaking of space, they have a vehicle each and a large driveway enough for 3 or even 4 cars (depending on size) and space enough for 2 large vehicles at the curb in front of the house.

For awhile they were parking in front of my house when there was plenty of space at their house to park which was pretty annoying. And when they weren't parking in front of my house, their visitors were (even when there was plenty of space at their house). I told some friends of mine about it and they found a couple of traffic cones and, as a joke, set them up in front of my house. We had a good laugh and I just decided to leave them there. I started to feel kind of stupid leaving them there (and they're not exactly pretty either) and one morning when I was leaving the house I picked up one and stuck it in my garage. When I got home, their visitor parked in front of my house right in front of my walk. *Sigh* So I put the cone back. Again, I felt kind of stupid but it's really bugging me that these people can't park at their house where there is plenty of space.

Would this bother you? It annoys me that it actually annoys me but no one else in the neighborhood seems to have this issue. We all seem to respect the space in front of the others' homes where the homeowners like to park themselves or would like their friends and family to park when they visit. It's all private homes, not like living in the city where you just park where you can find a spot. And everyone understands people having a party or something and that's fine. But just clogging up the front of someone else's house with your cars when there is ample room at your house?

I took the cones away and decided that if this keeps happening I will have to just either accept it OR go over to the neighbor and ask that they park at their house.

And I hate having to do that.

Waaaaaa

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

bonnielu — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 19:58:04 GMT

We were the first house in our immediate area. We are on a cul de sac which I chose because we had four daughters and did not want to have an active street in front of our house. We basically live rural in a very nice mountain top neighborhood. Originally all the neighbors were the same age, young kids and everyone got along. As some retired and moved we have a change over... younger people opposed to the rest of us seniors. And the quiet has been disrupted. No real cars in front of our homes, but families with motorcycles and times during the day when they repair cars, loudly. In other words noisy lot of newcomers. Other than say something, or move out which I refuse to do, I hold out hope that I I can adjust to it. My point --- It happens to all of us. We were lucky to have 45 years oif peace.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Vivian — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 19:58:12 GMT

It sounds like they don't know how to be neighborly. I'd avoid them if at all possible. My nearest neighbor has a pet cow, pet sheep, a large parrot, and a cat. We live in a residential neighborhood but our neighbor apparently would like to treat it like a farm. She just got a bunch of chickens who chase after people walking their dogs. My beagle goes nuts with all the barnyard sound effects...and smells. Apparently an old zoning ordinance forbidding these "pets" expired. Who knew that we'd have to worry about farm animals in the suburbs?

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

bonnielu — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:02:22 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
It sounds like they don't know how to be neighborly. I'd avoid them if at all possible. My nearest neighbor has a pet cow, pet sheep, a large parrot, and a cat. We live in a residential neighborhood but our neighbor apparently would like to treat it like a farm. She just got a bunch of chickens who chase after people walking their dogs. My beagle goes nuts with all the barnyard sound effects...and smells. Apparently an old zoning ordinance forbidding these "pets" expired. Who knew that we'd have to worry about farm animals in the suburbs?

Even with ordinances people break the rules. Not supposed to conduct business in a garage... not the case. Not supposed to have more than 2 dogs or 2 cats. not the case. No one around to fix it even if there is a complaint.

On new neighbor got permission to build a structure which was in forbidden space because of water flow. Another neighbor parks an Rv.. it is forbidden also.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Lilysmom — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:02:41 GMT

@Vivian, the farm animals, especially the loose chickens, would drive me crazy! LM

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

MimiLouise — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:03:29 GMT

I too have this problem... several years ago a new neighbor moved in next door. Was out working in my yard when the neighbor came out ... i started to spreak and she just turned her head and went on about her business... needless to say we have yet met. Same issue with parking in front of my house when having company or her kids over for the weekends ususally.... and if its not her its my neighbor across the streets company who park in front of my house.... usually just a weekend thing so i let it go.....and yes i get aggravated. I like your cone idea, but mine would probably be stolen.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:06:00 GMT

Where someone parks in the street doesn't bother me. My next door neighbors have a double driveway and 3 cars. One of the cars is always in the street, in front of our house. It doesn't bother me at all. It's a public street and I don't own the space in front of my house so even if it did bother me, there's really nothing I can do about it.

We also have a double driveway and 3 cars but all our cars are in the driveway so it's not like I need those spots in front of my house.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

dex — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:08:39 GMT

I always try to find a way to get along with the neighbors..just makes life easier.I would try to get some conversation going with them when they are outside and after a time ask them if they would ask their friends to park in front of their house.I try to not sweat the small stuff though so as long as they didn't block my driveway or park on my lawn then I would just let it go.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

mistriTsquirrel — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:14:30 GMT

That happens all the time here. Same cars every time. The thing that bothers me about it is that I have to put my trash bins out somewhere, and we have those toter bins that are picked up by a mechanism on the truck, so there has to be enough clearance around the bins on garbage day. And it makes it harder to mow, because they park close to the curb and I'm always afraid I'll ding the vehicle or mow over an unseen rock and the rock will fly into their car and I'll be liable for the damage. ::sigh::

It was even worse when I had these really trashy neighbors on one side. There is a space between the two driveways that isn't big enough for parking (unless you're driving a Smart Car). But they--and their visitors--would park there anyway. Even when they weren't blocking my driveway, it was still aggravating to navigate around such a closely-parked vehicle. One day, I was shoveling snow at the end of my driveway, and a visitor arrived. He angled his car in such a way that it was clear he was trying to back into the non-spot. He just sat there, waiting for me to leave the end of my own driveway, so that he could block it with the rear end of his car. I couldn't believe it. I stayed there, continuing to shovel. A female got out of the car, and I heard her say "well, I guess you'll just have to park somewhere else." D*** right you'll have to park somewhere else, you inconsiderate dummy!! If someone is standing in their driveway, and they would have to move in order for you to park, your parking spot is not a legitimate parking spot! Grrr.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

bri20 — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:12:26 GMT

I wouldn't put cones on the street.

It doesn't really bother me where people park. As long as no one blocks my driveway, park anywhere you like.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

QueenDanceALot — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:13:25 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
Where someone parks in the street doesn't bother me. My next door neighbors have a double driveway and 3 cars. One of the cars is always in the street, in front of our house. It doesn't bother me at all. It's a public street and I don't own the space in front of my house so even if it did bother me, there's really nothing I can do about it.

We also have a double driveway and 3 cars but all our cars are in the driveway so it's not like I need those spots in front of my house.

Well, there is an ordinance that they aren't even allowed to leave a car on the street for over 24 hours.

I know I don't own the street. I just think it's rude to take the space in front of someone else's house when you've got your own space. Most people on the street seem to respect that.

And in the winter it's going to be a real PITA if they leave their cars out on the street and the snow plough can't get close to the curb and we have to shovel out into the middle of the street just to get out of the driveway.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

sabatini — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:15:19 GMT

@QueenDanceALot, I know EXACTLY what you mean & how you feel!

I sold a home about 2 years ago...but for the 20 years that I lived there, my neighbor parked her car in front of my house....and the space in front of her house was always vacant. She never parked in her driveway - never.

It seems like such a little thing, but it really bugged me too.

What made me CRAZY, though, was that in the winter, when the snow plow came down the street, there in front of my house, her car would be sitting, so the plow would make a wide berth away from my house, forcing me to not only shovel all the way down my driveway, but I also had to shovel my way to the other side of the street! Grrr.

I used to beg her to not park in front of my house when a blizzard was coming...I get mad just thinking about it.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Laura14 — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:15:48 GMT

I have neighbors that park in front of my driveway (other side of the street but still!) and the corner people who drive everyone nuts.

My driveway I'm lucky I have a small car and it's not an issue to get out when I need to. Still, they could just park further up directly in front of their house and not do it.

Now the corner people are just like your people. They have a three car garage and large driveway and still park every night at least one car out on the street. I really think they have a bunch of families living there because no house needs 6-10 cars outside on a regular basis.

They are right by a stop sign so they literally close the street to one lane where people are trying to get in and out. And it's not real easy to see so you basically have to swing out into the opposite lane and hope no one is coming to get out and past their house.

They've had multiple cars hit and I've seen the cops over there a few times because I don't think it's legal to park that close to a stop sign anyway. They've gotten much better over the years and now it's maybe one car early in the morning to dodge but still it's annoying!!

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

QueenDanceALot — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:16:49 GMT

@mistriTsquirrel wrote:
That happens all the time here. Same cars every time. The thing that bothers me about it is that I have to put my trash bins out somewhere, and we have those toter bins that are picked up by a mechanism on the truck, so there has to be enough clearance around the bins on garbage day. And it makes it harder to mow, because they park close to the curb and I'm always afraid I'll ding the vehicle or mow over an unseen rock and the rock will fly into their car and I'll be liable for the damage. ::sigh::

It was even worse when I had these really trashy neighbors on one side. There is a space between the two driveways that isn't big enough for parking (unless you're driving a Smart Car). But they--and their visitors--would park there anyway. Even when they weren't blocking my driveway, it was still aggravating to navigate around such a closely-parked vehicle. One day, I was shoveling snow at the end of my driveway, and a visitor arrived. He angled his car in such a way that it was clear he was trying to back into the non-spot. He just sat there, waiting for me to leave the end of my own driveway, so that he could block it with the rear end of his car. I couldn't believe it. I stayed there, continuing to shovel. A female got out of the car, and I heard her say "well, I guess you'll just have to park somewhere else." D*** right you'll have to park somewhere else, you inconsiderate dummy!! If someone is standing in their driveway, and they would have to move in order for you to park, your parking spot is not a legitimate parking spot! Grrr.

Grrr is right!

I had to laugh a couple weeks ago when one of their visitors parked in front of the house on the other side of them. The woman who lives there blew her leaves onto the car. Made me LOL.

And yes, one of the visitors likes to park where I put the trash bins out. DUH!!

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

QueenDanceALot — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:17:42 GMT

@bri20 wrote:
I wouldn't put cones on the street.

It doesn't really bother me where people park. As long as no one blocks my driveway, park anywhere you like.

Well, you're a better person than I, I guess.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

IMissSuperPoke — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:26:38 GMT

I don't get why so many people are inconsiderate, I see it my neighborhood, too. I have a neighbor across the street that has a driveway that could fit two cars, but he parks in between two houses on the street. They might not be complaining because he's in between their two homes but I find it just plain rude. His girlfriend uses his driveway, so it's not like the landlord said to not block the garage. But, he did used to park in front of my window on his side of the street until a drunk driver hit his car so hard it totalled it and pushed it into his fence! And he still doesn't use his driveway! I think he's just too lazy to back out daily. He won't bring in his trash cans for days either.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Nightowlz — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:31:02 GMT

Our neighbor used to do the same thing. He always has 1 or 2 inoperable vehicles in his driveway + his car, wife's car & daughters car. DH told him to quit parking in front of our house that he could park in front of his own house. Now he parks across the street. LOL!!! Too bad he does not know he can park any place he wants & there's nothing we can do about it.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:33:04 GMT

@QueenDanceALot wrote:
@Lipstickdiva wrote:
Where someone parks in the street doesn't bother me. My next door neighbors have a double driveway and 3 cars. One of the cars is always in the street, in front of our house. It doesn't bother me at all. It's a public street and I don't own the space in front of my house so even if it did bother me, there's really nothing I can do about it.

We also have a double driveway and 3 cars but all our cars are in the driveway so it's not like I need those spots in front of my house.
Well, there is an ordinance that they aren't even allowed to leave a car on the street for over 24 hours.

I know I don't own the street. I just think it's rude to take the space in front of someone else's house when you've got your own space. Most people on the street seem to respect that.

And in the winter it's going to be a real PITA if they leave their cars out on the street and the snow plough can't get close to the curb and we have to shovel out into the middle of the street just to get out of the driveway.

We have that ordinance here but it's never enforced.

I know about the plowing because were in that situation. Our street used to allow parking on both sides. But if people were parked up and down both sides of the street, the plow couldn't even get up the street at all because there wasn't enough room. So then the city issued signs and now there is no parking on the opposite side of the street from us. Most of the time in the winter, they do park the cars in the drive for that very reason.

Trust me, there are things my neighbors do that bug me involving their lawn mowing. The parking thing I just don't care about.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

QueenDanceALot — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:34:09 GMT

I'll probably go to hell for secretly wishing that one of their cars gets run into.

Bad, bad kitty.

Re: Speaking of Neighbors....

peggyhbsl — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:36:39 GMT

I have lived in my home for a good 15 yrs. The neighbors that moved in 2 years ago rolled on in, took their wooden fence down, and started to control my dog and my property.

I live alone, take care of my yard. Go out with my mini doxie. I have been a good neighbor for years.

Long story short, after surveys, many Sherriff visits, all I got is, you now have a civil case. Well, that's just more money.

My conclusion...its their world, I live in it. I will never win.

So, I try to just ignore them.

Sometimes I can't! After all, I am human so I do loud outdoor chores at inconvenient times for them. I also plan on buying a loud outdoor wind chime to help with the silent whistle they use on my dog. My dog Julio, won't even bark when strangers are on the street if they are home. They pull out their silent whistle at his first little bark.