Among Friends

[mrshckynut]

@patticakes   we have a couple hundred trees they can use and it is very private

mrshckynut 

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Hi @Coastalcarolina   Thank you for sharing, & elaborating on this uncomfortable, scary experience with us.  Gosh, I was afraid for you, then, when reading yr recounting.

I'm glad things seemed to have turned out okay, then, & subsequently.  whew! 

[San Antonio Gal]

@Coastalcarolina  -  Did he leave without doing the repair job?

[Coastalcarolina]

@San Antonio Gal,  yes he left!  And I was glad and thankful!

[MorningLover]

I once had a painter come to my house for an exterior painting estimate. I had never met him before and the first thing he said when he arrived was, "can I use your bathroom."  

I wasn't happy about it but I did let him in. He had to walk through my house because the powder room is at the end of a long hall.   I never called him back! 

[SEGardener]

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@patticakes wrote:

What would you do or say?  We have a man doing some tree work/landscaping outside for the next 3-4 days and yesterday he asked to use the bathroom which we refused.  Downstairs bathroom was in use and upstairs bath is in a private bedroom.  I'm concerned he will ask again and I don't want to lie or offfend; however, I really don't want to allow him to do that.  Meanwhile, there is a very nice service station right down the street which I think is a good alternative and previous workers have always taken a break and gone down there.  There's also several fast food restaurants at the same intersection which is about a half a mile.  Not sure how to suggest that.  What would you say?

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I don't practice that "courtesy".  Anyone working as contractor or handiman typically take lunch breaks and handle their personal business on their own time and don't exect t use the privacy of my bathrooms.  Also for personal safety reasons as a single woman I've always made it a practice to not invite workers into my home.  I don't want to explose the contents of my home or the quality of my furnishings to people I don't know or worse yet suffer an attack.  Unfortunately we live in a time that makes disregarding you personal security for the sake of being gracious to a stranger is foolhardy and asking for problems. And while the worker is performing their work, I don't engage in chitchat conversation.  I also make it a practice to inquire before the work is commenced what the charge will be and make sure to have that exact amount of currency in my pocket plus a few extra bills ($20, $10) should the cost be higher.  I NEVER haul out my pocketbook rifle through for cash in the presence of a stranger.  

[SEGardener]

You're very trusting!