Community Chat

[kittymomNC]

I will join in with those who say just because they keep their doors locked and don't answer unless they know who it is, they're not living a locked up, closed up life, afraid to move. That's a big, and rather strange, assumption, and somewhat insulting in my opinion. I can look out a window without being seen in order to see who is at my front door. That's the only door any visitor comes to.

I live more in the back part of my house than the front. I have large windows in several rooms including my kitchen, and french doors off my sunroom that look out to my backyard. My "computer room"/office is in the back of the house with a very large window, and my cats often sleep there next to my desk. I open the windows whenever the weather allows.

My living room and a spare bedroom are in the front, along with a bathroom, and a carport. I don't "live" in those rooms for the most part. So my "living area" is sunny, bright, and open to my yard where I enjoy watching the squirrels, birds, and chipmunks, and sometimes a rabbit. When I have company, we're usually in my sunroom.

I'm sitting here now at my computer, next to a large window looking out on my yard and patio, with the sun shining in, a cup of coffee, and my two cats "taking sunbaths" next to me.

I'm really enjoying my so-called "locked up, closed up life"!!

ETA: A "boogey-man" did break into my neighbor's home a few years ago, the first time a crime has occurred in my neighborhood in the 30+ years I've lived on this block. I think women would be downright stupid to open the door just any old time without knowing who is behind it. And I don't think there are many "stupid" women on these boards from what I've seen.

[Marienkaefer2]

Kittymom, consider the source.

[kittymomNC]

On 2/13/2015 Marienkaefer2 said: Kittymom, consider the source.

Oh, don't worry, I do! Sometimes I just like to get in my two cents!

[kittymomNC]

I would like to add that I live in a neighborhood where a number of people are home during the day, and we all sort of watch out for each other. We've lived here so long that we are kind of familiar with when certain people go out and their house is not occupied, or strange cars in driveways when they don't seem to "fit" or are not familiar, or if someone is out of town. But there are sometimes people who walk through here on their way to a nearby commercial area, so those who are home do keep an eye out. It's not foolproof, but it's a good feeling.

[rarejan]

On 2/13/2015 happy housewife said:

Do you all really think that the boogey man is going to knock on the door? Really?

Well why don't we ask that question of the lifetime partner who lost the love of her life to ""the boogey men"" who DID knock on her door and murder her? Your question is insulting.

[Sooner]

On 2/12/2015 HeartsNdiamondz said:

I never open the door to anyone unless I invited them. My door is locked for their protection... not mine.

Hmmm. I may change the little brass plaque from "No Soliciting" to one that says "IF I open this door, I cannot guarantee your safety. You might want to run."

Maybe I'll get these and become a Q vendor!!!!! LOL!!!!

[chickenbutt]

On 2/13/2015 kittymomNC said:

I would like to add that I live in a neighborhood where a number of people are home during the day, and we all sort of watch out for each other. We've lived here so long that we are kind of familiar with when certain people go out and their house is not occupied, or strange cars in driveways when they don't seem to "fit" or are not familiar, or if someone is out of town. But there are sometimes people who walk through here on their way to a nearby commercial area, so those who are home do keep an eye out. It's not foolproof, but it's a good feeling.

My little street is a lot like that. I have a neighbor, two doors down, who I call the Gladys Kravitz of the street. He always seems to know everything about everybody. He also has a security video that spans a good portion of our little corner of the street. My husband told me that it even goes as far as our driveway, so I like that. (even though I'm not a big fan of nosey people - in this case it gives some sense of security)

I'm home all the time and quite a few others on my street are home, or at least parts of their families are, all the time. I like that too.

From never feeling safe throughout my childhood, I have a HUGE need to feel as safe as possible now. I agree with others that it can also be concerning to not answer the door. All my doors and windows have multiple locks. You can call me names until the cows come home but you haven't lived my life and, I have to imagine, have no idea what it's like growing up never feeling safe - never knowing what horrible thing is going to happen to you next. Then you grow up and one of the biggest things you NEED to do for yourself is whatever it takes to feel safe.

I've heard that one of the main ways thieves will case the joint is to ring the doorbell (or knock, etc) to see if anybody is home. If nobody responds they see it as a good target. That's just standard burglary 101 stuff, so be careful. At least if you're not going to answer the door make yourself seen or heard.

I wish it could be illegal to solicit, where 'no soliciting' is requested and if you pay more to have an unlisted and private phone number it should be illegal to telemarket you, too. It's just wrong wrong wrong. If you cannot have privacy and feel safe in your own house, where can you? (rhetorical question)

[Clover29]

On 2/12/2015 ROMARY 1 said:

I wish I knew another language! Maybe Greek or Chinese. Something that I could begin talking to them that they wouldn't understand, through the door. Maybe we should have a page of a foreign language text posted to the inside of our doors, and just read it to them!

I hadn't thought of that. I can be profane in several languages (not conversational, just profane. For some reason, that's the vocab that sticks in my brain forever, whereas words like broccoli or sideboard are much harder to remember).

[HisElk]

Unless we know that someone is coming to visit or a food delivery, we will not answer the door. We also have a sign that says "No Soliciting" next to our front door.

We have a peephole in our front door, so if someone shows up that we aren't expecting, we can look through and see if we recognize them; if not, we will not answer the door.

[kittymomNC]

On 2/13/2015 Sooner said:

On 2/12/2015 HeartsNdiamondz said:

I never open the door to anyone unless I invited them. My door is locked for their protection... not mine.

Hmmm. I may change the little brass plaque from "No Soliciting" to one that says "IF I open this door, I cannot guarantee your safety. You might want to run."

Maybe I'll get these and become a Q vendor!!!!! LOL!!!!

The next "Q" millionaire! I'll be first in line to get one!