Speaking of Neighbors.... - Page 6

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

Yes, it would bother me, I understand how you feel.

It's a variation of people getting in your space, you know what I mean? Standing too close, etc. The main thing is you've told us they have a lot of their own parking spaces, why use yours? It's discourteous, not a way to make friends and influence neighbors.

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

At a former residence, our street was short and narrow. One side of the street had driveways and the other did not. We lived on the 'did not' side, so on-the-street parking was our only option. Wouldn't you know the guy straight across, who had a 100' driveway, preferred to park on the street, in front of our house, taking 'our' space, because it was a shorter walk for him to his front door?

I eventually spoke with him about the problem he was causing us, and his suggestion was that I park in his driveway. He called the police the first time I did.

Experience has taught me that people like that do not invest financially or emotionally in their neighborhood and are usually transient. As expected (and hoped, to be honest) they moved. The new owners tore down the house (which always made me wonder what the formers had done to it inside) and built a new one. Great neighbors.

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Yikes, Mrs G! What a jerk that guy was.

I feel kind of lucky that my property is odd in that there isn't area in front for people to park in front of our house.

Our little street is a 'U' shaped street and our property is in one of those 'elbows'. It's like the inversion of having a corner property. The front is narrow, so that much of the sidewalk in front of us is taken up by our driveway, and the property fans out wide to the back.

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

@chickenbutt He was a jerk, for sure. In fact, that's what the police officer called him when he learned the circumstance of that call.

Edited to add: Today we live in a neighborhood we love and could park six to eight cars in the driveway and garage.

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Glad you have a much better situation! I really do like my street. There are a lot of people in our age group. It's quiet and peaceful. People don't infringe on you.

Furthermore, I like the way our house is kind of hidden, the way the street is. We have a fairly long drive way (you could stack 3 cars times 2) and just driving by you won't even see the house. You have to make a point to.

But, the other good thing is that one neighbor (2 houses up) has a camera system that actually reaches our driveway. He's quite the Gladys Kravitz so if you want to find out what's going on just ask him. hehe - but he watches out for people, too. Because of the bend in the street, it works well that his camera system spans over to the outer part of our property.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

Hi CB.

We have two close neighbors with state of the art camera systems. One is across the street, he is a top law enforcement official.

The other, second house from us, is a business woman who was targeted and robbed by someone she knew.

Both have numerous cameras at different angles which cover our house.

Our next door neighbors (that we've adored for decades now) have an extensive light and motion system which reaches our back yard and entrance next to his.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Noel7 wrote:
Hi CB.

We have two close neighbors with state of the art camera systems. One is across the street, he is a top law enforcement official.

The other, second house from us, is a business woman who was targeted and robbed by someone she knew.

Both have numerous cameras at different angles which cover our house.

Our next door neighbors (that we've adored for decades now) have an extensive light and motion system which reaches our back yard and entrance next to his.

Love it! My husband got convinced that he wanted to spend mega-bucks on some huge camera system. I, being the practical one, said why spend that money there that could be spent else with a larger return.

With Jim's cameras covering the entrance to our property and our security lights everywhere plus a security system and somebody like me who keeps every door and window locked to the hilt - I think we're covered.

One good thing is that along one side of the front of our property is this HUGE hedge that's about 7' high and has stickers on it that could kill a person. If somebody tries to cut through that they are going to be in a world of hurt. Both gates are locked from the back side so one would have to scale the 6' gates. Not impossible. I get that.

But the bigger point for me is that you have to work way too hard to break into my house so any thief who isn't a bonehead would pass on by.

Because of never feeling safe, throughout my childhood, I do have a greater need to feel safe than some. I do what makes sense and - well, so far, so good.

morganjen · ‎03-13-2010

We had a next door neighbor who routinely would burn all his plastic trash in a bin outside in his back yard. The fumes were so toxic and would make you sick to breathe it. You could even smell it inside our house.

Originally joined board 12-14-2004

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@chickenbutt wrote:

Love it! My husband got convinced that he wanted to spend mega-bucks on some huge camera system. I, being the practical one, said why spend that money there that could be spent else with a larger return.

With Jim's cameras covering the entrance to our property and our security lights everywhere plus a security system and somebody like me who keeps every door and window locked to the hilt - I think we're covered.

One good thing is that along one side of the front of our property is this HUGE hedge that's about 7' high and has stickers on it that could kill a person. If somebody tries to cut through that they are going to be in a world of hurt. Both gates are locked from the back side so one would have to scale the 6' gates. Not impossible. I get that.

But the bigger point for me is that you have to work way too hard to break into my house so any thief who isn't a bonehead would pass on by.

Because of never feeling safe, throughout my childhood, I do have a greater need to feel safe than some. I do what makes sense and - well, so far, so good.

********************************

@chickenbutt

I totally understand. Some people don't understand that many women need to feel safe at home for various reasons.

My elderly parents had been out grocery shopping one afternoon and came home to discover they had been robbed. My mother was very upset and never really felt safe at home after that. DH installed new locks for them but she still was anxious.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Oh geez, sorry your mom had to go through that! But I also totally understand.

One time, decades ago and at another house, we were burglarized while out of town for a weekend. They went through my drawers! They kind of ransacked the place, took a lot of my jewelry and a lot of money. Kids, probably. They left all the electronics.

Ok, but that wasn't even the only bad part. We called the police and I will never forget sitting on one end of the couch with the police officer on the other end of the couch and having him ask me 'so how does it feel, knowing that some guy went through your underwear drawer?'. Freaking really?

Like I said, this was decades ago (3+) and there was a reason I didn't go OFF on the guy. I noticed, on the coffee table, there was one of my huge German ashtrays upon which sat a joint. (oops!) He had to see it. I didn't start anything.