I Hate My Neighbor
I just bought my first home about a month ago. I love my little house and I got a great deal. I'm a young, single guy. I'm fresh out of college and just starting my career. My house is in a small subdivision built about 10yrs ago with roughly 15 homes. These are lower-middle class homes and nothing fancy. Starter homes. Brand-new, they sold for around $90k. Thanks to the real estate market, they're selling for about half of that. Half of the homes have become rentals. The other half are owned by young people like myself and working class middle-age folks. Everyone has seemed quite friendly, waving to me when they drive by if I'm outside.
Unfortunately, one of my next door neighbors is beyond intrusive and obnoxious. He's fanatical about his property and keeps it spotless. As much as I can appreciate that, he expects me to keep my property up to HIS standards. That's just not going to happen, nor is it reasonable. He expects it though! In fact, he practically demands it on a weekly basis from me. I'm really getting at my wit's end with this guy. I pressure washed the vinyl siding and driveway. I keep my lawned mowed. I keep things looking pretty clean. Most neighbors wouldn't ask for anything more from me. Most REASONABLE neighbors, that is. Every week since moving in to the house, he's come over to my house so he can explain to me why my property isn't up to his standards. He's even gone so far as to make shallow threats. Statements such as "You'd better keep your grass cut or else you'll have to deal with me". It wasn't said in a light-hearted, joking manner. He made that statement to me the day the realtor was showing me the house, before I even bought it! That's how crazy he is. I guess that was God trying to warn me. I should have listened.
I honestly don't even want to be outside and enjoy my yard because he ALWAYS comes over to harass me about something. That's really upsetting for me. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. It's gotten so bad that I dread coming home and pulling into my driveway, for fear he'll be outside. He's always outside. He spends all of his time outside. He sits in his driveway until 10 or 11 at night, every night. It's obvious he hasn't got much of a life away from his house. If he left me alone, I wouldn't care. But since he's always in my face, it's a problem.
Last Sunday, I strategically waited to mow my lawn until I was fairly certain he wasn't home. After mowing the lawn, I went to Wal-Mart to pick up odds and ends. Wouldn't you know that when I got home and pulled in to my driveway there he was standing in his driveway, all of 10ft away. Literally as soon as I started exiting my car he commanded me to put my bags down and follow him in to his garage. Stupidly, I did. He pointed to a bag of dandelion killer in his garage and said "That stuff kill dandelions. Use it on your yard. I don't want it contaminating my nice grass" I responded "I know what that is. I'm not interested". I started walking out of his garage. He walked in front of me to stop me, as he typically does, and said "How about this, I'll use it on your yard and you can give me $20/mth to pay for it." Can you believe the nerve of this guy!? I told him simply, NO, to which he responded "F*** you!" and promptly walked away. This is one of MANY stories where he crossed the line with me. If he wants to spend thousands of dollars on his property (and I mean that quite literally), that's his business. Although I think a stupid move in a neighborhood such as ours. He'll never get his money back when he sells. He can't expect me to do the same, but he does anyway.
He has absolutely no understanding of social and personal boundaries. I heard him talking very loudly close to my house. So, I peeked out my kitchen window to see him in my driveway, leaning on my car. Several other times, I heard noise in my backyard, so I looked out my living room window to see him in my backyard. I just want to yell at him "GET OFF MY F****** PROPERTY!" I also want to tell him "MY PROPERTY IS MY BUSINESS, KEEP OFF OF IT AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" I feel THAT invaded to become a rather unpleasant person. I'm actually a very nice guy and mild mannered. I generally keep to myself and try to be respectful of others. This guy is driving me crazy though! I don't want to hear him or see him. Most importantly, I want to be left alone! I want to be able to step outside and feel at peace, not on edge waiting to be pounced on. I've never felt so alienated from anywhere I've ever lived before. There's so much more I could share, but I'm sure he'll provide me with future stories to share with you.
Unfortunately, one of my next door neighbors is beyond intrusive and obnoxious. He's fanatical about his property and keeps it spotless. As much as I can appreciate that, he expects me to keep my property up to HIS standards. That's just not going to happen, nor is it reasonable. He expects it though! In fact, he practically demands it on a weekly basis from me. I'm really getting at my wit's end with this guy. I pressure washed the vinyl siding and driveway. I keep my lawned mowed. I keep things looking pretty clean. Most neighbors wouldn't ask for anything more from me. Most REASONABLE neighbors, that is. Every week since moving in to the house, he's come over to my house so he can explain to me why my property isn't up to his standards. He's even gone so far as to make shallow threats. Statements such as "You'd better keep your grass cut or else you'll have to deal with me". It wasn't said in a light-hearted, joking manner. He made that statement to me the day the realtor was showing me the house, before I even bought it! That's how crazy he is. I guess that was God trying to warn me. I should have listened.
I honestly don't even want to be outside and enjoy my yard because he ALWAYS comes over to harass me about something. That's really upsetting for me. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. It's gotten so bad that I dread coming home and pulling into my driveway, for fear he'll be outside. He's always outside. He spends all of his time outside. He sits in his driveway until 10 or 11 at night, every night. It's obvious he hasn't got much of a life away from his house. If he left me alone, I wouldn't care. But since he's always in my face, it's a problem.
Last Sunday, I strategically waited to mow my lawn until I was fairly certain he wasn't home. After mowing the lawn, I went to Wal-Mart to pick up odds and ends. Wouldn't you know that when I got home and pulled in to my driveway there he was standing in his driveway, all of 10ft away. Literally as soon as I started exiting my car he commanded me to put my bags down and follow him in to his garage. Stupidly, I did. He pointed to a bag of dandelion killer in his garage and said "That stuff kill dandelions. Use it on your yard. I don't want it contaminating my nice grass" I responded "I know what that is. I'm not interested". I started walking out of his garage. He walked in front of me to stop me, as he typically does, and said "How about this, I'll use it on your yard and you can give me $20/mth to pay for it." Can you believe the nerve of this guy!? I told him simply, NO, to which he responded "F*** you!" and promptly walked away. This is one of MANY stories where he crossed the line with me. If he wants to spend thousands of dollars on his property (and I mean that quite literally), that's his business. Although I think a stupid move in a neighborhood such as ours. He'll never get his money back when he sells. He can't expect me to do the same, but he does anyway.
He has absolutely no understanding of social and personal boundaries. I heard him talking very loudly close to my house. So, I peeked out my kitchen window to see him in my driveway, leaning on my car. Several other times, I heard noise in my backyard, so I looked out my living room window to see him in my backyard. I just want to yell at him "GET OFF MY F****** PROPERTY!" I also want to tell him "MY PROPERTY IS MY BUSINESS, KEEP OFF OF IT AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" I feel THAT invaded to become a rather unpleasant person. I'm actually a very nice guy and mild mannered. I generally keep to myself and try to be respectful of others. This guy is driving me crazy though! I don't want to hear him or see him. Most importantly, I want to be left alone! I want to be able to step outside and feel at peace, not on edge waiting to be pounced on. I've never felt so alienated from anywhere I've ever lived before. There's so much more I could share, but I'm sure he'll provide me with future stories to share with you.
By:
palebeachbum
Age:
26-30
,
Male
