BS: Good Neighbors

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: jacqui.c
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 12:55 PM

We don't see too much of our neighbours but they are there if we need them.

When Kendall had to go to the doctor in the middle of a snowstorm one neighbour came and ploughed the drive - he does that for a living but wouldn't take payment. Another neighbour phoned when she saw smoke in the vicinity of our house - Kendall was doing something in the yard, but she just wanted to warn us.

While I was in the UK and Kendall was unwell another guy up the street cleared snow and, one day, brought Kendall a meatloaf dinner.

The only bad neighbour was one who would occasionally allow his aggressive German Shepherd loose in the yard and thought that, because he was on the town council, he could get away with it, even though the dog had on a few occasions, come into the road barking at us when we walked Seamus. Reports to the police did little to stop the problem and Kendall ended up threatening to shoot the dog if it attacked us or Seamus. Luckily that guy lost the last election and moved very soon after.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 09:17 AM

Any other good neighbor stories to add folks?

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 09:34 AM

Interesting thread!

We have some REALLY SWELL neighbors next door to us. Let me tell you about them:

"He" was arrested on Dec. 17th, and spent 10 days in jail for drug possesion, drug dealing, resisting arrest, driving with a re-voked licesnse, and several more offences.

"She" has a warrent out for her arrest, $10,000, for several driving violations. Knowing this city and county operations as I do, I suspect that they are NOT picking her up because they are using her to gather evidence for more arrests. She's hiding in the house, leaves before dawn, sneaks in after dark, uses a variety of vehicles to spirit her away. She also is operating as prostitute and advertises on-line.

So ... I'm delighted to read of your good neighbors. Good neighbors are indeed a blessing.

In my own situation, I guess I'll just have to buy the house, I know the landlord ... too well, in order to get some controll of the situation. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 09:08 AM

Good neighbours, when I was just a little lad, were people who you could walk in on at any time between 9am and 10pm and be welcomed with a cup of tea/coffee/something stronger if you were adult. They also used to call in on us regularly. If they/we were going out or particularly busy, they/we would say so and no offence would be taken. There was an openness in relationships...people talked about what was happening in each others lives and that served as a therapeutic 'counselling'. Now it is preferable to go to a counsellor/psychotherapist and pay through the nose for the privilege.
Times have so changed from those 'good old days'.
Privacy is a valued commodity these days..so valued it overrides good friendship and puts people much more on their guard over meeting/visiting/popping in for a chat.
I think we have lost something....a closeness with neighbours.... I would like those days back but sadly it is not possible as society has developed into one of privacy/suspicion/protection/solitude etc etc. There is no longer a community spirit unless something drastic happens to draw communities together.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 08:53 AM

On one side is a rental unit, now occupied by two families with kids. They're okay, and we rarely hear from them.

On the other is the guy who stole my fence (we made him put it back). Their house is in foreclosure and goes on the block on January 28. I hope the next folks to move there are as nice as the dachshund who lives there now.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Bee
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 11:29 PM

We have good neighbours. Our houses are all far enough apart we can't see each other's, but we know if someone is away, feed each others' pets, etc., check if someone's alone, help if there's a problem. I grocery shop with a lovely older lady who lives up the road. She drives, I make sure she doesn't carry too-heavy stuff or let the trunk lid bang down on her head, and keep her from feeling anxious about the car breaking down and her being alone. She's become a good friend, as well as a good neighbour, though. My nearest neighbour, we have most of our conversations in the strip of woods, lawns and gardens between us, and we share the most pet care and house-checking, Before we got a plough for the ATV, they used to clear our snowy driveway for us - now we can return the favour if they're away during a storm.

But (sigh) I'd still rather be living somewhere in Cape Breton...

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 10:18 PM

For the most part, all of our married life we've had good neighbors. Way back in the Dark Ages we lived in a duplex (2 residence row house for the Yookers) and we were broke. I mean BROKE. I walked the roadways looking for stuff to sell at the recycle plant.

The neighbors gave us $100 for groceries, and said to pay it forward. This was long before 'pay it forward' became common. I can't remember how many times we have paid it forward.

It seemed that when our kids were small most of the neighbors were grand parent age and our kids grands lived far away. All the neigbors 'adopted' our kids as foster grand kids. They also 'adopted' any other neighborhood kids in need of grand parents.

The worst neighbors we've ever had are actually the current ones, and as 'neighbors' go they aren't bad, really. Just young kids living in a house that Daddy owns. The house is a run down rat trap, weeds and dirt instead of a lawn and they are just making it all worse. They don't really 'bother' us at all, but we are sick of looking at the mess they are making of the property (in town!) and hope they aren't ruining the property values too much.

The City does try to make them clean it up, but poor mouth excuses go a long way in a small town.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 09:34 PM

Back when I lived in Indiana my neighbor was a WW2 vet who had made the dash from Normandy through the Bulge and into Germany with an anti-aircraft unit. He was also held both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Notre Dame and was, of course, a die-hard ND fan.

One Saturday morning about 7:30 I went out the back yard only to have John yell at me, "You still got that old Army rifle?" He was referring to a 1917 "Enfield" I'd gotten.

"Yeah, why?"

"You got any bullets for it? If you do, bring it out here!"

"John, we're in the middle of the city!"

"Well that goddamned airplane (pointing at a plane towing an advertising banner) has been buzzing around here since 6 a.m. and I want to shoot the bastard down! And I can do it, too!"

I talked him out of it. And I still call him when I can -- in fact, I owe him a phone call now.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 04:26 PM

The cow story might even make a cute painting.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 03:39 PM

Our house backs up to a large field. The owner keeps a horse and four cows there. Just last weekend my wife Bretta was planting some tulip bulbs up next to the house. When I looked out the window - there were all four of the cows standing quietly next to each other - watching my wife. She was suprised when I told her to look around. She was unaware of her "audience". I guess even the cows are good neighbors around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: peregrina
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 03:28 PM

When I first moved to the place I now live, I found that my garbage bin always had mysteriously returned to its place. I wondered why the bin men put mine back but no one else's. It was ages before I learned that my neighbour next door was replacing it for me, so it always looked as if I'd been home even if I was away late.

One of many quiet kindnesses.

He was old, moved to a flat (and gave me his hedge trimmer, which he had so often loaned, when he left) and has since died. But I still remember him as a lovely kind and discreet man, a perfect neighbour...

The people who followed him are good neighbours too...Coming in late on a bicycle and making unusual noise with my shed door, the neighbour's face pops over the hedge to make sure it's me...

And then there's that cats' godmother up the street...

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 03:13 PM

We had a nice young man to the north of us who sold his house a year ago. The family who rented it from the new owner just moved out, thank goodness. They tried, but the son-in-law and the "grandpa" (wife's father) did not get along, plus grandpa was arrested a few times for possession, we now find out, and even asked my diabetic son-in-law if he had any spare needles one time! They did try to stop all outdoor noisy activities by 10p and the oldest child, a boy of seven was very polite.

The ones to the south of us are okay, but I hope they never get another dog. They do not care for them well enough, imo.

The folks across the street are very nice - there in a pinch, but very non-intrusive. I wouldn't want them in my house, all chummy-like, but they are good people.

The best thing about where we live, is our lot is BIG, 82' across by 172' deep. We don't even see the folks in the back. I see new subdivisions going in with prices starting at nothing less than $150,000 and they have NO yard, NO space; everything is insulated, meant to spend all of their time inside and never get to know their neightbours.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 02:26 PM

I bought the house next door to me mum about six years ago so she could enjoy a few more years alone in her own home. She never comes over unless she is invited or I need help. She knows me well.

On the rear, an adults only apartment complex was built. It had to be rezoned and the developer agreed to no rear doors or patios. So, they are great neighbours... no noise, no squabbles and much more "private" for us.

On the other side, we help and look out for each other. Other than that, we don't mix much. Better that way. Several of the neighbours past the "other side" used to mix. Now they are squabbling... or so I heard and quickly said, "Don't know anything about it. Don't wanna neither."

Subject: RE: BS: Good Neighbors
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 02:03 PM

One of our close neighbors has recently taken up both home brewing and charcuterie.

Accordingly, our intentional community of eight households is invited over for a social gathering featuring top-notch beer and perfectly spiced smoked sausages about once a month....which, believe me, has done wonders for making us all get along better when it's time for a community meeting or community project.

Another neighbor had the community over to dinner twice during our recent three-day power (and water) outage...we all brought along whatever in our nonfunctional fridges needed to be eaten; it was cooked on the grill or in the gas oven; we drank wine and drummed the dark away. Brilliant.

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: BS: Good Neighbors
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 01:48 PM

We lucked out when it came to neighbors. We moved to a new subdivision a year ago last November. The couples on either side of us have struck the perfect balance between involvement and privacy. Yesterday my mother in law had an elective foot operation. Just as I get home one of the ladies next door shows up with a large container of chicken soup. Darn good soup I might add. Yet she would never think to come over to "hang out" unless invited. If we're out of town we can count on one of them to come over and water the plants and feed the cat. They are friendly without being intrusive - and we try to be the same way.

I've seen more than a few threads about the other kinds of neighbors - so I'm counting my blessings when I think about ours. I hope you're as fortunate as we are. Care to share any good neighbor stories?