Bad Neighbors

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 10:06 AM

Thank you, Wolfgang! Somehow I've missed that jewel.

LD

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 04:03 AM

I copied it from a Nash site, but I think it is safe to replace 'lead' in line 6 by 'leak'.

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS (from H Imlach)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:58 AM

THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS

The people upstairs all practise ballet
Their living room is a bowling alley
Their bedroom is full of conducted tours.
Their radio is louder than yours,
They celebrate week-ends all the week.
When they take a shower, your ceilings lead.
They try to get their parties to mix
By supplying their guests with Pogo sticks,
And when their fun at last abates,
They go to the bathroom on roller skates.
I might love the people upstairs more
If only they lived on another floor.

By Ogden Nash.

Wolfgang (I know it sung by H. Imlach)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FAMILY OVERHEAD
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 02:41 PM

When do we get Barb's song "Bad Neighbors"?

While we're waiting I thought I'd paste in this old one in my collection:

No housing songbook would be complete without a tenant/tenant hassle song. Who hasn't had the grim experience of sharing a common wall, floor, or ceiling with obnoxious neighbors? The typical response to such disruption of one's "quiet enjoyment of the premises" begins with polite remonstrations, followed by notes tacked on the door, midnight phone calls, pounding on the walls, and the stereo barrage. This old song recalled by Jimmie Gavin of Brooklyn, New York, captures the spirit of such moments. Jimmie had a long history as an organizer, for many years working with the National Maritime Union and after retirement working to organize tenants. As Jimmie recalls:

"This song was written by a pal of mine, Bill Rogers, back in 1935 while he was serving time in Sing Sing. Bill was a strong arm man for the Union. Many the time we'd be having a drink on the West Side and he'd sing this song."

THE FAMILY OVERHEAD
(Words by Bill Rogers. Circa 1935 As sung by Jimmie Gavin in 1982 Tune: traditional Son of a Gambolier)

Upstairs there lives a family,
Gilhooley is their name,
And I haven't had a wink of sleep
Since in the house they came.

Chorus:

With their howling and their bowling,
They'd wake the fxxxing dead;
They're a bunch of filthy bastards,
Are the family overhead!

The old man he comes raving home,
He pounds the bastard walls;
The old lady plays "Mavornian"
Till she'd burst your fxxxing balls. (CHO)

Oh, there's Norey and there's Corey
And the cursed Christ on Kate;
There's Ninnie and there's Denny
And they're never home till late. (CHO)

The other night I lay asleep,
I had a pleasant dream;
I dreamt that I was floating
In a lake so cool and clean.
You can swim right all around me now,
Dive from me fxxxing bed,
For they've broke the bleeding waterpipe,
Them bastards overhead! (CHO)

Peace,
Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 13 Jun 00 - 12:17 PM

write and ask him. His address is: Utah Phillips PO box1235 Nevada City CA. 95959. It sure sounds like something he would do.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Jun 00 - 12:15 AM

Utah Phillips was rumored to have lived in a caboose on an abandoned siding somewhere. The Code Gods wrote him up for living in an unzoned mobile home. He welded the wheels to the track. Case closed. I often wondered if it was real or folklore.

Don

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 11:41 PM

Actually Barb its not yet. Added to my list of Thread Creeps is one from Shamble's which fits here. Its called "Dead Thread Creep." Happens when someone, most often the originator, tries to kill a thread and the sucker just keeps going.

First, yeah, I am happy for you and with your wise decisions. But don't apologize for the wise decision of venting here. I know we have some folks who don't agree with me, but that's a part of this place too. We talk as friends and we should. Music brought us together here, but the community can, should, and does, encompass much more. So do our lives. Thanks for sharing.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 07:55 PM

Sorry. Changed my mind and will NOT be sending a copy of this letter to the neighbor. I have no wish to receive a response, don't want to spend another minute stewing about her, don't want to get into a verbal war, so it's getting dropped. I apologize to everyone who's had to listen to all this venting, but thank everyone who offered (wonderful) suggestions and support. Kendall, Rick and catspaw ought to collaborate on a book.

And on that note (see, music!) . . .

The End.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 10:35 AM

Just dropped off this letter at the zoning commission office, and will send a copy to the "bad neighbor":

As requested, we are writing you a note to describe our solution to the potential zoning violation.

We have decided that it would be too costly to further modify our property to park our recreational vehicle according to the setback requirements, and so will pay to store it at a self-storage facility when not in use. It is truly unfortunate that we cannot park our own camper in our own yard, and must pay $50 per month to store it elsewhere, primarily because one neighbor was offended by the sight. My husband and I were very surprised to find that this was not just another vehicle that we could park in our own driveway.

One of the main reasons we traded in our trailer for a motorized RV was to eliminate the need to pay for storage. We took out a hedge, cut down a tree, turned over a huge area of sod, had stone delivered and spread the stone ourselves to make a new driveway, tucked beside our garage where it would fit neatly into the environment. One never knows what (if anything) goes through people's minds who feel that civilized life and property values are threatened by RV's!!

We were deeply saddened that someone we thought was a good neighbor for 15 years felt the need to complain about us to the zoning board, rather than speaking to us about her issues after seeing the RV.

Thanks for your considerate attention and sensitive comments.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 09:38 AM

Old Maine proverb..Never wrestle with a pig..you both get dirty, but, the pig likes it.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: GUEST,April790
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 03:11 AM

And they call this a "free" country?? You could always park the camper somewhere else or sell it to your neighbor and bring the festival to your yard...you know other campers and tents, jamming till 3 a.m., portable barbecues everywhere, porta-potties along the alley, happy kids running all over everyone's lawns...I'll bet your neighbor(s) would love it--a mini-Woodstock. *grin*

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Terry K
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 02:48 AM

Back on topic - I agree entirely with MarkS. I have resisted putting in my two penn'orth but have been really disappointed in the way the responses take the revenge route (and can only assume most are "tongue-in-cheek").

Barbara caused the situation by doing something that her neighbour objected to, so it was up to Barbara to find an equable solution. Which I understand she did - well done for rising above the situation.

Bear in mind that trying to get revenge is available to both sides of any argument - that's how positions polarise and things escalate out of all proportion.

Here in UK, most modern housing developments are protected by legal covenant to prevent people parking caravans on their drives - this didn't just happen, it's by (mostly) common consent. Those roads not so protected can look like hell with caravans of various age, condition, lurid colours etc, and no way to prevent it. It's all about trying to make life a little nicer.

So if one of my neighbours wanted to move a TWENTY THREE FOOT trailer in next door to me, you can be sure I would be as pissed off as Barbara's neighbour. But I hope I would have gone about it in a more sensitive way!!

Cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 10:11 PM

Well if they're making a movie of Catspaw's life, it's gonna be hard to cast the lead role. Kinda need a combination of John Denver (some resemblance), Rasputin (well HE's the one who introduced the "prick" aspect), Henny Youngman (many felt that HE was unfunny too), Frankenstein (aren't they keepin you alive with other people's body parts, Pa?) and Norman Vincent Peale ('cause you ARE inspirational at times)

Trouble is they's all deed!

Oh, all right Pa...I'll take the role, but they'll have to cast Mariah Carey as the love interest.

Rick

P.S. Sorry Barb....this thread is supposed to be about YOU!

I repent, as of now.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: MarkS
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 05:35 PM

Hi Barbara - Hate to say it but I have to disgree with a lot of the sentiment expressed here. Not that I have ever had a disagreement with another 'Catter before, but hey..
My father once told me that when you meet the most miserable son-of-a-bitch you know in your life, the way to act is to stick out your hand and offer to shake, because you show to the rest of the world that at least you have better manners than they do. Best bet is to go through the variance process and hope for success, and regarding your neighbors, ignore them whenever possible and treat them with utmost civility when you cannot. You will show everybody else in the neighborhood that you have class and you will be able to sleep at night.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 05:28 PM

It'd make a hell of a movie.

Would someone like to start casting it? And suggesting songs and tunes for the soundtrack?

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Gary T
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 05:14 PM

You know, Spaw, you really should write a book. I'm chuckling trying to type this. You've got the gift.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 03:23 PM

Dear Barb,

I wanted to alert you that the boys have left and are heading for your place. I was unaware that Cletus had taken a serious interest in going your way and indeed the only reason I mentioned it was to get the "Crappers on Casters" out of MY driveway. Luckily, they had been doing the cleaning down at the carwash. On the other hand, that's probably what precipitated their move out of town. After supplying their services to a biker gang reunion, they were hosing down at the carwash when they accidentally spilled some of the mess on the mayor's car. This wasn't good and rather than risk further jail time or the mayor's shotgun, they left here late last night.

I doubt they can find Connecticut on the best day they ever had, but I wanted to let you know that the possibility exists......blind hog and all that. They're driving Buford's pickup with the Reg boys in the back (probably flaring off a few). The trailer is really a hideous looking thing and when loaded with the outhouses, it a sight to behold so you won't have any trouble identifying them. The outhouses themselves are homemade affairs which they built with old counters and shelving that JC Penney was throwing out. To say they're ghastly looking is to put it mildly.

Last time they went wandering, they were headed for the "Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed" in Montana and wound up in Bill's front yard in DC, so I wouldn't worry too much. Although maybe I should send a note to Rick since his half brothers, the Reg boys, did mention getting directions from him and they DO know where he lives. Maybe the border folks will get suspicious and detain them there.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 07:06 PM

Hey WE shared..now YOU share lol

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 03:46 PM

Good news: even though we had cancelled our self-storage contract, we can get our old spot back and a new contract.

Bad news: the price went from $45/month to $59/month.

Good news: the manager gave Frank a senior discount!

Bad news: Frank was totally insulted, but cheap enough to accept (heehee).

Good news: I wrote a song called "Bad Neighbors."

Bad news: you can't hear it until I de-corn the lyrics. Could take years.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: GUEST,hollowfox, visiting her folks
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 02:25 PM

Barbara, I wish I had a great suggestion to solve this, but outside of moving (fleeing, and letting the neighbor think she won), I don't. I'm glad you're enjoying all the vengance fantasies (mine involves having the local pipe band use your yard for practice sessions). Eventually the anger and stress will diminish until you give her less thought than you do your compost heap. Love, Mary

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: GUEST,CLETUS
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 12:20 AM

Catspaw sed az ta how I shud rite you an seez bout me an Paw an Buford an them Reg boyz comin ta your place ta house sit when yalls gone off in thet motorhome. Catspaw sed we cud sleep in yer garage senz he dint think az how weed be none too gud fer yur furnishins. weer all dun withen the assparagus farm an it dint work out too well cuz the cost of kleenin supplies ran kinda high whut with all them folks producin more poop than asparagus. But it did allow us ta xsplor nu venchers an thetz how we all got inta the portable crapper biznus.

Senz we had all thet thair kleenin stuff, yu know them pooper scoopers and lemon smellin dissenfecterz an all we went an bilt ouselvz 6 reel purty outhouses on wheels and rigged up a trailer ta hawl em out uv the back end uv a 74 Ford pickup. We sorta ran outta money then so we aint got no pump ta pump em out with but senz weer all big fellers we jez pick em up and turn em over them we hoze out the leftovers.

Catspaw sed there are a lot uv thingz goin on uppin yer way whair we mite git sum biznis and we figgert thet yer nabor wuddent mind ifn we parked at yer place ta house sit an do the kleenin an dumpin in thet nice area ya dun fixed up next ta yer house. When yer nabor seez whut fine fellers we ar, I doan think sheel mine a bit. Why weed even let her uze our "Crappers on Casters" fer free ifn she wanted ta save on kleenin her own bathroom.

So ifn ya need us ta house sit an all jez tell us when yall will be gone an weel be there johnny on the spot, so to speak. The onliest problemz I kin think uv wud be thet Paw tot the Reg boyz how ta lite up farts and the four uv em ar allus gittin inta flarin contests an sumtimes they set stuff afire besides thair drawers. But ifn we do the kleenin an dumpin out thair on the gravel, mosta the stuff wud soke down yer naborz grass purty well so the fire risk wuddent be too much attall.

CLETUS

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Margo
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 11:52 PM

Barbara, whatever you decide to do, do it with merry eyes twinkling. Margo

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Gypsy
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 10:20 PM

Barbara, Kendall is right. With all that you have, you don't need to buy into her ugliness. You have alot of what life has to offer, and it sounds like all she has is vindictiveness. I'de hate to live in her skin.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 09:23 PM

Wow! I'm going to save this thread forever. After all these nice things you've said, I should probably be grateful to the neighbor for giving me this opportunity to rake in some strokes. Not.

Seriously, this thread really reflects the spectrum of reactions of a great group of people sticking up for one of their own, and I appreciate the support. I'm sure there are many quiet lurkers and untold bohillions not on the net who agree that RV's are a threat to life as we know it, but at least here we rally once again for the mudcat. If only people here had a sense of humor...

Wow, again.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:47 PM

Solutions to a bad neighbour problem. 1. Make a truly obnoxious curry every night for a month 2. have sex very very loudly 3.Call a taxi,pizza delivery, ton of sand to be delivered to their address every night for a week. 4. grow Leylandi -this is a type of evergreen shrub that grows to about 250 foot within the space of about a week and a half and has been virtually banned in the UK. Personally, I prefer method number 2,it probably won't irritate the neighbours but you may get some personal satisfaction from it.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:38 PM

If she's that into property values, maybe she's planning to sell the house. Perhaps what she's really worried about is that the camper might put off some potential buyers when they come round.

In which case maybe you'll be shot of her soon, and the new ones might be OK.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:34 PM

Consider this...you are a very pretty lady, a talented musician, and married to another talented musician, and, a nice guy to boot. Now..what has that neighbor got going for her? Wanna swap with her? Never judge a man 'til you have walked a mile in his shoes. (by then, if he gets pissed off, you have a head start, AND his shoes) seriously, weigh what you have against what she has.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:28 PM

Find out what party they support, then put up a big sign for the other.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: sledge
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 12:24 PM

I suggest calling on your neighbours and over a drink or two recount your traumatic days in the postal service, your liberal use of prozac and your new found interest in the NRA

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 12:13 PM

Well, you could deliver some poisoned "Eels in eel broth". That would take care of them.....or....or.....WAIT A MINUTE! (shit I wish I could do those BIG headlines that some do)

FIND A WAY FOR THEM TO SEE THIS THREAD!

Rick

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 09:51 AM

Guys Be sure you are far away from any of Kendall's wet cats for the face-off. It could get ugly. (Or uglier?)

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 07:37 AM

The betrayal is that we have been friendly, good neighbors for 15 years. For her to suddenly appoint herself zoning police in charge of neighborhood property values and then report us, behind our backs, is intolerable. This irrational reaction to an RV is unbelievable. The hypocrisy is that she claims that it wouldn't be so bad if we would put the camper on the OTHER SIDE of our house! I guess property values would only suffer on her side.

I think I'm over the aggravation, and then all this fury bubbles up again. We bought the motorhome to make things easier on ourselves, to simplify and de-stress a little from high pressure jobs, a big house with lots of maintenance, eldercare pressures, etc. Now it's going to take two of us to bring it to storage (one to follow in the car) rather than one pulling the trailer. And now I've got this burning in my gut that needs an outlet.

Enough venting. Gotta go to work. Sing one for me.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 07:18 AM

It's clearly a control problem. Look at it this way..you have to look at her on occasion..she, however, must look at herself every day.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Callie
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 05:23 AM

What a thread! You guys should rent yourselves out as The Mudcat Fix-It Dudes.

Here's something no-one else has suggested, and it's probably the tack I'd try.

The problem is the snotty neighbour. Whether the law is on your side or not, she'll still be snotty. If it's not the trailer, it'll be something else. SO - the long term solution is to get her on your side. You will have to employ some good acting techniques (and pretend you WANT to make friends) and some detective work. Where does she work? What makes her tick? Is there a charity she's sympathetic to? Does she like little dogs? Collect stamps? Find her weak spot and hit her with it. I've often found with those sorts of people, it's easier to win by APPEARING TO BE ON THEIR SIDE. Maybe a pipe dream, but maybe if you're able to come across as sympathetic on a topic she can understand, the rest would be easier.

Good luck.

Callie

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 12:52 AM

You're a smart woman Barbara.

On the other hand, if you ever want three opinionated sarcastic sons of bitches to REALLY mess up your neighbourhood, Kendall, Catspaw and I are your men. Granted they both claim to have...oops I mean BE bigger pricks than me...but I've got an imagination that knows no bounds and can be talked into anything!

By the way, although I do spell "neighbourhood" neighbourhood, I'd rather spell it nayb'rhood. That's just the way they taught me before I was expelled!

Rick

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 11:01 PM

A guy at work suggested moving our compost pile to the property line. I like that one a lot.

The camper is too high to get into the garage. That's where we kept our pop-top several years ago, but it didn't work for the trailer and doesn't work for the motorhome.

I called the self-storage place where we kept our trailer for years, where I told them we no longer needed the spot now that we traded in the trailer for a motorhome. Asked for our spot back, and almost died when she said it was gone. She called back an hour later and said she rearranged a few things and got us our spot back. So we're going to just park the thing there, pay our $45 a month and get back to the music. And the small-minded, mean-spirited, trouble-making neighbor will have to find something else to occupy her empty mind.

I'm still angry as hell at the treachery of some people, and disappointed that the convenience of having the camper ready for quick getaways is gone, and upset that we dug up a hedge, cut down a tree and built a new driveway for nothing. But we've got about 8 more festivals to look forward to this summer and a hundred friends waiting down the highway for a jam.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 10:45 PM

Get a flock of chickens, or, a couple of rabbits in a cage, and, dont clean them out for a week or so...

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Gypsy
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 10:41 PM

Try for the variance, and go in front of City Council. In spite of our overly tourist, small minded atmosphere here, our elected officials are pretty good, but ya gotta talk to them. Starting a feud with the neighbours is a no win situation. Chances are, they will play "can you top this" ad infinitum. Oh yeah, my final query: do you have a garage? Could you put the motorhome in that and the car onthe new pad that you poured? Might be a simple solution.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: sophocleese
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:36 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:21 PM

Bev and Jerry, you're right about some people believing RV's are a huge threat to civilized life in their sterile little neighborhoods. It's really amazing to hear seemingly intelligent people spout and sputter about protecting property values against them.

Rick and spaw, you two are incorrigible. I leave to get some sleep and miss the pantless face-off to decide the prick of the day. Well, you'll have to have another one with Kendall. Just picture this, folks. The three of them. . .

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: sophocleese
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:13 PM

It may not be sensible to do some of the suggtested things but its great fun to think of and sometimes that helps engage the sense of humour to help get through the situation.

If you have access to the permanent art of a class of six year olds you could use them as garden sculptures. That way the kids get the thrill of seeing their stuff on public display and your neighbour can only look like a complete grump if she complains. My mom got upset once and wondered what the neighbours would say when I let my kids play with sidewalk chalk all over the driveway. I couldn't understand her concern; across the road is a marvelous gardener who is allowed to let her artistic and creative abilities run rampant in public view, why shouldn't my kids be allowed to do the same? The rain washed the problem away.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:02 PM

Well, of course Rick's being sensible, but he can't help it. I'd honestly advise against doing what Catspaw said with the junk heap. This has no class at all, and lots of people have piles of rusted metal in their yards. Now if you were to hang Christmas lights on it...

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 07:58 PM

Thread drift - I'm surprised by how many people across the Atlantic spell it "neighbours". And not just the Canadians, who I suppose might want to do it differently from the big fellas south of the border. Are both forms current in the States too?

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Fiddlin' Big Al
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 07:49 PM

Rent the Belushi-Akroyd film "Neighbors". Things could be worse. If you need an electric fiddler, I'm IT.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 07:14 PM

Rick's right on this, in my view. It's fun enough talking about feuds with neighbours, but in reality they're just a pain.

Unless you're going to do whatever is necessary to win, there's no point getting in a fight; and those are the kind of fights noone wins.

Of course there could be an alternatve strategy. Maybe a temporary house swap with catspaw would do the trick. He could fix it that she'd welcome you back with open arms. That wouldn't be vengeance, just corrective therapy.

That could be a whole new philanthropic way of life for someone - going from town to town helping neighbours get on better by making them feel lucky they didn't have you as a neighbour. Social work á la Incredible Hulk.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:57 PM

I think I heard Kendall say it had been there about 89 cats.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:42 PM

How long'd your well been there? I assume Maine has a Statute of Limitations.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: kendall
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:23 PM

Spaw and Rick..how dare you leave out the most crusty egotistical prick of all. ME!! I have never started a row in my life, but, I take great joy in counter punching. Some years ago I lived out in the country, and here in Maine, many deeds say 69 acres, more or less. Land is so cheap here, we dont worry over a few feet either way. But, the old man who owned the adjoining property sold out, and a couple from N.J. bought it. First thing they did was have it surveyed. They came to me and said "Our surveyor says that our common boundry line runs right through the middle of your well. What do you propose to do about it.? I couldn't think of a reasonable answer to an unreasonable question, so, I just said "I dont know what you want to do with your half, I'll probably keep drowning cats in mine." To date, they have shown no interest in sharing that water.

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: Fiddlin' Big Al
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 01:23 PM

I moved to a small town in eastern WA about 8 years ago. Got elected to town council in self defense. Yes, neighbors can be a pain. Most of the time ordinances are selectively enforced. There may be scads of rules we're all violating and nothing is said unless someone complains. Contact your city council person and question the actions of the zoning officer. Most of the time the squeeky wheel of a complaining neighbor gets greased by some action like the visit you rec'd from the zoning zombie. It is amazing how far past the letter of the rules they will twist things in order to respond to a complaint. They may back down and admit you have a right to park or they may retaliate with more BS. It helps if you are not vulnerable on any other fronts. In any case, keep a record of names and dates and everything that is said to you by officials on the subject. If possible speak to them only in front of witnesses. This may seem paranoid, but it is not. Smile and be reasonable and nice but insistent on seeing chapter and verse on rules they attempt to enforce. Good luck. Remember all these people work for you if you pay taxes. Put up a fence and paint it flourescent orange on the neighbors' side if all else fails .

Subject: RE: Bad Neighbors
From: richardw
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 12:42 PM

Kendall;

Re moving a well: SeanM had the sense of it. Ours is a shallow well, ie dug not drilled. We got a driller out who said go way way the other direction, never mind the cost. Huh? Turned out he was also working for said neighbour.

So we got a dowser. She said dig below the old well and you'll find water at 20 feet.

So, we got an excavator at $110 an hour (this is the short version) who dug around and in the second big pit found water at 18 feet. We dumped in gravel then set the concrete well sections in so they were 6' above the ground. He backfilled, then we dumped in 10 loads of drain rock -3-4"- at $120 a load. Now we had to dig a ditch to connect to the old line. That ended up being 600 feet long, but, we replaced the old pipe with new larger diameter.

Of course because of the new route the pump would no longer draw. There is certain rules of hydraulics I had to learn. One is that a surface pump will only draw up 25 feet. In theory. We are at 3500 feet, so deduct a few feet of drawn. Anyway aftern mcuh labour and a new pump we found we were at the theoretical maximum. Wouldn't work. So we moved all the equipment to the well site and constructed a new pump house ....

As I said $10,000 later we have a good water system, plus time off in the middle of haying, plus aggravation ... But, hell, I now know lots about well construction.

The neighbour is still a dink, but the big balance wheel in the sky hit him in the back of the head when he went to check a propane leak on his boat with a lit match. No more boat. He wasn't too badly hurt fortuantely. We gave him the Darwin award.

My wife had a fence experience. Neighbour wanted to expanmd his driveway. Asked her and her husband to move the fence. No. I don't think so, they said. So he got nasty. Called in a surveyor. Found his driveway was already 6 inches over the line. Never mentioned it again. Must be a song there. Where's Paxton

Cheers

Richard