Neighbors seem to really hate us and we don't know why

[Anonymous]

She didn't say she owns the neighborhood. She said they are harrasing her and stealing from them. Document, call cops, stick up for yourself.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree about the parking in front of their house, OP. If anything sets neighbors off it is parking in front of their house. It has nothing to do with who "owns" the property. It has to do with boundaries and being an in-your-face asshole who thinks they own the street. Use your OWN space in front of your OWN house. If you know your neighbor does not like people on their lawn, simply don't. do. it. It is not a difficult concept. And it will buy you much peace.

Funny, I think the asshole who thinks she owns the street is the person who believes she has a right to dictate where people park on a public street. Even though it's you're house, it's not YOUR space. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world would anyone feel like they have the right to tell someone where they can park?? That's just crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have to agree about the parking in front of their house, OP. If anything sets neighbors off it is parking in front of their house. It has nothing to do with who "owns" the property. It has to do with boundaries and being an in-your-face asshole who thinks they own the street. Use your OWN space in front of your OWN house. If you know your neighbor does not like people on their lawn, simply don't. do. it. It is not a difficult concept. And it will buy you much peace.

Funny, I think the asshole who thinks she owns the street is the person who believes she has a right to dictate where people park on a public street. Even though it's you're house, it's not YOUR space. Good grief.

Exactly and she moved it just a little bit to "mow the swail"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a swail?

OP spelled it wrong. Swale: (Noun) A low or hollow place, esp. a marshy depression between ridges

[Anonymous]

Since you work full time I bet your dogs bark all day, but you don't have to listen to them. Older people in general are also bothered by loud children. When you grow older you will most probably display the same behavior.

[Anonymous]

OP, your current complaints will seem like nothing once the neighbors get mad about your addition.

I say, try to make peace by moving your trash can. Don't tell them about the addition. Avoid them as much as possible, but if you see them, and they give advice about driveways, etc., just say thanks, etc and be polite.

I suggested before maybe move the rose bush, now I'm not so sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Put deer tents over the roses.

I am one the PP who said not to confront--but a deer tent over plants and the highest tent you can afford are a good idea. Then just be courteous about the parking some people get very touchy about the street parking in front of their house. Yes it IS public property, but don't be a jack*ss about it and repeatedly cross the line or even park directly in front of their house if you don't have to--this isn't Georgetown or Adams Morgan where spaces are rare as hen's teeth (there's a fogey expression for you!) go along to get along--it's not worth the war.

This is ridiculous. People have no right whatsoever to claim their curbside, and if they do they should be punished for it.

I'd buy a POS on Craigslist and park it square in front of their house and leave it there forever or until they stopped being pricks. This one looks good - $100

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/2450881885.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would anyone feel like they have the right to tell someone where they can park?? That's just crazy.

I've lived places where this is very important to people and they resent it if someone else parks in front of their house for a long time. Usually it's in small towns or small cities. It seems bizarre after you've lived in a big city where everyone parks on the street but believe me this is considered part of neighborhood etiquette some places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Put deer tents over the roses.

I am one the PP who said not to confront--but a deer tent over plants and the highest tent you can afford are a good idea. Then just be courteous about the parking some people get very touchy about the street parking in front of their house. Yes it IS public property, but don't be a jack*ss about it and repeatedly cross the line or even park directly in front of their house if you don't have to--this isn't Georgetown or Adams Morgan where spaces are rare as hen's teeth (there's a fogey expression for you!) go along to get along--it's not worth the war.

This is ridiculous. People have no right whatsoever to claim their curbside, and if they do they should be punished for it.

I'd buy a POS on Craigslist and park it square in front of their house and leave it there forever or until they stopped being pricks. This one looks good - $100

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/2450881885.html

you are a horrible neighbor. you RESPECT other people's sensibilities, as long as they don't materially put you out. Why? Well, one, because it is the nice thing to do. And two, because it makes your life easier and less stressful to not have a silly feud with your neighbors. So if there are plenty of spots on your street, and you know these folks have a "thing" about parking in front of their house, then just park somewhere else. They are old and don't want to have to walk forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would anyone feel like they have the right to tell someone where they can park?? That's just crazy.

I've lived places where this is very important to people and they resent it if someone else parks in front of their house for a long time. Usually it's in small towns or small cities. It seems bizarre after you've lived in a big city where everyone parks on the street but believe me this is considered part of neighborhood etiquette some places.

Nonsense, she moved it just a little bit temporarily to mow the grass, clearly they have a screw loose. Stand up for yourself now or next time they will be parking in your driveway and yelling at you in your living room because the color of your wallpaper is bothering them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Put deer tents over the roses.

I am one the PP who said not to confront--but a deer tent over plants and the highest tent you can afford are a good idea. Then just be courteous about the parking some people get very touchy about the street parking in front of their house. Yes it IS public property, but don't be a jack*ss about it and repeatedly cross the line or even park directly in front of their house if you don't have to--this isn't Georgetown or Adams Morgan where spaces are rare as hen's teeth (there's a fogey expression for you!) go along to get along--it's not worth the war.

This is ridiculous. People have no right whatsoever to claim their curbside, and if they do they should be punished for it.

I'd buy a POS on Craigslist and park it square in front of their house and leave it there forever or until they stopped being pricks. This one looks good - $100

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/2450881885.html

you are a horrible neighbor. you RESPECT other people's sensibilities, as long as they don't materially put you out. Why? Well, one, because it is the nice thing to do. And two, because it makes your life easier and less stressful to not have a silly feud with your neighbors. So if there are plenty of spots on your street, and you know these folks have a "thing" about parking in front of their house, then just park somewhere else. They are old and don't want to have to walk forever.

For the people who are stealing her roses, moving her trash cans, and generally making her feel miserable? Forget it.

I understand why people prefer to park in front of their own house and prefer that other people don't park there. But it's just a preference -- a preference that is completely unenforceable. If someone does park there, you keep your grumbling to yourself. Someone who runs out and tells a neighbor not to park in front of their house deserves to have their preference denied.

[Anonymous]

I have been in a neighbor dispute like this, and believe me, nobody wins. It's best to smile and ignore most of their behavior. I don't know why you are so bothered by their comments about your driveway. Just smile and agree that the holes in the driveway are ugly, and they are on your to-do list, which has about 100 other things on it that the previous owner left undone. Ask them politely not to cut your roses. Tell them you enjoy seeing them grow outdoors.

Don't confront them or be nasty to them, OP. Ignore their behavior, the way you'd ignore the behavior of a bratty but harmless child. They will make your life living hell during a renovation, believe me. Tell them you are renovating, give them dates, your cell phones and home phone, and the cell phone of the foreman on the job, just in case there is any problem.

Our neighbors got upset when our contractor put a ladder on their property without permission. It was only for a few minutes, and caused zero damage or problems, but the very idea that our contractors didn't ask made them crazy. The contractor apologized to the neighbors, who cursed at them.

A fence is a good idea, but be careful not to damage their property when installing it. Your neighbors sound annoying, OP, but it's best to make friends with them, or at least remain civil. Perhaps they miss their old neighbors, and are taking it out on you because you aren't home all day and aren't friendly like the old neighbors.

It doesn't matter what your neighbors' motivation is, I totally disagree with PPs who tell you to confront them. We got into a dispute with a neighbor, and there was a very unpleasant cold silence between us. DH decided to make amends and brought a peace offering over, which thawed things a bit. We're not friends, but a friendly wave even when you don't like these people can go a long way toward mending their hurt feelings and any perceived slights on your part. I think our crazy neighbor was mad we have kids and a big dog. Now she loves the dog and tolerates the kids. Nothing is perfect, but war in this case is not an option, since nobody wins.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in an apartment complex where one old lady wanted to have the parking space closest to the stairs. She had two cars, so every morning she would pull the car she drove out of that closest space, switch cars, and move her other car there for the day. When she came home, she would do the reverse, moving the second car to whatever space was available so she could park her first car in that closest space.

I never understood why she went to all the extra effort, since she had to walk the distance from whatever space was available both morning and night, not to mention all the switching, but you have to respect someone who goes to that sort of lengths to keep the space she wanted. She recognized that if she didn't do the switching someone else would take the close space, as they had every right to do.

If people want to keep others from parking in front of their house they should park extra cars there. Otherwise, they're just entitled pricks and deserve no better than having a POS parked in front of their house full time.

[Anonymous]

Old people are the WORST neighbors. No advice, sorry, just commiserating because we lived across the street from seriously annoying old people once.