He's right !
It is darn hard to live next door to
someone who is the total antithesis of you.
Sometimes it is hard to live with people you love !
So it should be no surprise when people who live next door irritate us to distraction.
That is one of the reasons Steve and I chose to live in a neighborhood that has a home owner's association. Regardless, of how loosely drawn the rules are there is a modicum of standards for co-existing. If you ever get a chance to attend a board meeting you will find that many of the board members would like to take actions on issues that come up but because of the limitations of the covenants and restriction hands are often tied. And maybe that is not a bad thing. A Home Owners Association is primarily commissioned to take care of public spaces, pay for street lights, maintain the integrity of the neighborhood, keep reserves for unexpected calamities, and keep disputes to a minimum.
The experience of being on the board is teaching me one thing and that is to have good neighbors you have to be an even better neighbor. Perhaps better than you would really like to be. ....go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, not say what you would really like, bite your tongue so hard it bleeds........
The unfortunate dog instance reported in an earlier blog has resulted in one of the sweetest and friendliest dogs in the neighborhood being reported to the dog police. ....granted the sweet old dude was not on a lead and yes there is a leash law.....But some people really have well trained animals....Now this is second hand but when Animal Control visited the officious animal mentioned above it was nothing short of a love fest! It goes back to talk to your neighbors first before taking action. Standing in the street yelling at your neighbor does not count, except to make you look foolish.
I certainly have no statistic to bare this out, but because of our constant stream of military it seems Pensacola has a higher volume of rental homes than other places we have lived. Many folks today that are your neighbors started out renting here, liked it, and decided to stay. So let's not paint all renters with the same brush stroke. That is my disclaimer ......so with a clear conscience I can say, obviously there are some problematic renters that we share our neighborhood with. And with the glut of rental properties it is going to be harder and harder for landlords to be as thorough as perhaps in the past. Let's be realistic, ownership does inspire pride and a sense of responsibility to maintain a property. Believe me I am not even hinting that you should be forced to put up with someone who is breaking a county ordinance, especially if it could be a potential danger or just is an unbelievable nuisance. But there is a difference between annoying and what the board or law enforcement officers can help with.
" Let's all just get along!" is at this point a cliche......but if you have a problem neighbor starting a war is not going to get you any where but possibly elevating your blood pressure......but perhaps a plate of cookies ......well, that might be the correct path to truly getting what you want which is essentially peace, isn't it ?.........or is the point just being right ? The sayings pick your battles and winning the war not just a battle do they put this in perspective?
Anytime you have concerns about what is happening in our hood......consider attending a board meeting. If you want to express your concerns, courtesy would be to call Irene Gilgun and ask to be on the agenda. Irene is the President of the association. Not only is she a delightful and sympathetic lady she does an excellent job ......Take heart we could live in Scenic Hills !
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