There’s this really ugly bush that probably belongs to me. It’s close to the property line and ownership isn’t clear. Today, I trimmed it and cleaned up the mess. Last year, my neighbor did the same thing. Because neither of us are sure who it belongs to, we just take turns taking care of it. It’s not a big deal and it’s the neighborly thing to do.
Although I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful neighbors for the most part — like my current shrub trimming buddy — my favorite neighbor is still a friend although we’ve not been neighbors for decades, and my worst neighbor ever went to jail and I have no clue if he’s out yet.
Think about who you’d rate highest and lowest on your neighbor scale. Can you name your most and least favorites? I’m willing to bet your favorite ranked high on the following traits — and your turd neighbor failed at some or all of them:
- Trustworthy. (No one wants to worry about their stuff when they’re away.)
- Quiet and respectful.
- Responsible. (This includes being not only a responsible pet owner, but also a responsible property owner.)
- Friendly. (Friendly but not invasive… no one wants the neighbor knocking on their door to borrow something every other day.)
TIL (Today I Learned): 60% of all complaints against neighbors have to do with NOISE. (Dogs barking, kids yelling, loud music, parties, and TV volume top the list.)