Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Truthful Tuesday: the one with the neighbor

Ah neighbors... We all have them right? I live in a little country town on the corner of two state roads. So it's country, but it's not super rural. Most of my neighbors keep to themselves, and all seem like relatively normal people. I haven't really heard any fighting ever. Pretty much everyone has dogs, which automatically gives them a few bonus points on the decent human meter. My neighbor across the street is a very loud talker, but she's nice, so who cares about that? And I learned when her dad came to help her with yard work that it runs in the family. It was kind of hilarious and cute, the two of them speaking ridiculously loud to each other while planting things and weeding and what not.
But there's always that ONE GUY right? Always. And he happens to live right next door. You've all read about him. He's the lawn mower guy. There are tons of stories about him, but unfortunately, all of them are hearsay, and none carry proof. My neighbor across the other street (I live on a corner) had a dog that barked kind of a lot. And one night someone spray painted "Stop Barkin'" on her car. My friend that rents my apartment had a foster dog that was barking, and the next day after his complaint she had two screws in her tire. And another neighbor with a dog that barked woke up to bricks in her yard one morning. All signs point to him. But alas no proof.
So yesterday, he walks himself over to my barn while I'm getting ready to ride, and asks me for the second time to pay part of his bill for some trees he had cut down. He had asked my permission in the fall to cut some trees at the back of his property. I had already had a guy out to do tree work, and spent more than enough money. My guy said he did absolutely everything that needed doing. So I told the neighbor, he could cut whatever he wanted back there, but he was responsible for the bill. He said ok, and went about his business cutting the trees. Fast forward to a couple months ago and he comes over asking me to pay half. I kind of put him off, and said I really don't think so, but get me a copy of the bill and I'll take a look at it. So I did some research and found that I am in no way liable for that bill. So when he came over last night asking again, I said I did my research, and I'm not legally responsible for that. So he said well if that's how you feel... and he went home. I called my dad to remind him that I need my brother to get these cameras up yesterday and what had just transpired. He said he'd call my brother asap, and I went to get on Shiny. I walked around a couple laps, and then picked up trot. As soon as I did, the neighbor starts banging on his metal shed which happens to be right next to my ring. Shiny was startled and showed me some acrobatics. Fortunately, I held on. If I had gotten on Pammon instead of her, I'd have been very hurt. No doubt.
This went on for about 30 minutes. I wasn't sure it was safe to get on again, so I just lunged Pammon last night. I'm curious what he'll do next. Or if he'll just bang away every time I try to ride? So far no flat tires on the car. I'll take the truck out later for a spin to see if he attacked those... Or maybe he'll do something to the trailer? I have no idea. He seems to go after motor vehicles.
I guess today's confession is that I'm not feeling very comfortable in my own home these days. It's not a good feeling to not trust your literal next door neighbor.
While I can let the police know what's going on, he didn't actually do anything illegal by making a lot of noise on his own property. So I'm not sure I'll really get anywhere there.
Have any of you dealt with neighbors like this? What did you do to fix it, or are you still dealing with it?

20 comments:

  1. That's really scary! I think you should talk to the local police and express your concern. Obviously there is nothing to be done without proof, but at least maybe there would be some kind of record when something happens? Be very careful!

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    1. Yes, I think you're right. Doesn't hurt to have a record anyway.

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  2. I would express my concerns to the police so that there is a record of it. I hope that the cameras go up soon. I would ignore the noise, the horses will get used to it. Maybe get a speaker and play loud music while you ride? :D At like, 6 a.m......
    I doubt he can keep up the banging forever. He may simmer down (I hope so) but you may need to find a way to convince him that you are too much trouble. Like if you have friends in a motorcycle gang (or look like they are...).

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    1. The trouble with him is that the noise is unpredictable and it can be very loud. So the horses are legitimately startled by it. It's hard to get used to when there's no rhyme or reason.
      I should look into some biker friends though!

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  3. I'm sorry you have to put up with that. My old barn had a neighbor who would let his dogs out when we rode in the field(Patterdale terriers, intact males, trained to hunt) and they would run up on the horses and between their legs. The dogs got out once and killed a barn cat on barn property in front of a boarder and my BO's husband had his shotgun out and was aiming at the dogs before the owner jumped in front of them. They got out once more and BO's hubby took a warning shot at them before the owner finally stopped letting them out. Luckily the other neighbor was a retired sheriff's deputy who reported everything so there was evidence if the dog owner tried to complain.

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    1. Ugh. People are just the worst. You'd think he'd realize how dangerous that could be for the dogs too!

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  4. I'd still file a report so that way there is something on record if he does do something.

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  5. I hope you get your cameras up soon! This guy is unreal.

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    1. Same! I knew he was a wacko, but I think it's getting worse.

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  6. This is insane. Definitely contact the police. And get the cameras up ASAP.

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  7. That is insane. I agree you can't do anything about the noise but... I do agree with other people about at least reporting it to the police. And I hope your cameras go up now. I'd probably take a day off work just to do them. That neighbor sounds scary...

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    1. Unfortunately, I have to get a company to come in and do them for me. My wifi doesn't cover the whole property so I have to do something hard wired. Boo.

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  8. Ugh - that is horrible and kinda scary. I'm sorry that you have to deal with that. I think it's good that you documented past conversations re: trees, costs etc as that can come in handy if needed. No one wants to call the police, but it may be good to have something on file that he walked in to your place unannounced and was being difficult? Sometimes having the police go over and speak to the individual gives them something to think about.

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    1. Unfortunately, with this guy, he retaliates. So if I sent the cops over there, who knows what he'd do next! Also unfortunately, I don't have anything written about the conversations or anything, so it's really hearsay.

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  9. I’m sorry :( I had a landlord like that and ultimately had to move. It was awful and stressful and completely ruined the quality of my day to day life. Hopefully your situation resolves in a more satisfactory way. Mediation might be an option, it would be awful if things escalated even more :(

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    1. Ugh, that's terrible too! I'm glad you were able to get out of that situation. I think I'm stuck with this guy since he owns his house. He was quiet last night at least. But it's like just waiting for what's next.

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  10. That sucks and is really scary. :(

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