Nosey

I use to have an older couple who lived next door who were extremely nosey. They would even go so far as to drive around the block if they couldn’t see what I was doing in the front yard, or walk down the alley or mow across the street in the town’s right of way. I am not exaggerating on their nosiness. The local volunteer fire department had to warn them to quit following them on fire calls so that they could gawk.

So when they decided to retire and move to a bigger town and take advantage of the sellers market earlier this year I was a bit relieved. Well…not any more.

Just when you think you couldn’t have anyone worse or more nosey, you can. The new neighbors have even gone so far as to cut down shrubbery and a tree so they could have full view access into my front yard and see when I arrive and leave every day. They fashioned a new fire pit that they sit and drink at every day for hours and watch… Waving at times, as if that will somehow lessen the creepiness of me being their latest source of entertainment.

So, this past fall I was talking with some of my family about putting in a new privacy fence this next spring. I almost put one in this fall, but given the huge increase in construction costs, I thought I would wait since costs were predicted to go back down.

We had a stretch of really cold weather, but for the most part, the winter has been pretty mild and dry compared to a lot of years. So I wasn’t too surprised to hear construction noises coming from next door.

I was surprised to see after a few days a treehouse constructed in the their back yard that now looks over into mine. I’m sure they have grandkids, I’m sure it’s suppose to be for fun. I’m more than sure that my new neighbors will be the ones sitting up there in the evening drinking….and watching…and surveying as much of the block that they can.

I still plan on putting up the fence, but now it has me trying to think of other options. Gazebo? Tent? Bigger treehouse? Underground bunker? Just where does one go to get away from nosey people?

I may be gardening by flashlight this year.