You hear sometimes about Peyton Place activities behind the quiet facades of homes. I suppose that's possible here, too. We do have one family that's been visited by the police twice (that I know of), and another where the husband's in jail for being a sex offender. And this is just near our home. I can't rule out other, more nefarious activities, further away. Why, there might even be Republicans.
Yet, all things considered, we live in a quiet area. Cases in point: our neighbor -- the one with the husband in jail -- gave me the code to her house so that I can take care of her dog while she's away (at a Christian camp, with her son). She gave me the code awhile ago, when I was meeting her son at the bus for a while. It was one of those codes that can easily be changed, so I figured she would -- but she didn't. Same code now as then. And our next-door neighbor sent out a note saying that they'd be away, feel free to use the pool -- and since you all have keys to the house, feel free to come use the bathroom and take a soda from the fridge. Whoa. I don't think I could be that trusting. Even if they are from Kansas, with all of the wholesomeness that that implies, that's pushing it. Of course, we're somewhat the same way. Three neighbors have a key to our house - one being the one with the pool, another being the one with the detained husband.
Still.... makes you wonder, just a bit. Are we living dangerously?
4 comments:
As far as I know, no one else has the keys to our house. I've met the immediate neighbor once (we only have one), the one across road once (nice turkeys... I thought shooting turkeys was illegal in New jersey?) and we've taken one neighbor to court. (We won, he nearly went to jail).
Give them the keys to the house? I'm more likely to point a security camera and a big sign saying "Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again!" at them...
Unfortunately, it seems I can't do the sign in New Jersey. A cop told me it wasn't "encouraged" to shoot your neighbors. Mind you, I'd need to buy a gun. :-)
Whereas in Tennessee, offering to shoot trespassers is considered merely an extension of the 'good fences make good neighbors' doctrine. And for the NRA, Shoot First, Ask Later....If At All is the rule.
Many centuries ago people didn't lock their cabins and stranger who passed through were invited to spend the night and take a little from the larder. I'd like to go back to those days.
Yeah, me, too. Course, I don't want to go back to the lack of plumbing. Or Internet.
Post a Comment