"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...

"Vox Humana" wrote in message
...

We have a couple of people like that, too. Shortly after moving in
there
was big storm and several very large trees were heavily damaged. We had
a
tree company come out and remove them. One of our neighbors had a small
boy
who insisted on being too close to the action. The tree people asked us
to
move him back. They were cutting huge limbs and lowering them to the
ground
with ropes. The kid wouldn't stay back so we went to his house and
asked
his mother to come get him. We didn't need the liability. For the last
eight years, she has made it her mission to tell everyone that we don't
like
kids and are mean *******s. She is friends with the redneck cop. Her
clique of Stepford wives denies our very existence, turning away when we
pass. When they have gardening questions or need a pant disease
diagnosed,
they have no problem sending the husband down for advice. The last time
I
suggested that they could get good advise on the Internet or at the
county
extension office. The next time I'm going to ask hubby if he will get
in
hot water for talking to us.



Yup, very similar. Our lovely neighbors turned the folks on the other side
of them against us, since we were the new folks on the block, and they
were
all giving us the cold shoulder. But I think they've finally caught on.
The
Mrs actually waved when I was walking by recently! But as for the other, I
think the point-of-no-return was crossed at some point and their pride
won't
allow them to get back over it. And at this point we don't want anything
to
do with them anyway, so a nice barrier of trees and shrubs has been going
up
both sides of the fence.

Fences and shrub rows make good neighbors. I think you are right about
saving face. There are neighbors who we have never spoken to personally who
give us the cold shoulder. They would have to admit to their stupidity if
they reversed their position. When we moved here nearly everyone was
friendly and courteous. Now a few people have poisoned the atmosphere.
People come and go so frequently that I hope we can outlast the bad ones.
One thing that I have noticed is that there are more and more single parent
homes. The parents seem to never be home and the kids have little
supervision. There are teens that give you that cold, hard stare with a
look that says they would just as soon kill you as smile. There is no
respect for rules or boundaries. Kids have everything but their parent's
attention.

We have one family that has been exceptionally friendly. They are
fundamentalist Christians who have named all their kids after biblical
characters. They do the home schooling thing. They have always been
friendly and send down plates of food when they have family gatherings. Our
elderly neighbors are also quite friendly.