Is the refrain of the Australian soap opera which my daughter watched when she was young, and it’s something I’ve always tried to be.
My marvellously madcap neighbour has lived in this apartment complex virtually from the day it was built, and talks to absolutely everyone. She was a positive ray of sunshine when we first moved in, as no-one else smiled or said a word. The transient nature of occupants explains that reticence, as people are now sufficiently friendly, ‘cos we’re clearly here for the duration.
I’m happy to say that my madcap neighbour and I are friends. There’s all the usual to and fro of friendship, but it also works as neither of us would take advantage of one another.
And yet some people do….
Our immediate neighbour (the number 3 to our number 4) was engaged to carry out some minor building work for my lovely neighbour. For an unknown reason, he decided to do the work in the evenings, after finishing his day job. While this was happening, his wife-to-be frequently berated him – in the car park no less – so we could all hear every single word. Her complaint? That he spent more time with “her” than at home…
While we didn’t need my neighbour to learn about that bit of batshit craziness, it turns out he’s also become pally with her grandson. Immediately he moved in, he engaged said grandson to buy him bottles of wine on the QT, and apparently stashes the bottles in his work van – the one he chooses to park in the farthest parking space away from their apartment…
My chair is positioned beside our patio doors to catch the best light for reading, meaning I can’t miss seeing him as he goes to and fro across the car park of an evening – so many trips, indeed, that I’ve wondered what he’s up to. He confessed to my neighbour that his wife-to-be doesn’t allow him to indulge at home, so instead he nips out to have a nip from his van stash. But as the trips are frequent enough to make me wonder, I’ve had to wonder why she doesn’t…
Both regularly pop round to my neighbour to borrow all manner of foodstuff and kitchen implements – on one memorable occasion, walking away with all the ingredients for a roast dinner – never to be reimbursed or returned. This despite my neighbour being a widow on a small pension, while he and his wife-to-be both work full-time.
They’ve proudly told her that they only shower once a week (yuck), and won’t turn the heating on in the winter – because the utility bills are too high.
And yet….
They drive a flash, top of the range BMW, upgraded only last week to an SUV – also a(nother)flash, top of the range BMW – and she is planning a hugely expensive and showy wedding.
I’ve told my neighbour she’s too nice and she should say no (as has her grandson). But she prefers to gain reciprocation in demanding a lift when needed. While they have absolutely no shame and clearly don’t want to, the level of their scrounging has been so egregious that even they’ve been unable to say no.
Himself and I would do anything for her (as she knows), but she’s decided there will be a quid-pro-quo to that relationship, and I can’t help but admire her determination.
How are your neighbours? Are relationships friendly, cordial or simply wave-and-greet? Have you had cheeky blighters for neighbours like this pair?
© Debs Carey, 2024
debsdespatches.com 
Wow! We’ve never had such problems with neighbours, not at all, but now you’ve got me wondering about our impending move from house to apartment!! 😳😂
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Wow, that’s some serious entitlement by your neighbors. They took an entire roast dinner?! Are they the Grinch or what? My relations with neighbors are all good–except for the cop next door. I tried to keep things civil (he always carries a gun). I’ve brought back his loose dogs repeatedly (he comes home drunk and they escape). He breaks the law constantly with everything from parties, illegal parking, dogs that bark at all hours, speeding, dumping, unpermitted construction, etc., and other neighbors call the police, but of course nothing happens. The only time I said something was when he tried to illegally cut down the city tree and he went ballistic. Hasn’t spoken to me since. But the tree is still standing!
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We are fortunate to have great neighbors on both sides of us and across the street. Any one of us would definitely, and have, looked out for the others. We did have a shady couple living next door to us for a while but fortunately they’re gone. I wonder if your elderly neighbor just likes the company and that’s why she allows the goings on from the couple.
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So, is his wine of choice a Cabernet SauVANon?
I’ve had good neighbors and bad. Ironically, in my latest post, I talked about one of the good ones! Before we bought our house here, our neighbor across the hall in our apartment complex would frequently and loudly yell and curse at his kids. We were more than happy to bid him good riddance!
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Jane, I’ve lived in many an apartment, and this is the first one when I’ve had issues. Fortunately, I don’t have much to do with this particular pair, even though they are my immediate neighbours, but I suspect they’re intimidated by Himself (he’s a big lad 😉 ) and I’ll take that!
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They did indeed. I’m glad that my neighbour’s grandson called them out on it too, as she was doing all that “oh no, it’s fine” thing with me. Now she’s seeing them for what they are, she’s demanding stuff in return. She’s a feisty old bird 🙂
That is quite the victory Autumn (and I do remember that story). I struggle with the concept of a drunk carrying a gun living next door, especially when they’re a cop who gets away with law breaking. I take my hat off to you for your determination and resilience.
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She’s incredibly soft-hearted Janet, and having struggled for years herself, cannot bear to think of anyone else suffering. Now she’s had the car situation pointed out by myself and her grandson, she seems them for who they are.
How lovely that you have good neighbours, they do make all the difference.
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Chortle, nice pun Mark 😀 I think he’s more of a “whatever is on special” kinda guy…
Having a bad neighbour in an apartment complex can be tough, but I had struggles with a neighbour in the next door bungalow when my daughter was young. Fortunately I quickly heard that she was horrid to everyone in the street. Despite that, my daughter started up a charm offensive on them and had them eating out of her hands 🙂
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Oh, I struggle with anyone carrying gun at any time. Starting to feel like I live in the Wild West! And the cop will probably be LAPD Chief someday because of course.
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It sounds like you could make a television series about your neighbors…or perhaps write a book. We have been blessed with very good neighbors in both our northern and southern Utah homes. I don’t know how we’d manage part-time living in either place without them. We also do our best to be good neighbors to them.
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I’ve moved a lot, so you’d think I would have encountered a bad neighbor or two, but I can’t think of any. I guess the only complaint is that some of us are either too busy with our own lives or not outgoing enough to be spending much time with our neighbors. We had a very quiet time period during COVID, and we don’t go out as much during the winter. But spring is coming, so we’ll spend more time outside chatting. I was president of the neighborhood assn. a few years ago. I had more stories then.
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Oh that would be a dreadful outcome – unless he had to move to somewhere more “secure”. One can but hope.
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This place is very unusual. Everywhere else I’ve lived, people have been pleasant from the get go. Here – we got totally ignored when we greeted anyone and it’s only now we’ve been here for a few years, that people talk to us. My lovely neighbour being the exception. It is a place with a lot of coming and going, which probably explains. The next door complex seems a lot more relaxed and stable.
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Growing up we had a downstairs neighbour who complained about the sound of our Dachshund’s nails clip-clopping. Thinking back, we didn’t have carpets so, if the soundproofing wasn’t good, it must’ve driven him crazy. I suspect building regulations and leases now stipulate the standards of soundproofing and behaviour for apartment buildings.
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We’ve been extremely fortunate to have quiet neighbors for the most part. When I lived in an apartment in my twenties, my downstairs neighbor used to play Johnny Mathis really loudly. Good thing I like Johnny Mathis. ❤️
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We have great neighbors, several of whom we socialize with fairly often. I hate to see anyone taken advantage of, especially when they are older, trusting, and soft-hearted.
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It makes such a difference doesn’t it Kari? I was nearly put of ‘Hotel California’ by a flatmate who played it on a constant loop….
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That’s the bit that bugs me too Janis, the blatant advantage taking.
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Nicki, I’ve never been best buds with any neighbours (except overseas where things are a lot different), but things have mostly been pleasant and friendly. Most of our apartment complex were home during Covid – either on furlough or working from home – with the exception of Himself and one other. My neighbour was on her own through that as, although her daughter’s family live around the corner, they kept their distance. So she & I used to sit outdoors and chat – thank goodness the weather was dry.
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🤣
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I live in a wave-and-greet neighborhood. I know the first names of a few neighbors, but not the last. I like it here, introvert that I am. But this casualness wouldn’t appeal to everyone. I suspect Nosy Rosy types would hate it.
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Wave-and-greet would suit me just fine Ally, and that’s mostly what’s it’s now like here, after a very slow start. I’ve never sought to be best buds with my neighbours (although am happy to have a friendship with my lovely neighbour) but this pair are so clearly taking the biscuit that it riled me up a bit. I love the name Nosy Rosy 😀 😀
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I used to watch Neighbours with my son and daughter. We used to have avid discussions about it. The best of the soaps, so gentle, although towards the end getting repetitive.
As for the real thing, glad you have some good ones.
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I didn’t often get home from work in time, but when I did, I always joined the family watching it on the sofa 🙂
Thank you Rosemary, I am grateful for my lovely neighbour.
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