EddaDear Edda,
I need some advice. For many years, I have worked from my home office. I live in a very quiet residential area. However, in recent months, due to COVID, there are many more people around during the weekdays, including children.
The next-door neighbors have small children who are really loud when they’re outside. The vacation rental on the other side has been busy since the summer, and people on vacation just don’t seem to care what time or day it is.
To add insult to injury, I have recently been catching a random cat using my backyard as a litter box. I know this is unrelated, but I’m ready to crack. Please help.
Signed,
Cranky
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Dear Cranky,
You are not alone. We have all had to adapt to a lot of very uncomfortable changes lately, for sure. For instance, I never realized that a neighbor of mine is a burgeoning opera singer. Yes, really; you can’t make that up.
However, I have had to make myself understand that we are all being forced into the same lifeboat, and that the opera singer and the working parents who are suddenly forced to stay at home and homeschool kids who would rather be with their friends are every bit as inconvenienced as we are.
The vacation rental? I got nuthin. What are they thinking? They should go home and stay there.
As for the cat, I’m just going to point out that cats don’t like being squirted with water from the hose. Before we hear from cat lovers who think this is mean, remember that cats are waterproof. And if it is your cat who is pooping in your neighbor’s yard, tell your cat to follow the advice for the vacation renters.
Edda
Edda is not a medical professional but a local lady who loves to give out advice, even when it’s not asked of her. Submit your question to ed@edhat.com for Edda to answer.
oh boy
So, remove the kids? Dont allow people to function during the day? Because you are home now……. wow. Edda did a great job. But if the writer needs more input. Take a breathe, its not that bad.
If you live in a city, you have to contend with neighbors. If you don’t want to contend with neighbors, then move to a rural area.
Alas noise cancelling headphones do nothing for screeching kids including closed doors and windows. That irritation from hell has no kryptonite. I’m wondering if a porn soundtrack full blast pointed back at them would demur them to some degree but the passive aggressivity of it demurs me.
Sorry, no sympathy here. Why does this need to be posted here? Sounds like life is continuing on outside your home. Deal with it or move to Montana.
SBARBARIAN that is the most ridiculous thing i’ve heard today! Gold star for you! You’re wrong. I’ll just leave it at that. Also, they won’t come pick it up, but maybe the police will pick you up for theft. How about not being a d*ck and looking at the phone number on the tag and call the owner? Because that’s what most people without an attitude issue would do to their neighbor.
wow….a lot of crying going on here…over a cat pooping and some kids being kids? this is news?? LOL seriously folks…this isn’t news. this is nothing other than someone being a whiner. gonna cry now that the cars on the 101 make noise? Or the sound of the waves is too loud? FFS