Let There Be Fences

Lets say that you live in a neighborhood where the houses and yards were open.  You and your family shared a common open spot with several other families.  To your great fortune, your neighbors are really good people.

Your backyards have no real lines to delineate where your property starts and ends.  The only clues are the mower lines in the grass.

This is fine EXCEPT for a few little annoying things...like dogs.

OR backyard BBQ's and the few occasions that their activities spill over onto your yard.

Like the time when the neighbor had a lot of kids over for camp out in a tent.  You awoke to find all your newly planted flowers trampled accidentally by "happy campers."

Or the dog that kept stealing your lounge cushion.

Or the retired cop that always borrows your weed-eater without asking.

Minor infractions can build up and resentment tears down. Soon, you find yourself eyeing the others from time to time with a bit of contempt, I just KNOW he has my sprinkler.

SO,  you put up a fence.

 You build a nice fence... just a boundary.  Nice gates, not especially high, but you make an effort to keep the side facing your neighbors just as nice looking as the side facing you.

Guess what?  Guess who's the bad guy? You.

When we set boundaries with people who aren't used to them, it can get ugly.  But we must for everyone's sake choose where our responsibilities start and end.

In every choice, there has to be a freedom to say "No"  otherwise it is known as coercion.

But, be forewarned...your nice neighbors might be a little put off for a while.

Build your fence anyway... maybe the trend will catch on.