Our house in Maine sat on 1.6 acres and was surrounded by trees, bushes, gullies.... space. Here in NoCal, we are on, what the locals consider, a large lot with a spacious backyard and room for a second garage behind the current one. Several of our neighbors actually build second homes on the same backyard space. So when I start complaining about being so close to our neighbors, the locals don't understand. Mark and I have developed a little morning routine.... when he is ready to leave for work on his bike at o'early o'clock, I (in my pj's with wild hair and half closed eyes) stand on the deck holding his water bottle and saddle bag. He has to give me a kiss before he gets each item (I know, I know..... just TOO cute). Well, in the "winter" when it was "cold" outside, our neighbors kept their windows closed and curtains shut. So I felt pretty private standing out there. Now that we are well into spring and it is warmer, the neighbor has his window open. I must tell you about this window....... it is 19.8 feet from the edge of my back door to his window frame (I measured when he wasn't home). There is a cement driveway and a small bit of weeds between the window and my door. So NOTHING obstructs his view.... OR his HEARING! All of a sudden I realized how LOUD I was talking to Mark each morning. I'd say, "Do you think you are getting away from here THAT easily?" or "Come back here you hunk of burnin' love"..... you know, silly married stuff. Oh dear. While I feel it is important to be neighborly, I was a bit embarrassed that I was revealing TOO much neighborly-ness. So, this morning, I dragged Mark OFF the deck and INTO the laundry room (our NoCal version of a mud room) before smacking and whispering. Mark told me not to worry as the neighbor was in the shower and probably couldn't hear us.. Oh dear - TMI.
Daisy is also learning to become more neighborly..... or not. She likes to go out in the afternoon to "patrol" HER yard. She watches for other cats and critters running them out of HER space. Then she can grab a salad (from the lawn) and a bit of sunbathing before she comes back in to cool off. One morning, a new neighbor came by for breakfast....
As you can see, this neighbor LIKES breakfast.... AND elevenes..... AND lunch......AND dinner...... He/she heard that Daisy was having Chicken Feast with Gravy for breakfast and thought to stop by to share. Daisy was NOT impressed and did NOT want to share. She yowled and howled and he/she just kept asking politely to come in for a bite. I finally couldn't take it and scared them both away... the neighbor sadly waddled off the deck with a wistful look over his/her shoulder. Daisy ran to another window to make SURE he/she left.
We are all still adjusting to being a part of a close community.
