Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

As many of you know, we don't live in a traditional "neighborhood." There are a grand total of 5 houses on our street and I've come to really like it that way. Thus my growling at the 2 houses being built across the street... I miss the sidewalks and sometimes the noise, but for the most part I like it out here.

It's interesting, I don't know if it's because we live out in the country or what - but we have a really fantastic relationship with our neighbors one one side. Let's call them Ken and Barbie. They're pretty much like our second set of parents. I couldn't even begin to describe all that they have done for us - from watching Madeline when we were in a jam, to helping up weed our garden or mow our lawn. Steve and I constantly talk about just how lucky we are to have these neighbors. They adore Madeline and we trust them with her implicitly.

They have a gorgeous home, an impeccable yard (I would dare you to try to find a weed!), yard upon yard of gorgeous garden, and a pool they let us swim in!

Now contrast them with our "other" neighbors. Let's call them the Skys. They built their house only shortly after we built ours. Does it have curtains yet? No. If Steve and I have the hankering to sit out on our balcony or porch - we can see right into the children bedrooms. They take care of their yard, but have let these really odd looking weeds grow up just along the driveway. At first I thought they were some type of exotic tree or something. Then I saw them sprouting up all around their house. I told Steve that I"m just going to go over there one night and weed wack them all! I think we've maybe said 10 words to them this year (5 of those being "Hi.") It is just such an interesting contrast to have neighbors that we truly count as close friends, and neighbors - equidistant, whom we don't.

I'm not assigning blame - I know they're busy and I could have gone over there with muffins or something. It's just that we clicked with one set of neighbors and certainly not with the other. I guess that's just the way it goes.

"Before I built a wall. I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence"