Last week, I got one of these cute door plaques for my front door. 20 years ago if my mom had asked if I wanted something crafty to hang on there, I would’ve said no thanks, door decor wasn’t my style. What happened? I got old, that’s what happened.
Anyway, I was going to get a nifty one of a human skull that said “NOT WELCOME” (you know, for Halloween) but then it occurred to me I had a new neighbor moving in this week and I didn’t want to make a bad first impression. So I got this wooden pumpkin instead. I actually like it.
No one knows, but since my neighbor Lonnie moved out August 31, I’ve been a secret nervous wreck. Who will my new next door be? When you live in an apartment building like mine it’s very possible to hear your neighbor’s tv, music and everything else they’re up to thru your living room wall.
Back in April, a young maestro from the PMT Conservatory moved into the studio apt by the elevator on my floor. Do I mind hearing him singing I am the Phantom of the Opera while I’m waiting to go downstairs? No. Do I want him singing in the apartment next to mine? Hell no!
Do you remember my blog about the skinny little man on my floor, who lived here 5 weeks and complained about his apartment (because it got too much sunlight, for starters)? I wrote about him here. He pleaded with our landlord to let him move if an apartment became available in the rear of the building. They told him he had to wait 6 months.
He finally got the chance a couple months ago. The lawyer who lived down the hall from me announced he was moving out. Skinny Man (Bob) signed a new lease that same day. So what if the rent was $75 more per month. So what if it contained no carpeting. (Bob liked carpeting.) So what if the all-white kitchen was too feminine for Bob’s taste.
So what if he was giving up a great neighbor, a quiet guy named Joel. He’d get to live in the rear of the building!
Now—do you remember me writing about that lawyer? His neighbor was a lovely young Afro-American woman, Chantilly. (I wrote about both here.) She likes to play music, have friends over, and have late night laughs—a lot. Hey, she’s only 24 so that’s to be expected. And it’s easy for me to say that, I don’t live beside her.
Bob does now, and he’s miserable. He’s also stuck. (Steiner said no more moves unless it’s out of the building.) Walking away from new carpeting and a maple kitchen is one thing, but a quiet neighbor too? That’s crazy!
So who was moving in next to me? I didn’t have a clue. And then this past weekend I heard a plop outside in the hall and when I opened my door, saw this in front of my neighbor’s door.
That’s a pretty welcome mat, and a good sign. Guys come with loud music, loud voices, loud videogames but usually no welcome mats. What if it was a woman over 50 too? Would that be asking for too much?
I think luck was on my side. Three woman soon arrived, all wearing work-clothes and said they were friends with my new neighbor Dee (who was on her way here with the movers, and running behind schedule).
Bonnie, Lisa and Dina said she was 69 years old, low-key and did a lot of reading. (Reading is good.) They said Dee was retired, and wanted to live someplace “long-term and quiet”. Better & better.
Dee finally arrived a couple hours later, and was polite but dismissive; I think she’s serious about maintaining boundaries. I can dig it. She has a gravelly voice and looks remarkably like Imelda Staunton from the 2004 movie Vera Drake.
Well, it’s been a couple days and all is calm. Aside from some thuds and clatterings that first day, I’ve hardly heard a sound. Dee I hope you enjoy your new home here and live beside me a long time.
If you can outlive me, all the better. I don’t want to have to go thru this again!
Oh and for the record—I got that skull plaque after all. It’s hanging in my bedroom for Halloween, we’ll see. I don’t want to give Dee any ideas!
Sounds like the plaque might be a good housewarming gift for Donna! Glad you lucked out in the neighbor lottery.
ReplyDeleteHaha do you mean the skull plaque?? 💀 I don't want to make her think I'm trying to get rid of her! I'm definitely getting a do not disturb vibe from her, but that's okay. She's as quiet as a church mouse. 🙂
DeleteI'm glad you did well with the new neighbour lottery. The worst neighbour I ever had, actually lived in the house next door to my house previous to this one. He had paved over his back yard and would vaccum it (seriously!) at 7 a.m. every Saturday, while the weather was nice. He also cut limbs from my trees - which I would have agreed to, had he asked - but disposed of them in my yard. Every time someone parked in front of my house, he would call the parking authority. Vehicles had to be moved once every 24 hours (though this was only checked if someone called the city) and there were a few times when one of us got ticketed. I would have understood had we parked in front of his house.
ReplyDeleteBob may very well be miserable; it reminds me of the saying, be careful what you wish for.
You can put out the other plaque for Halloween - why not? After having the pumpkin welcome sign, those who live nearby should understand it's a joke. :)
Thank you Maebeme, and lottery is exactly right--your one next door neighbor sounded like a nightmare, but I almost laughed at loud at his vaccuming his paved yard! Well, as well as I got along with my old next door Lonnie, he still liked to listen to rap music, had a couple loud friends and kept his giant tv on the wall behind my sofa. Donna's tv is in the center of her apt and she doesn't play music, so I don't hear a thing. I am blessed :)
DeleteBoth daughters have had nightmare stories about neighbors in apartment buildings, so I know the issues that can occur. It's a shame that Donna (so far) isn't friendly, but it's not great when people are overly friendly either. Perhaps she'll warm up when she realizes that you respect others' boundaries. And Bob? Sigh. The grass isn't often greener on the other side of the fence, it's just grass no matter where you go.
ReplyDeleteHaha--so well said, thanks Margaret! I'm sorry about your daughters, I had the worst neighbors in the world (at my old apt building) 10 years ago, a gay couple who fought NIGHTLY. (I wrote about them quite a bit on my blog in 2013.) Anyway, so true about Bob & I do hope Donna doesn't stay a stranger, my welcome mat is sincere :^)
DeleteWe have a woman (widow) in our neighborhood who has a large 3-bedroom house with a family room, 2- car garage, and a she-shed in her backyard. She cannot park in her garage due to all the "stuff" she has in there so her car sits on the driveway.
ReplyDeleteShe makes all sorts of wood crafts in the garage and I guess in the she-shed. Lots of welcome signs all over her porch and yard, and yet, she is one of the least friendly people on this block. I am very dubious of people with welcome signs.
I'm sorry but this gave me a chuckle-- because I know it's true! Well dkzody, if it helps I'm the one with the welcome sign and people are honestly welcome to knock on my door. I hope my new neighbor does if she has any questions! Thanks for sharing that neighbor of yours who makes all the signs.
DeleteMy very favourite posts are ones of you describing your neighbours, Doug! (Yes, I'm nosey.) I would love your new neighbour, Donna. Partly because I admire British actress Imelda Staunton and partly because Donna has three good friends that helped her move. A very positive sign. My favourite apartment was large and full of character, being the top floor of an old wooden house. The landlords lived below. They didn't fight, but their sudden and frequent loud yelling at each other would startle the bejeebers out of me. My nerves just couldn't take it! The high rise apartment building I moved to next (and lived in for decades) was much more tranquil. Like me, folk worked away all day and just wanted to quietly relax when they came home. I like your Halloween door sign. It says, "Here lives a warm and friendly person with good taste."
ReplyDeleteFlorence, thank you so much for sharing and this wonderful comment of yours, it made my day. I know you started out as a country girl, became a city girl and now you're a country girl again but I was always curious about your life in the big city. I think you're very right about Donna having three friends being a positive sign, I thought that spoke volumes as well. Well, I'm nosy too haha and I would like to get to know this woman a little better but I'm so grateful for her quietness, is that even a word? Anyway I'll let her come to me if and when she's ready. And Thanks for liking my sign! 🙂
DeleteYou always have such interesting stories! I live in a house and have a younger family next door and that woman sure likes cussing her husband out, yes even outside. (I’ve been reading your posts but going thru some health issues. Just found out I’ve had a silent heart attack some time and need some tests. I need my gallbladder out and now that’s on hold). 🤕 I enjoy reading your posts. Joyce
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce, I've been wondering about you! Thanks so much for your nice comment here, I've missed your feedback but my gosh I'm so sorry about the silent heart attack and the gall bladder too. Even though the second thing is on hold, I hope you're on the mend heart-wise, and I really hope I hear updates from you soon.
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ReplyDeleteI second this comment
DeleteWhy am I laughing at this! And who seconded you, Courtney? I look forward to seeing you both at the center tomorrow! :^)
DeleteWhat I'm the hell is this movie?! Imelda Staunton from the 2004 movie Vera Drake
ReplyDeleteMy goodness who is this?! Vera Drake was about an English midwife in the 1950s who helped women when abortions were illegal, it's a great English movie! And my neighbor is a dead ringer for her. 🤭
DeleteQuiet, indifferent Donna sounds like the perfect neighbor to me! Last time we lived in an apartment, we had upstairs neighbors who played loud polka music constantly. When we'd pound on the ceiling for them to stop, the downstairs neighbor would come up and yell at us. I hope to never live in an apartment again.
ReplyDeleteBut neighbors are problematic everywhere. Our current neighbor mows his yard everyday in nice weather, including at night since his mower has headlights, and his property is ringed with huge, nasty pine trees which he refuses to cut or trim and threatens to sue us if we touch them. Yes, he's a peach! 😛
A lawnmower with headlights! That's not funny and I shouldn't be laughing, I'm sorry Bobi! Well I do have an upstairs neighbor that's bothering me too right now, we all have wood parquet dining room floors. I think he uses his for an office though, as I can hear a chair being rolled around up there sometimes. But you are certainly right about Donna, I liked Lonnie but she puts him to shame. I really hope she stays. Thanks again Bobi and good luck with your crabby pine tree nut. 🤨
DeleteWe are blessed right now with our neighbors, but we've had some doozies in the decade and a half we've lived here. One guy played his guitar loudly all day and all night. He was thrown out because he was a heavy smoker and had said he didn't smoke at all. (We are not allowed to smoke inside) And we had a hoarder next to us for awhile, and it was almost impossible to move through the junk to get to the stairs! So I am happy right now and hope for the best. Donna sounds perfect to me! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks DJan I'm always glad to hear from you but I was especially hoping to this time around as you and I are both apartment dwellers. Very interesting what you had to go through, I'm glad you feel blessed right now and honestly that's exactly how I feel. I wish I could thank Donna but at the same time I don't want to invade her space. 🙂
DeleteFor pete's sake, I think the worst thing is living beneath a woman who wears high heels in her unit. All that clacking above me would drive me nuts! Good luck with your new neighbor. Hope it all works out.
ReplyDeleteGigi you have a very creative mindset! Well I'm very lucky that the apartment above mine is carpeted except for one corner where the dining room is. But I can't imagine anyone wearing high heels when they're just chilling at home! 😄
DeleteWell, I used to live in a condo, and the lady above me wore high heels, getting ready to go to work or to a party or something. So, that lasted 45 minutes before she left, and then she later returned and the clacking resumed. Thank God I now live in a house. All I hear now is the sound of the raindrops or the feral cats running on top of my roof. But that's not a daily event.
DeleteI could put a plaque on my door, but the only person who could possibly see it is Hazel from downstairs. That’d be unlikely as her knees and ankles are in worse shape than mine, so she seldom ventures up here.
ReplyDeleteNorma, the A.M., would certainly see it but would probably say something like, “Why did you put that up?”
Anyway, Donna seems the sort of neighbor that I would welcome if I were in your situation. You got lucky there.
Peter
Thanks Music Man, I don't expect a lot of people to see my door plaque either as I live down the end of the hall on our floor, away from the main thoroughfare. But it makes me feel cheerful to have it up there. As for my new neighbor you are 100% correct sir, I did get very lucky. 🙂👍
DeleteI need to come back to relate this story. When my son moved into his first apartment after he graduated from college, he lived beneath a couple that he called 'The Bickersons'. They fought like crazy, her screaming and throwing stuff at him, him shouting. He always left, slamming the door and yelling from the hall. She played some techno-song about losing love on repeat over and over for hours while she cried loudly.
ReplyDeleteOnce my son called and said, "I'm seriously worried. I haven't heard a peep from upstairs for a few days now. I keep wondering if they killed each other. I don't know whether to call the police now or wait until they begin to smell."
Oh my God, that is both awful and funny! Okay that name the Bickersons just hit me :^)
DeleteI have always felt neighbors are a roll-of-the-dice. You just never know. Donna sounds pretty good to me. She is a little standoffish but she might just be testing the waters and eventually warm up over time.
ReplyDeleteSusan, thank you very much my friend. Well said. And yes, I do hope she warms up a little over time but if this is how she wants it always, I will just count my blessings. :^)
DeleteI've never been a fan of door decor, though I do now have a paper Ukrainian flag on my door. But usually I don't put anything up not even for Christmas. Donna sounds like the perfect neighbour.
ReplyDeleteThanks River, and I like the idea of showing your support for Ukraine. 🙂
DeleteHi Doug, it sounds like you lucked out in getting a quiet neighbour. I am sure everyone has horror stories about terrible neighbours. Your welcome plaque looks lovely. Just noticing your front door….do you not have a deadbolt?? Take care.❤️
ReplyDeleteGood morning Robin! I see we got on here at the same time. You're absolutely right in regards to luck here, a pair of tall guys (they look like brothers) moved into a 1 bedroom on our top floor a couple weeks ago and I know they've been making a Ruckus up there. Well, at least those types never seem to stay long. Thank you for the door plaque comment and no I do not have a deadbolt! But this is a pretty secure building, you can't even get into the lobby from outside without a key. 🙂
DeleteHi Dug! I think you lucked out with your new neighbor. Since the only time we ever lived in an apartment was the married student apartments in college - and it was only for one semester, I have little to contribute. Otherwise, we've only lived in 4 other houses and have to say our neighbors were all good. Wait! we did live in an upstairs apartment when we first moved to Florida from college. We did have downstairs neighbors, but although we weren't especially friendly with them, they were fine. The neat thing was that we lived close to Satellite Beach and the rockets were set off from Cape Canaveral (now Cape Kennedy).... so we could see them go off from our porch. BTW, I like your door signs - both!
ReplyDeleteRian, thanks so much I always enjoy your comments! I really envy your living so close to Cape Canaveral back in the day, my gosh how exciting! Well, I guess some of us are meant for apts, and some aren't--I'm actually surprised how few people I know ever lived in one! I wanted to live in an apt since I was a kid and I've no idea why... maybe I did in a previous life. :)
DeleteYour post brought back PTSD flashbacks from the time I lived in a condo and a women moved in next door with two huge attack dogs that barked incessantly. She eventually got thrown out of the complex; but it was a harrowing six months. So . . . lucky you!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT sounds like a real nightmare! Well Tom I appreciate your comment here, as I've been grumbling a little this morning I can hear Donna's TV in the background a little. I need to keep things in perspective. 🤔
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