kicking puppies is bad

When I was growing up, my mom always said things like, “When you grow up and have a house of your own, you can be as messy as you want” and “When you grow up and have a house of your own, you can have as many dogs as you want.” Later, when I was living in apartments, my landlords didn’t explicitly say the same thing, but lease implied it.

Well, a year ago, I bought my own house. I love my house. It is a tiny historic home with hardwood floor throughout. It has built-in dressers in my bedroom. It is perfect for me and my dogs. I love my house, but my neighbor is driving me nuts. I’m a busy person. I do most of my home maintenence myself. I work full time. I volunteer tutoring kids. I have 2 foster dogs and 1 permanent dog. I have hobbies. I occasionally try to date (and fail miserably). I’m busy. I’m sorry that my yard isn’t immaculate. I don’t want a lecture about how your yard is downhill from mine, so when I let weeds grow, the seeds blow into your yard. I don’t want to hear how if I don’t rake 3 times a week in the fall, the leaves fall down the hill into your yard. I don’t want to know all about your regular mowing schedule, and how I should follow one exactly like it.

I understand that you are old and retired. I understand that you have time to edge the snow on your sidewalk in the winter. You have time to shovel your bushes, not just your sidewalks. I understand that you can rake every single day in the fall. You can sweep your sidewalk and the road in front of your house so they aren’t dirty.

I can’t . I’m not retired. I mow the lawn once a week. Usually. My garden has weeds. My lawn has weeds. And I’m an environmentalist — I won’t use round-up on them. My porch needs to be painted, but I haven’t had time because I spent the last four weekends replacing my fence. One of our other neighbors drove through it. I *never* let my dog pee on your bushes. And I *do* keep my yard mostly mowed. I pull the weeds from the garden when I have time. So please stop telling me what a horrible neighbor I am. I already know. I’m doing the best I can.

Dammit, I’m a finally a grown up. It’s my own house. It can be as messy as I want. I can have as many dogs as I want. And I don’t *have* to mow the lawn if I don’t want to…