The moving truck is here! It’s only taken us nine months to effectively drive our next door neighbors to move. (See Post #1933 Murder Thy Neighbors). Technically, it was a neighborhood joint effort after they continued to remain anti-social. Just for the record, we were not the first to report them to HOA officials. We tried to communicate and continued to invite them to street parties but it was futile. Now, we’re all excited at the prospect of new, friendlier people. However, I’m always leery of the warning: Be careful what you wish for!

Ours is not a housing addition for recluses. The homes are close together and similar in style, while  people are active. We have monthly get togethers and social outings, lunches, food trucks, and a multitude of recreational opportunities. The sidewalks roll-up early with many early risers – walkers, runners, and dog owners out for a morning stroll. There’s a dog park, two clubhouses, and a major league ballpark that generate interaction. The only downside has been the continuous construction that is finally coming to an end. My wife would add alligators to the short list of negatives about living here. This was a major issue with our neighbors, who were illegally feeding the birds and other wildlife, so our adjoining lawns became a hunting ground for sharp-toothed predictors. They refused to stop despite HOA warnings and ignored our pleas. 

Moving is a hassle, so I feel sorry that they had to do it twice in one year. I first spoke to them while our home was still under construction, and had no reason to suspect that would be the last time. They ignored all our attempts to further engage and often times went out of their way to avoid us and everyone else. I never spoke to her, after observing her reluctance to come outside. The birds were apparently her only social outlet, so I understand her resistance to stop feeding them. They should have never moved into a very social neighborhood like this one, and I hope they find what they need somewhere else. They certainly took advantage of escalating home costs in quickly finding a buyer, Hopefully, this new neighbor will be an improvement, but be careful what you wish for!