If I'm in the fenced part...say 10 feet away from the fence working...they'll go right up to the fence and start talking to me when my back is facing them, thus scaring the shit out of me and causing me to do a quick calculation in my head to determine how far away I am from the fence. It's maddening.

I mean if they came up to you to talk, then yes. But sounds like you are well 6 ft apart.

Come right up to me and talk.

A main concern of mine concerning the masks does not have to do with just myself. With the amount of people coming and going over there, I am concerned that there is zero social distancing at that home (both inside and outside of the house), and zero masks. So while I worry for myself, I also worry for the children there, the parents, and the people visiting.

“This is the strangest bullshit I’ve ever experienced.”

or at least it's become quite rare. What you described would make one want to put up a much taller fence, but then that make me feel like I'm living in a box.

I live in an old low-to-middle income urban neighborhood which is really alien to my country upbringing. Far too many of my neighbors are rude, selfish and inconsiderate beyond my comprehension. Part of it probably is just youthful energy and stupidity but a lot is just plain meanness. I think some of these idiots have to have a device with a 2-cycle engine to wipe their ass. Some days, it's a constant drone of noise and I'm super sensitive to it.

I've watched our society slowly go through the transition from the 50s to now and honestly don't know where we're headed in the future. I worry for my 13YO granddaughter.


Best of luck and thanks for sharing........

I don't want to go into any more detail because it would reveal too much personal information for the internet, but suffice to say I have lived here a long time and I am well liked by pretty much everyone on the block...because I've made it a point to cultivate friendly, or at least civil, relationships with all of my neighbors.

I think this one of the reasons I am approached so often. We've been through two bad natural disasters here. We've all helped each other out. I'm super friendly even to the people I don't especially care for. But things have changed since the pandemic. Most of my neighbors are super careful, and are isolating as much as possible.. They are masked if they go to work, or when they go to the store. We speak in person often, only we have to yell a bit because we keep our distance. We also talk via texting. Most of the people on my street are older than me, and I'm old.

But the younger people on the block...they don't care. They don't seem to have any concern about this pandemic.

Best wishes to you...

🦠

who aren't even political.

Stockade fence makes for great neighbors. Six feet up or they are going to drive you six feet under. All best LC.

... I recommend a fence made out of living cactus.

That is as long as you maintain that 6’ distance. Sorry I can’t link to the epidemiologist article I read that would back me up. I’ll try and find it for you. It won’t help with neighbors, but might help with the lawn mowing!

but they don't respect the 6 feet unless I remind them every 5 minutes.

This entire problem is the result of a lack of awareness. A lack of concern. a "what's the big deal" attitude.

If you look at the list at the link below, there are many outdoor activities that are not in the lowest risk level category.

https://www.kltv.com/2020/06/11/medical-experts-rank-activities-by-covid-risk-level/

Personally, unless I'm in my own yard (we don't have neighbors who wander in), I wear a mask - that includes the relativly low risk acivity of bicycling on a shared trail.

Just ask them to stay 6 feet away each time you see them. You are pretty much safe outdoors. I seldom wear a mask outside. Most spread is by extended indoor contact.

As far as what the do on their property; it’s really not your problem. Sounds like they are not too smart. But not your problem, anyway.

This virus has us all on edge.

The majority of the property line is unfenced. I've never been one to get too excited about a property line. The kids cross the line all of the time and play on both properties, which I don't mind as long as I'm inside while they are doing it.

Their two huge dogs take enormous dumps in my flower bed every day. I shovel it up and throw it in their driveway. They don't get embarrassed about it.

So what happens on "their" property is really my business, because it's really all one property without a fence in place, Unless i wanted to go all Gran Torino on them and tell them to get off my lawn, but I'm not that type.

and say

Look, I am immunocompromised, if I get this virus I might well die. I shouldn't have to remind you about basic respect of my health every time I see you. You're not teenagers that need to be consistently told to do something.

or put a sign up that says...

when you enter this yard, mask; ass or grass. The choice is yours.

They "forget".

You shouldn't have to remind them, they are supposedly adults.

Like a good neighbor, it's the mask you should wear.

Don't come knockin' without a mask on your noggin

before you take another step, put a mask on your nose & lip

and order one of those $20 Hazmat suits and a face shield to go over your mask and suit up when you go out the door.
That might get their attention.

Exhibit A: 2016.