Another "neighbors" thread..... yeesh.....

[MicroPilot]

I apologize, I didn't realize you were an LEO.

Then, throw someone else who is not on their own property at night while armed if the police do show up, then things can get real interesting.

I try to use my brain over my guns.
...

So your saying if something happens out of the ordinary and suspicious enough that it causes you enough concern to go to your neighbor/relatives house in the middle of the night, that you wouldn't be armed?

 

[dmccarty]

Dan,
Why don't we send them some?

You know, I really do not have many problems with Yankees. They just talk funny. Well, there are Yankees from a certain part of the country that make my skin crawl but they ain't on TBN. And while Mr. Sherman did burn out my family's place west of Savanna a few years ago, I have kinda sorta put that behind me. Mostly. :laughing:

I just do not think I could send Fire Ants to the Yankees for which I harbor some lingering angst. Sending them Fire Ants would just be cruel and mean.

Even my Granny would think that would be wrong and the only time I heard her cuss was to use the word da...mn placed in from of the word Yankees. She still had problems with Mr. Sherman's little march to the sea and his rudeness during his vist to the family home in the Late Unpleasantness. She did still retain a bit of angst. :laughing: But I do not think she would want me to ship Fire Ants up Nawth.

Later,
Dan

 

[300UGUY]

You know, I really do not have many problems with Yankees. They just talk funny. Well, there are Yankees from a certain part of the country that make my skin crawl but they ain't on TBN. And while Mr. Sherman did burn out my family's place west of Savanna a few years ago, I have kinda sorta put that behind me. Mostly. :laughing:

I just do not think I could send Fire Ants to the Yankees for which I harbor some lingering angst. Sending them Fire Ants would just be cruel and mean.

Even my Granny would think that would be wrong and the only time I heard her cuss was to use the word da...mn placed in from of the word Yankees. She still had problems with Mr. Sherman's little march to the sea and his rudeness during his vist to the family home in the Late Unpleasantness. She did still retain a bit of angst. :laughing: But I do not think she would want me to ship Fire Ants up Nawth.

Later,
Dan

A couple of my ancestor's marched with Sherman. Must have found something they liked, the last couple of generations have retired to GA & Fla. I asked my great aunt if she had told the locals about her enthusiastic ancestors. She said all her neighbor's were yankees like herself.

 

[dmccarty]

A couple of my ancestor's marched with Sherman. Must have found something they liked, the last couple of generations have retired to GA & Fla. I asked my great aunt if she had told the locals about her enthusiastic ancestors. She said all her neighbor's were yankees like herself.

They are called Carpet Baggers.

The OTHER side of the family are Yankees. They moved to FLA after WWII. When the retired they moved to the mountains of NC. ALL of their immediate neighbors were people who had spent their working years in FLA and then retired to the mountains. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[MossRoad]

I'm still baffled on this one.

For someone who's not aware, I live in the middle of 250 acre family farm on a dead end road. Three houses here, mine, father in laws and my wifes cousin. Otherwise, on a peninsula of land that is maybe 800/1000 acres in size, there are only 7 houses total. Of course, everyone knows everyone.

My wifes cousin left yesterday morning for a week. We're keeping their dog.

Last night it was dark outside. In the distance, I see someone coming up the gravel driveway. I'm not expecting anyone and because of the lay of the land, I know it's not my father in law.

I might add that all of this is obscured by woods. It was the fact that it was dark that allowed me to see the headlights.

So, I walk out on porch and hear/see these lights turn towards my wifes cousins house next door. They go up the hill.

I know they're not home...wondering if this is just someone who's lost and is going to turn around (it happens from time to time)

Sure enough....their reverse lights come on, they back up...then their break lights come on and I hear the engine die. They threw it into park.

I might add that the house is pitch black with zero lights on.

A little intrigued, I get my shoes/coat on...grab a flashlight AND my cell phone. I came within a fraction of an inch to predial 911 just in case I needed a quick dial to them.

I walk over and as I'm about half way there (vehicle on hill still obscured by the dark AND the trees) I hear the door slam and the engine restart. I get closer and the headlights are now coming down the driveway.

This is when I turned my bright flashlight on. They stopped as immedately as they could, given they were coming down a hill on gravel.

I was still 30/40 feet away, shined the light on the driver... given shadows and distance, I could not make out who it was. I began to think it was a neighbor who lives down the road but I was only 60% sure of this.

I walk around the vehicle, their window was lowered and I'm now 4 feet from them, not wanting to put the light in their eyes to blind them...however, now I'm 99% sure that it's the neighbor.

Relieved, I ask what's up... he asked simultaneously, "I guess they left? I knew they were leaving but didn't think they were leaving until tomorrow"

I said nope, they left this morning.

"(laughing nervously) didn't you recognize my car?" he asked

"nope... all I saw in the dark were the headlights so I got my shoes on to see who it was"

Now, in deference to this neighbor, I probably did have a bit of an adrenilyn "attitude" on my shoulder because my initial thoughts/fears were that it was someone up to no good. That happens from time to time out here as well.

My neighbors parting words? (as best I can recall given my surprise)

"your being rude like this is going to come back and bite you in the a** one day"

He then pulled away and I stood there thinking what did he just say and what on earth happened to elicit that type of comment....?

That was literally 90% of the entire conversation.

I'm still stupified by it. I know I can be abrupt and even rude if needed.... however, it seems he only viewed this situation through his (innocent) eyes and not from another perspective of how it could have looked to an outsider who didn't know who it was and feared it could be someone up to no good.

Truth be told... I'd do the same 'challange' (for lack of better word) to a stranger I found parked at HIS house if I knew he was out of town.

I would think he'd be appreciative of someone willing to 'confront' someone in a situation where the house is empty and the occupant is gone for a week. Had it been daylight I would have seen quite easily who it was. Not so easy, in the dark.

Perhaps if I'm so rude, I should refrain from challanging anyone I see parked at his home when I know he's out of town...

Wellll, I hate to say it, but you seem to post a lot about problems with other people. Granted, all of them seem justified upon reading them. The trespasser stories remind me of lots of problems with trespassers my parent had when I was a kid. But maybe you come off a bit gruff to the folks on the greeting end of your flashlight beam. Maybe you should try smiling as you interrogate them. Or take a bag of cookies with you. I know I'd be more at ease if someone came up to me with a bag of cookies. :licking:

I know my wife and co-workers tell me that I can come across kind of intimidating when I suspect peoples' motives. I don't mean to but man, I do not have a good poker face. If I think something stinks it shows! :laughing:

As others have mentioned, just go over to the neighbor and apologize if you came across as rude and just tell him you were watching out for your cousin. I've had to do that once in a while but usually end up with better friends and neighbors. :thumbsup:

 

[RadarTech]

They are called Carpet Baggers.

The OTHER side of the family are Yankees. They moved to FLA after WWII. When the retired they moved to the mountains of NC. ALL of their immediate neighbors were people who had spent their working years in FLA and then retired to the mountains. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

And those new nc residents are called half backs...... :laughing:

 

[dmccarty]

And those new nc residents are called half backs...... :laughing:

But then my grandparents are 3/4 backs since the left the mountains and went to Alabamy. :laughing:

I am still trying to figure out how two different sides of the family ended up in TN.

Later,
Dan

 

[RadarTech]

But then my grandparents are 3/4 backs since the left the mountains and went to Alabamy. :laughing:

I am still trying to figure out how two different sides of the family ended up in TN.

Later,
Dan

If nc is half... Then alabama should be 1/4 back. Oh wait. Maybe I'm just hungry for McDonalds......

 

[Freds]

There ya go, Moss.
Walk softly and carry a big bag of cookies :thumbsup:

:laughing:

 

[MoKelly]

I am relatively new to the country and, I have to say, it is a little intimidating being alone at night in the country.

First ... it is really dark in the country. If you only know the city, you can't even image how dark it can get.

Second ... you are really alone. Again, if you have never been there you can't understand how alone you are and how far away help is even if you can contact help.

So, when a car that doesn't belong comes along at night it seems to me there is reason to (a) be worried/cautious and (b) need to have some personal protection.

As such, this neighbor should 100% understand the OP's concern.

So, his reaction is unusual and suspicious.

MoKelly