Snobs moving to the country

oosik · Dec 11, 2017

Hey - I ride BMW and I wave. I waved when I rode my Harley too. Anyhow - been out here 35+ years and there have been a total of two new neighbors within ten miles of my place. One about thirty years ago and one this summer. Right across the county road from the beginning of my driveway. They are back in about 500 feet.

One July day, this year, the entire young family came over to visit - husband, wife, two young boys and about ten ankle biting dogs. They just came over to introduce and have a friendly chat. I like this new family and have been over a few times to assist them with my tractor. I like them because they are friendly and do not complain about their current living conditions.

Their life out here in the country is having a hard start. They do have a good well but only have power from a small generator. So, water is outside from a freeze proof faucet. They are living, for now, in a small camp trailer and building a TRUE log house. Those two young boys( 5 & 7 ) will be learning a lot about country by the time they are teen agers.

Yesterday I went over to see that they were doing OK. The wife and the two small boys were outside washing every bodies clothes, by hand. The outside temps had the wet clothes freezing solid within 10 to 15 minuets. I was amazed - all three were laughing and having a good time. Obviously, they are OK.

tomplum · Dec 11, 2017

oosik, that was a nice story to start the day. Cool beans. We were discussing neighbors the other day. Many make their homes in the country for the seclusion , others to just make their own way by their own hand. You have to be in the right spot to see neighbor by us. Only 2 have ever stopped in and we've maybe made our way to 3 of them. One older couple , he has a homemade "tractor" built out of a an old 4WD pickup that was his commuter when he worked. He would bring that thing around a help level gravel for us or make an edge on the end of the road for water to make its way to the creek. Big heart, good folks. I've returned the favor with my talents as well. Same story with the guy around the corner. Told me don't ever buy a tractor as he has this old 35 HP Kubota which again let us use and I would reciprocate when he needed some help. Seems a good way to build a neighborly relationship.

MossRoad · Dec 11, 2017

Our houses are packed in fairly close in our neighborhood. While we live on 1+ acre, most lots are 1/4 acre, but deep. We get along fine with 6 out of 7 neighbors, and even #7 has calmed down over the years (she's on painkillers and alcohol). We went out of town Friday night. It snowed 6-7 inches Saturday. We came home Sunday and our driveway had been cleared for us.... stupid snobs! :laughing:

In our old neighborhood in the city, we talked to everyone and everyone talked to us. Smile and wave. Mowed each others' lawns. Cleared each others' snow. Traded baked goods and watched each others' houses when we/they were away. I've always liked having good neighbors close by in the city.

We went to a trivia night at a rural church to support a 4H swine club a couple weeks ago. I've not felt so unwelcome in a long time. Just didn't feel comfortable there at all. Not a friendly bunch if you're "an outsider".

We went to a trivia night at an inner city church and the atmosphere was much more friendly. I felt welcomed and comfortable.

Plenty of small towns here in the midwest where I here and see comments about city people, racist comments, etc... They don't like outsiders, and god help you if you're of a different race. My physical appearance tends to let me blend in with these folks, and I'm polite and listen, so they start making more casual conversation, and then the ignorance and hate starts spewing. It's widespread and common in small town/rural America. And that's the reality of it. I've witnessed it first hand my entire life. It's a little ugly secret no one wants to admit or talk about.

Turbys_1700 · Dec 11, 2017

I can relate but in a more positive light.

Couple years ago I was brush hogging for a friend of mine that has moved down here and the neighbor of the property came over to check me out. When I told him who I was and what I was doing we had a real nice conversation. He had moved down here a few years earlier from New York. Nice guy.

Last year I was brush hogging over at the farm and a retired New York detective came over whose property adjoins our property. Never met the guy before but we had a nice conversation. He talked about meeting my dad and had actually been a resident her for over 15 years. Nice gentleman.

Most everybody around here throws up their hand at you if you are mowing or out and about. I guess it is just custom. Heck I even wave back when I can't recognize them. I figure they know me. No big deal either way. Fortunately we don't have a lot of snow and I don't have to plow. If we did and I was plowing I would help out the neighbors if needed. That is the way I was brought up.

hawkeye08 · Dec 11, 2017

We have some new city folk neighbors, drive 50+ on county gravel/dirt road raising dust storms for all the neighbors, they might settle in after a good winter...

oosik · Dec 11, 2017

Hawkeye08 - good point about going 50 and raising dust. My gravel driveway is a mile long and straight as an arrow - easement goes right down a section line. The contractor finished off the driveway with 3/4" minus gravel - rolled and packed, smooth as a pool table. It became somewhat of a contest with visitors - who could drive down the driveway the fastest.

Everybody could not understand how come there are 4 to 5 washboard spots - strategically placed on the driveway now. Nobody brags about speeding anymore.

oldballs · Dec 11, 2017

This is rural suburbia ...People move in and out so often that I don't much bother anymore. In the old days I could tell people by the car/truck that they drove. But nowadays all these new (to me) models look alike and many have smoked windows. So with old eyes and the aforementioned situation I don't much bother even looking up or waving. In my truck, the darn horn symbol is too hard to find for a friendly "toot toot".

Cheers,
Mike

goeduck · Dec 11, 2017

There is a young blonde lady down the road that my wife has instructed me NOT to wave to

buckeyefarmer · Dec 11, 2017

Sometimes people that don't want to impose on others can appear to be standoffish. I dont run over to my neighbor everytime i see him, i have work to do and so does he.

I got 3 new neighbors this year i havent meet yet. 2 Houses across the road sold, and new house behind it, but i wave.