What would you guys/girls do ??

[Peacekeeper6]

I got this 60+ y.o. neighbor next door. Back when we were greeting each other and talking a lot, I used to clear his 3-car wide driveway with my snowblower. Yesterday, I worked around my yard and motorhome, and he never said a damn word to me. Again. This has been going on for about 4 months now. My question: Should I take this personally and stop clearing his driveway? Or should I continue to be the nice guy that I am and keep doing it for him??

(He's got one of those yards that's immaculate. Being retired, he has all day to work on it, and I really do believe he wants my yard to look like his. I think he mentioned something about increasing property value....

I'm sorry, but I can think of a million other fun things to do other than making my damn yard look like something from "Better Homes and Garden".)

[kalynzoo]

Just perhaps he has a personal situation which is occupying his thoughts. You may be seeing far more into the silence than exists. How about next time you see him say something like; "neighbor you've been quiet lately, is there a problem."
If it turns out that he has a problem with you or your property you can then tell him to stick it!

[glarnold]

Not trying to be smart - but, how many words did you say to him?

G L Arnold
'01 Bounder 33R

[Francesca]

Hi, Lou and Cheri

Sounds like you used to have a neighborly thing going...
I'll bet that's how you earned your "Peacekeeper" name!
Why not ask him if everything's O.K.?
Maybe it's not you- could be something else in his life, too...

Good luck!

Francesca

[Peacekeeper6]

Originally Posted by kalynzoo

Just perhaps he has a personal situation which is occupying his thoughts. You may be seeing far more into the silence than exists. How about next time you see him say something like; "neighbor you've been quiet lately, is there a problem."
If it turns out that he has a problem with you or your property you can then tell him to stick it!

Perhaps the next time I see him out there, I will do it.

I suppose I better have a couple of beers to break the ice....

[Peacekeeper6]

Originally Posted by glarnold

Not trying to be smart - but, how many words did you say to him?

G L Arnold
'01 Bounder 33R

I am usually the one who initiates our conversation. (And back when we were talking, we'd have 30 minutes-1 hour long conversations. Yes, he LOVES to yap, and takes the majority of the time and subject matter). But lately, I vowed to myself, "Screw it. Let HIM say something first for once."

But has he ever ? Not once, this summer.

[Peacekeeper6]

Originally Posted by Francesca

Hi, Lou and Cheri

Sounds like you used to have a neighborly thing going...
I'll bet that's how you earned your "Peacekeeper" name!
Why not ask him if everything's O.K.?
Maybe it's not you- could be something else in his life, too...

Good luck!

Francesca

Thanks Francesca.

The thing is, we used to be good neighbors. We used to greet each other every time we were out on our yard. And we'd talk for at least 30 minutes about EVERYTHING. We invited each other for dinner. So there was NO animosity from the very beginning. Something happened, and all of a sudden, I'm getting the cold shoulder.

Well, I *do* know that something else is going on. I'll just have to take your suggestion, I suppose....

[CLIFFTALL]

Politics has seperated this whole country. Not getting into them here, but maybe you two are on different sides. You wouldn't be the first to lose a friend because of this.

[RickO]

Take the high road. Good advice above about breaking the ice and asking him if everything is ok.

BTW smile when you say "60+ year old"

Rick

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by Peacekeeper6

I am usually the one who initiates our conversation. (And back when we were talking, we'd have 30 minutes-1 hour long conversations. Yes, he LOVES to yap, and takes the majority of the time and subject matter). But lately, I vowed to myself, "Screw it. Let HIM say something first for once."
But has he ever ? Not once, this summer.

Lou and Cheri,

You might have put your finger on the problem...
Relationships are funny- they tend to go by the rules we establish as we go along.
If you're the one who's always started the conversation and have suddenly stopped doing so...
I wouldn't be surprised if your neighbor thinks that you have stopped speaking to him for some reason.
Which in a way, you have!

Grab those and go on over and knock on his door...

We need our neighbors!
Who else can we count on when there's a Local Emergency?

Keep us posted!

Francesca

[Wayne MD]

Make sure he will drink a beer. Some take offense to that. Also make sure all relatives in house are upright, and not buried in his back yard. Maybe he has a live in mistress and doesn't need neighbors poking around. If he has a health problem, that can change his attitudes of neighbors and some sympathy could go a long way. Let's hope its just a case of lack of communications that got it where it is, and easily fixable.

[Dixieray53]

Interesting problem...Good Luck...But don't clear his driveway until it's worked out. D

[Ramblin]

Never ever read anything into the 'cold shoulder' until you discuss it. Good neighbors are one of the most valuable assets you can ever have. Take the high road, clear his drive as always, and when you get the chance ask the question: "Are you OK, is anything bothering you?".

[She and I]

Yup, I would be the better person.....Carma is a ----- what goes around comes around...Time for a beer!!