Those close to me that I moved here last year, and I have loved the area and the things there are to do for toddlers. In fact, I’d envisioned staying here for a while, yet in the past few months, there have been some interactions with neighbors that are seriously making me reconsider. Now before I dive into that, we have some wonderful next door neighbors, and I couldn’t but help bragging to friends and family as to what a great neighborhood we have.
So these recent events just shook me. The first which took place a few months back as I was walking my dog. I saw the neighbor out with some workers in front of his yard. Bella, of course, decide that was the time to go, and began to do her business while I pulled out the poop bag to clean up. And then he began yelling “Why the fuck does your dog always shit on my yard.” My instinct was to correct or explain that we havent been around here in weeks, but looking at his face, I knew that nothing I could say would clear up the story in his head. I mumbled an apology while I picked up the shit, and he continued “you know I have killer dogs in my house that will tear your little shit up.” And that viscerally shook me. Shame coursed through me for not saying anything as I picked up Bella and walked away. It took weeks for me to accept that not responding was the right approach.
Then a few days ago, I was out with Zyan and we were walking down the hill. Zyan decided to walk up the stairs at a house and then run down the small hit alongside it on the driveway. His giggles filled the morning air. Then the neighbor came out, and I said good morning thinking he came out to greet us. Instead, he goes “hey I noticed you are letting your daughter (a common mistake due to his fair) run up and down the stairs. She could hurt herself. I nodded yes, and he continues “you dont get it, do you, this is our property.” Hearing that my heart sank, and yet again nodded, picked up my son who yelled to be put down, and walked away.
What kind of world is it that has a problem with a 2 year old running around in joy? Yes the lawyer in me heard heard his concern about liability except thats not what he meant because he also asked if I lived around here. And he didnt invite us in so we wouldnt be entitled to compensation anyway (again my lawyer logic), but it hurt my heart deeply to know I am doors down the street from petty people like this. It’s truly made me reconsider making Fullerton my permanent home even though so much of it has been wonderful.
I hope I feel differently (or get new neighbors)
Sanjay Sabarwal's Blog 