I have a freind who moved from California to Kentucky because taxes and the cost of living are too high here and also "muh freedum." Great guy and he's right - taxes are way too high, everything is way too expensive, and state and local law leans towards the progressive.
Anyway, he gets this big ass spread and sends me pictures. He's got neighbors that burn trash in their yard, keep broken down cars and appliances out back and in front, and allow their mostly nude and filty kid (and dogs, and cats) to wander about. He's bitching because none of his neighbors seem to have any respect for themselves or anyone else.
I told him I reckon that's what freedom looks like.
In regard to you, Mick, I am sympathetic. But keep in mind that you could relocate to a place that won't allow the kind of nuisance you're enduring. It's not worth the frustration to wait out bad neighbors. They're not going to change, and the government isn't going to make them.
I empathize with your friend, he and I have similar thinking, motivations for moving out into the county, the country. I sit on my porch as we speak. All is quiet, mostly. Everything is in bloom, a fire. The cherry tree in the front yard is going to make it, awesome. The birds are chirping and flying about, mockingbird, cardinal, and dove jockeying for residency in a cedar tree by the drive. Grass will soon need mowing, should charge the battery in the mower. Should be burning vegetation n the garden, till and turn the soil in preparation, it's almost time to plant. Wife just got back from the
big city getting her hair done. yelled around the corner there are bagworms starting in a tree that was nearly killed last year. The dogs are enjoying the enclosed side yard. They deserve it, took me longer than it should have to finally get that done. Trampas is getting on in age, probably won't be around for too many years, if that. Played guitar on the porch last night after getting home. Made up something, music & melody, I should have a small portable recorder to capture such things before they drift off into the ether. Neighbors back in the city all mentioned as we were moving they were going to miss that, me playing and singing on the porch. I love a good sit on the porch. Beers, cigs, bang on that box.
I'm mostly retired, I guess you could say. I do things (mostly) because I want to do them. Got a call from the folks where I dismantled that barn, salvaging the old lumber. Fun gig, llamas, goats, horses, cattle, a couple of Great Pyrenees to keep me and a mini sledge n crowbar company. Enjoyable gig, not the type you find back in the city. Pay not bad, a grand a day over 3. I made quick work of it. They need more work done on the farm, I have a feeling I'm going to be learning more about timber framing, jacking old barns, cutting out the rot and scabbing in new lumber. Should be fun, provided it doesn't all come down on me noggin, could be fatal.
My neighborhood, currently? A guy a few doors up operates I guess a side gig repairing automobiles, some hotrods. Lots of revving engines. Doesn't really bother me. Next house closer, an autistic child, random vocalizations, doesn't bother me. From the road I can see what appears to be netting like you might see around a trampoline. I'm thinking they put that child in there. That bothers me some, but who am I to say, it's none of my business. I assume the father of that child periodically loses his mind, the type of yelling where the next thing you expect to hear is a gunshot. Gets in his vehicle and peels out the gravel driveway. The guy is a nut. The guy across the street down off the road plays music from time to time. Stairway to Heaven, the live version, often. Doesn't really bother me. In fact for shits & giggles I played a version last evening while sitting on the porch. Hadn't played that in years, I'm good for years to come. Then there's jackass nextdoor with the 14 dogs. There are laws, I'll just have to keep playing the cards I have been dealt, plugging away at it. Maybe I'll be successful, maybe I won't. An outside consulting firm has been working with the board of supervisors modernizing current laws, completed and going into effect mid summer. We'll see.
Where am I going with this? Mostly thinking out loud. I will say, I've defended "country people" in the past. They're smarter than given credit. I'm not so sure about that anymore. I must say, with all the humble I can muster, there are a bunch of ignorant ass people out here. Fucking trash. I don't know, I reckon there are ignorant people everywhere/anywhere. But I didn't move out here to make friends, I moved out here for the lower taxes, "muh freedoms", the great outdoors. I still have those things, they are important to me. I may not always agree with it, but I obey the law(s), I expect others to do they same. If not, i'll force the issue, be it a sprint or a marathon. The Commonwealth Attorney appears to be available for an assist in taking out the trash nextdoor.
Oop, there goes the bluebirds, amazing the vibrancy of their color even over a considerable distance. I love it out here.
