Neighbors pissed me off.

[Lars]

Just a rant about my neighbors. Since the wife and I moved into the neighborhood 6 years ago the neighbors have been awesome, we get along great with all of them and they love our kids and normally are so helpful. Every time it snows I fire up the four wheeler and plow my house as well as eight of the neighbors houses. I get up early enough to make sure that they all get done before I leave for work and then do them again if need be when I get home. I do this every time it snows, except for this last storm. I'm working out of town and all my neighbors know that I'm out of town, my wife works full time and takes care of our three year old and nine month old. I would have thought that out of the eight houses that I always plow, two of which both own big ass snow blowers, somebody would have came over and helped my 95lb wife clear the snow.

i don't plow their snow to be thanked or to be the hero, I do it because I have the equipment to do it easier than they can and because I was raised to take care of and look after those around you. I guess I thought that my neighbors would step up when I needed one of them but I guess I know where we stand. I know that this is a petty thing to be pissed about and we all have bigger problems, and things like this don't usually get to me, however it got under my skin this time and rubbed me the wrong way.

[ClangClang]

Had they cleared their own driveways and ignored yours?

[Lars]

Had they cleared their own driveways and ignored yours?

According to my wife all but two of the houses had clear driveways as of this morning.

[GilpinGuy]

Sounds like you only have to clear one driveway from now on.

I wouldn't confront anybody about it, just stop volunteering. If anyone asks why YOU stopped helping, be honest and tell them why.

[lex137]

It does suck that no one helped you out, but that's just how people are. Now the question is where do you go from here when you get back into town.... Good luck, I say hello and wave to my neighbors and that's about all. Sorry no one helped your wife!

[Irving]

Always kind of bugs me when people stop right at their property line, because I never do. Although, in the case of lazy or dick neighbors, I totally get it.

I've mowed my neighbor's lawn before when I knew he was out of town. So I understand your frustration.

[lex137]

I need you guys for neighbors! I gave the one neighbor an xmas gift for using his snowblower to do my sidewalk (he also did like 10 other houses in each direction).

[Lars]

That's what has me so confused about this. I travel a lot for work and everyone is always so good about helping the wife when I'm gone. One of my neighbors mowed my lawn twice a week for three months while I was traveling. He told me that even when I was home for a few days in between not to worry about it that he would take care of it so I could spend what little time I had with my family.

I think im more pissed about the fact that I wasn't home to help the wife, and I can see her struggling with all that snow while the baby is hanging out in his crib and the crazy three year old is having a ball in 2 feet of snow. I guess I just let it roll off my back and move on.

[Mazin]

I use to do the same but by hand even on Christmas Day. People don't appreciate shit anymore.

[jhood001]

A lot of people take something for granted when it is provided for them consistently and promptly.

When there is a disturbance in that something, many people focus on how to adapt to that change with the least amount of effort possible rather than questioning as to why there was a disturbance at all.

I would guess that you get something out of clearing driveways for your neighbors. You probably enjoy operating machinery that you have invested time and money in and you get a good feeling from doing something for your immediate community.

Not all humans think like you.

All you can do is move those that reciprocate to the top of your list and cut your aid to the rest when your time and desire is limited.

You might teach a lesson to the free-loaders along the way. Or, you can keep on doing what you do and hope that you might eventually change the hearts and perspective of those selfish sumbitches.

With that said, if a single person whom you have cleared their driveway for in the past saw your wife shoveling your drive, your path is very clear:

Put dog feces in their mailbox because they absolutely suck.

[rondog]

When I have to get my blower out I'll usually do the sidewalks and driveways for two houses either side of me. If I see someone else nearby killing himself shoveling, I'll go help. But nobody better expect me to do theirs just because I have a snowblower, especially neighbors who could well afford to buy their own but instead choose not to. You own two brand new vehicles, your wife doesn't work, you only have one kid, and you have a housecleaning service every month? Get your shovel out, yuppie.

[ray1970]

Maybe your wife is just a bad ass and had your place done before any of the neighbors could get dug out to come help her.

[Madeinhb]

More than likely it had to do with this particular snow. Wet and heavy. They probably did their house and said well I'm not killing myself. I would stop assisting for a little and see if they say anything

[Lars]

Maybe your wife is just a bad ass and had your place done before any of the neighbors could get dug out to come help her.

My wife is pretty amazing, taking care of everything when I'm gone, but she didn't get the drive shoveled until late in the evening.

[ColoradoTJ]

I know you may feel entitled that someone should do your driveway when you are gone since when you are here in town you take it upon yourself to do everyone's driveway. It may be unsolicited help that you are giving. I don't want anyone shoveling my driveway...ever. If I get to the point that I am unable to shovel my own driveway, a snow removal service will be employed.

From what I have read in this thread, sounds like your neighbors are pretty great....mow your lawn while you are away for 3 months and when you get back so you can spend time with the family. That is pretty full of awesomeness. Let this one roll off your back, it sucks that your wife had to shovel the driveway this one time. No reason to get upset. Maybe disappointed, but not worth making good neighbors into really shitty ones.

[roberth]

I have neighbors like that, you do something for them and then it is expected...every single day.

I stopped doing stuff for them immediately after they started expecting it and I haven't done anything for them since.

[ray1970]

I know you may feel entitled that someone should do your driveway when you are gone since when you are here in town you take it upon yourself to do everyone's driveway. It may be unsolicited help that you are giving. I don't want anyone shoveling my driveway...ever. If I get to the point that I am unable to shovel my own driveway, a snow removal service will be employed.

From what I have read in this thread, sounds like your neighbors are pretty great....mow your lawn while you are away for 3 months and when you get back so you can spend time with the family. That is pretty full of awesomeness. Let this one roll off your back, it sucks that your wife had to shovel the driveway this one time. No reason to get upset. Maybe disappointed, but not worth making good neighbors into really shitty ones.

Agreed.

[Jefe's AR]

When I have to get my blower out I'll usually do the sidewalks and driveways for two houses either side of me. If I see someone else nearby killing himself shoveling, I'll go help. But nobody better expect me to do theirs just because I have a snowblower, especially neighbors who could well afford to buy their own but instead choose not to. You own two brand new vehicles, your wife doesn't work, you only have one kid, and you have a housecleaning service every month? Get your shovel out, yuppie.

This times a million. Especially the neighbor lady who used to run out while I was blowing and try and hire me. I'd always do it for free even though she and her husband are perfectly capable of shoveling their South facing, two car driveway. She quit asking when she came over once and did the same ol', same ol'. Knowing full well I wouldn't take her gas money. I gave her some attitude about needing to finish what I was doing then finished her driveway. She has never asked again. Guess she didn't like the attitude. I generally do all the sidewalks on my side of the block. And since I live on the corner, I do my side and continue down that side of the block. Half is my responsibility and half is the HOA. If I don't hit that side before the landscapers come, they will do my half and sometimes turn the corner and do part of my front sidewalk.

I also used to do my neighbors driveway but a similar instance happened to me. Went to Florida for Christmas one year and it had snowed fairy well while we were gone. 2011 IIRC. When we got home the neighbor had done theirs but they didn't even clear the sidewalk, let alone the driveway. I never did their driveway again. New neighbors moved in and I did the same thing. Same result.

I don't want tit for tat. Just some kind of reciprocation.

I keep telling my wife when it comes to neighbors; Friendly, not friends.

[clodhopper]

Might have been a miscommunication, one neighbor thought another was going to do it and they all left for work. I wouldn't get too bent about it.

There are very different levels of appreciation these days. My back is still sore from shoveling drives with my two sons. We have very specific people we assist, the elderly couples, single women and a couple others that show appreciation. Spent the morning shoveling and by the afternoon, we had plates and plates of cookies and thank you cards with cash for the boys. I think each of my sons ended up with about $80 bucks for the morning. The boys have learned that snow days are money days and get up early. They also know they can earn more if they don't ask for compensation, just shovel and wait (the neighbors all know my boys). It might be a gamble and sometimes a driveway is shoveled and nothing is gained from it, but overall, appreciative people are very generous. Those that regularly don't respond fall off the shovel list. I normally don't help them, it is their thing, but that snow was heavy this time and I was home anyway as the office had no power.

Then there are the in-between houses we walk past when we know they have lazy teenagers living there or are otherwise able to take care of themselves but would rather wait for someone else to do it and never thank them. My wife keeps the "banned from assistance" list in her head and she is pretty ruthless about it, makes me chuckle. Walking back home after, we passed one house where the mom was out shoveling by herself. She initiated conversation (fishing for help) and I asked why she was out there by herself. She said her husband was at work. I then asked where her 19 yo son was, and she didn't have a good answer for that. "Well, good luck" and kept walking. She did a shovel wide strip in front of the garage door and went back in.

[ray1970]

It's been mentioned here already but I just wanted to chime in.

If you're going around clearing your neighbor's property just to be a nice guy and a good neighbor, that's fine.

If you're doing it without ever being asked to do it and then expecting some kind of repayment for your services, then that's actually pretty uncool on your part.




Anyhow, hope that wife or yours wasn't too tired from all of that shoveling to have "relations" with you.
[Beer]

[cfortune]

I'd actually prefer people don't try and take care of my driveway or sidewalk. Some folks were doing the whole sidewalk in a fashion similar to yours. The problem being that running a four wheeler through just pushes the snow to the sides. Now given Colorado weather, it usually warms up to above freezing temperatures during the day. So while I'm at work, the snow starts to melt, water starts to build up on the sidewalk, freezes, then I'm stuck clearing ice off of the sidewalk. I'd much rather shovel, throw the snow into my yard, and not create a death moat across the sidewalk. The last time it snowed a decent amount, this happened and I ended up with an inch of ice that I spent almost 5 hours on a Saturday breaking up with a pick and a hammer. Doesn't help that my house is downhill from a few others but flattens out. Think I'm going to be shoveling that guys sidewalk if he's out of town?

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is potential that you're not really doing anyone any favors. Kind of like the guy in his truck who plowed a lane in the middle of the road on Monday evening, creating a 3 foot wall of wet snow that froze overnight. I needed to get some food for my cat and got out the shovel. I have a blown disk in my back and it was agonizing making a path to get my car out of that. Would have been much better off driving through snow considering I have AWD and snow tires for a reason. I ended up just walking to the store because after creating a clearing, the path was so narrow that I couldn't even back into it.

[DireWolf]

If you're doing it without ever being asked to do it and then expecting some kind of repayment for your services, then that's actually pretty uncool...

This x1000....


Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[davsel]

I don't believe the OP was expecting any kind of repayment from his neighbors - just hoping they were a bit more neighborly.

If the OP had left out all the information about how he has regularly cleared his neighbor's driveways, it would still be awful crappy for his neighbors to not help his wife when they see her shoveling her drive and know he is out of town a lot.

Keep doing the right thing - everything else will sort itself out.

[rondog]

I don't want or expect anything in return, a smile and a wave is fine. My 5hp/24" snowblower was a gift from a neighbor that moved away years ago, so I kinda feel obligated to share it with the others around me by clearing them off when I can. Since I work nights, I sometimes wake up to find that somebody has cleared MY walk and drive off! Comes around and goes around.

[gnihcraes]

I've done the same thing for nearly 20 years. Plowing my driveway and walks with the riding mower, then moving on to neighbors. Just to be neighborly.

Not expecting anything, but a thank you is nice to hear. Most do.

I usually check with them too and ask "I hope it didn't cause any issues by me plowing that for you?", this lets me know where to go with it next time. Plow again or ignore em.

Some neighbors have never even waved hi. One couple of girls, they never do squat. They won't even shovel their 20 feet of walk. Never!

One house across the street, has 4 adult men (drunk usually) in the house, they never shovel. The old lady is always out there doing it. I helped her few times, but figured if they have so much help, screw em.

I've just given up mostly on doing anyone's walks and driveways. Tired of paying for the gas and repairs on my equipment to be a nice guy.

I did open a couple of driveway entrances for 4 houses during this storm, two haven't said anything - fine, one said thank you it was great, another is trying to buy me beers, ammo and range time! :) I declined. Not trying to get anything out of it, just makes me feel good to be nice.

[Aloha_Shooter]

The only question I have is whether they knew you were gone and your wife could use help. They may have assumed you were all gone or had it handled and they didn't want to interfere.

[cmailliard]

People are assholes (see my post about Tanner assholes), plain and simple. I always shovel to my neighbors driveways. One (to our right) always shovels to mine, it's a race to see who gets out first in the morning, we are both usually out before 0600. When they were out of town I shoveled their driveway, I do it as a security thing, unshoveled driveway with no tire tracks being a good sign someone is out of town and we have had a lot of break-in's. Even though I am from Nebraska and they went to CU, we still get along (even after taking their CU flag down one day and putting my Nebraska one up).

The people who do not shovel are lazy POS's, especially their sidewalk. I could give a shit about their driveway, but when I fall on my ass walking the dog because someone is a lazy turd, that pisses me off. The corner lot people who only do part of their sidewalk but not all of it because it is two much to do, well, don't buy a corner lot.

[Dave_L]

The corner lot people who only do part of their sidewalk but not all of it because it is two much to do, well, don't buy a corner lot.

This drives me crazy. The neighbor next to me and the one next to that neighbor hardly ever shovel and if they do, it's usually just the one path for their car. One people walk on it, then its a nice icy pathy for a long time after the snow ends.

[Irving]

I always have to calm myself down when I slip on ice on an unshoveled sidewalk when running or walking the dog. I almost always shovel my walk, but not always right away.

I also get mad when people park their cars blocking the sidewalk when there is plenty of room in their driveways. So I realize I'm overreacting when I slip on ice and just need to get over it.

[clodhopper]

I always have to calm myself down when I slip on ice on an unshoveled sidewalk when running or walking the dog. I almost always shovel my walk, but not always right away.

I also get mad when people park their cars blocking the sidewalk when there is plenty of room in their driveways. So I realize I'm overreacting when I slip on ice and just need to get over it.


Are you suggesting humility and tolerance as a way of life? Really?

[ray1970]

I also get mad when people park their cars blocking the sidewalk when there is plenty of room in their driveways. So I realize I'm overreacting when I slip on ice and just need to get over it.

When I slip and fall I just get mad at myself for not being more careful. I figure if I live in Colorado I should expect to deal with snow and ice from time to time.

[Irving]

When I slip and fall I just get mad at myself for not being more careful. I figure if I live in Colorado I should expect to deal with snow and ice from time to time.

In general yes, but after running around more than one vehicle parked across the sidewalk, having to close gates that people leave hanging open that completely block the sidewalk, or hitting myself on side mirrors of cars when people park ON the sidewalk, I'm usually in a pretty bad mood. I get it though. Most people go from their front door to their car and don't ever walk anywhere. I don't really expect anyone to even consider how annoying it is to have gauntlet of laziness to get through while trying to maintain a pace. It's just something you deal with when running in urban/suburban areas. I don't like when people run on the street when there are sidewalks present, but I'm starting to see why they do.

Edit: I fully realize that no one has any obligation to anyone else to keep their sidewalks clear. It really shows your character when you don't though.

[davsel]

^ First World Problems

[Irving]

Totally.

[ray1970]

Misunderstood your post, Irving. I thought you meant if you just slipped and fell on an unshoveled sidewalk it irked you.

I totally get what you're saying now.

[SideShow Bob]

I snow blow the older lady's driveway and sidewalk next to me when I do mine.
Sometime I have to go out and stop her from shoveling if I snooze in a little on the weekend.

I don't ask for any payment or expect it, but anytime she bakes up some homemade goodies, she brings over some.

Mmmm Mmmm, homemade cookies and such.......

[trlcavscout]

Quit helping those that wont help you, unless they are physically in need of help.

I do my driveway and sidewalk and then normally me and another neighbor help the old guy next door that is physically unable to do his own. I have recently started making my teenage son shovel his walk to teach him a life lesson.

[Holger Danske]

Lots of good advice on this thread and I think the OP is a very caring person. I tend to think ithe could have could have been a situationlike neighbor 1 thinks neighbor 2 has your back because the two of you are good friends. Neighbor 3 thinks Neighbor 4 has your back because he is the property next to you, so on and so forth, but in the end noone knew for sure if anyone else was covering. Perhaps next time you go out of town, ask a neighbor "hey if it snows, can you run the snowblower over the driveway?". It never hurts to ask.

[Irving]

Misunderstood your post, Irving. I thought you meant if you just slipped and fell on an unshoveled sidewalk it irked you.

I totally get what you're saying now.

Good, I was starting to feel like a jerk.

[gnihcraes]

Quit helping those that wont help you, unless they are physically in need of help.

Interestingly enough, I'm the one with the disability tag and mobility scooters, helping the others out. strange world we live in.

I also pushed most of the snow up around my teenage sons vehicle since he never offers to help in any way. F' him. He can dig his own shit out. :)

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I just go right up to the lot line with my next door neighbor. We have a long history and he has threatened to sue me. So, I won't set foot on his property, or even in front of it. Used to do his sidewalks, though. He is basically a shut-in, but as a litigious one, I'm done.

When I can, I'll get the older lady next door to me. Sometimes she or her brother do part of mine. But I'm up at 4am to do this so I can be moving shortly after 6. So, depending, I may not even do mine until evening, such as this week. :(

[Squeeze]

Don't be fooled into believing other people have the same heart as you. You're a good man. You were raised a lot like myself. And like you, I too have been shit on by people I helped...and I never helped again afterwards. They will figure it out after the next big storm, or the next time they come to you for help.

[Lars]

this thread was never about whoa is me, my neighbors have a snowblower and didn't do my driveway. A lot of you took it as that I wanted to stay inside my warm house and watch someone else clear my snow. This was about how I have always been there for my neighbors to help and assist when ever I can, and the one time that my wife could have used some assistance due to ME NOT BEING IN TOWN, not one person offered help. This one instance will not change the relationship I have with my neighbors because like I said before, most of them have been great neighbors. I was merely surprised that nobody offered my wife help. And judging from some of your responses I was the jerk for using my plow to clear their snow in the first place. To those of you that actually understood what was bothering me, I appreciate the feedback and comment.

[ColoradoTJ]

this thread was never about whoa is me, my neighbors have a snowblower and didn't do my driveway. A lot of you took it as that I wanted to stay inside my warm house and watch someone else clear my snow. This was about how I have always been there for my neighbors to help and assist when ever I can, and the one time that my wife could have used some assistance due to ME NOT BEING IN TOWN, not one person offered help. This one instance will not change the relationship I have with my neighbors because like I said before, most of them have been great neighbors. I was merely surprised that nobody offered my wife help. And judging from some of your responses I was the jerk for using my plow to clear their snow in the first place. To those of you that actually understood what was bothering me, I appreciate the feedback and comment.

I think everyone understands you are not home for months at a time, you have a 95 lb wife, she is caring for an infant and a toddler by herself, and she is amazing, you clear the snow off all your neighbors driveways when you are at home. Miss anything?

Why do you actually plow all of these driveways off when you are actually in town? At least two of your neighbors do have snow blowers. Guess they shouldn't have spent the 800+ dollars on a snowblower.

Did someone make you the resident snow remover? Did they ask you for help?

Did you ask for their help while away? A simple "Hey Danny, if it snows while I am away these next few months, would you help me out by clearing my driveway so my wife doesn't have to leave an infant alone inside?" This way the job would be covered and you can sleep easy while being away...or hire a snow removal company. Surprisingly, it is cheaper than I thought. If I wasn't such a cheap bastard that wants more guns and ammo, I would do exactly this.

It is great that you are VERY neighborly and obviously no lazy person. Having you as a neighbor is a good thing and enjoyable for sure.

Here is my experience with a helpful neighbor:

About 11 years ago I had a neighbor just like you, wanted to help out and use his new snow blower. He was out at 0400 in the morning, fired that loud ass machine up and cleared my driveway, sidewalks for several of us. That was awesome, except I am totally capable of removing my snow.

So you know what was not so awesome?
-He forgot that I have 1/2" rock on the one side of my driveway for landscaping.
-no sleeping in
-now had my landscaping rocks on the other side of my driveway
-My brand new Dodge 2500 diesel that "was" without dents and chips in the nice new black paint.

So I got to clean up all my landscaping rocks, repair my truck, and have the nice little talk with my awesome neighbor about not cleaning off my driveway since I "love" to do it. In reality, it cost me enough to pay for professional snow removal until I was 60 years old. I never had the heart to tell him about the damage, the cost or anything. He was a good, retired man that meant well.

[SamuraiCO]

I fully understand the OP and where he was coming from. I understand where his help was unsolicited but as humans kindness should be returned in kind. Too many other things more pressing to really get mad about. Brush it off and return to the person you are. If your feeling generous next time it snows resume your normal routine. If not don't. Just remember someone has to be the example of what was and what it is like to be a good person and when we all say f***it then no one is left to set the bar.

I still am amazed with school being canceled why there were no teen kids going up and down the blocks shoveling snow for money (or to be kindly). How far we have come in just a few generations.

[Joe_K]

What if everyone just shoveled, plowed, or snowblowered their own sidewalks and driveways? Then there would be more hungry lazy people, less idiots out on the roads driving after a big snow, and more senior citizens getting exercise. JK.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk