For the longest time, since we moved into this house in fact, our next-door neighbours were a couple we affectionately referred to as “The Oldsters”. Kenny and Verna. They were in their mid-sixties and really cheerful and nice. We’d chat while hanging our our laundry or when I was out gardening or whatever. Rob would shovel their walkway for them. One time I locked myself out of our house and Kenny invited me in their kitchen to chat while waiting for the locksmith. You know, like neighbours do.
Sadly, The Oldsters moved away back in August (their daughter and granddaughter were moving in with them, and they needed a bigger place). Almost immediately, a new set of neighbours moved in. These ones were okay, too, if not up to Oldster standards. We’d say hi when we were both outside, but that’s about it. They parked on their lawn, which was weird to me what with the huge driveways we get around here. But they were nice. And, being that the husband was a long-distance trucker and the wife and little girl would travel with him, they were only home maybe two days out of the week. That was fine by me. I could handle lawn parking two days out of the week. But then the husband got transferred somewhere (like, a month and a half after they had moved in!) and off they went.
Today, we have new neighbours moving in. And I am really trying to reserve judgment. But since about 7 this morning (SUNDAY MORNING SUNDAY MY ONE DAY OF REST PEOPLE), their Little Dog (I believe it’s a Papillon… it’s extremely cute) has been tied outside, barking. And barking. And barking. Hopefully it’s because they’re moving in and don’t want to step on it if it’s inside the house but it’s been five and a half hours of the barking and oh, am I not impressed. But, like I said, reserving judgment. Totally. For now.