I've always liked nature.
Back when we lived in Michigan, I decided to feed the birds. I didn't have feeders and so I just strew the seeds on the ground, which meant it attracted bigger birds. The neighbor complained and, since I did understand, I moved the food to feeders and promised him I wouldn't spread it on the ground.
One day, my husband, only we weren't married yet, walked in the house and said, "Michelle, I thought we agreed not to spread the seed on the ground." I said that I didn't anymore.
Him: Michelle. There is seed on the ground.
Me: I didn't put it there. (Then I said, and I'm not sure how I knew this) Maybe someone else put the seed out. Maybe there's something wrong with it!
My husband rolled his eyes at me, believe it or not. He was back 5 minutes later though with a handful of seed -- he asked me to smell it. It smelled like it had been soaked in Lestoil, that distinctive smell.
So, I assumed and assume it was the guy who complained, maybe in conjunction with the guy on the other side, but how do you prove that? The part that got me most furious was that my dogs could have eaten that seed, and then he or they would have wished they were never born.
I understood his point, to begin with, but it fascinates me how many people fear wildlife in suburbia. When I worked at the shelter, people were forever trapping opposums and raccoons who were hurting no one.
Now that I've moved to an area surrounded by forest, even though I live in the town proper, I freely feed the birds with no complaints -- a lot of people do. I also have birdhouses and a bat house and bee houses and a pile of branches for cover. And a frog pond. Bird baths, of course. A butterfly and hummingbird garden. Looking to add some stuff to attract toads. For the longest time I wondered why a couple of my bird feeders were always empty in the morning, even if they were full the night before -- then we got a frost and I could see the tracks. Deer were apparently coming and nudging them.
Back in Michigan, the second suspect in the bird seed incident was forever getting drunk with his wife and daughter. He passed away and his wife kept on keepin' on with the drinking and loudness. One night in the winter, I let my Sheltie out and he headed for that fence, barking up a storm. The woman was passed out in the snow. He saved her life. She claimed she slipped and hit her head, but puhleese...
I like my neighbors and my community now -- people looking out for one another, the exchange of baked goods...
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I once rented a room from a crack whore -- she preferred to be called an escort -- but that's not a neighbor thing. There are stories to be told though! Maybe of the topic of rentals from hell ever comes up.