"The sociopath next door"

I read this, and I was honestly shocked anyone could be so petty.

That said, I have a weird story about a neighbor.

I'll keep it short, and change some of the details. I don't think they would ever be on this site, but who knows? They weren't bad people, but they just suprised me. Here goes--

Years ago a young couple moved in to a house adjacent to ours. Nice young couple. They even brought over a gift. I thanked them, and said, "If you need anything, I'm here a lot. I'm self-employed right now."

They seemed to want me to know they were both Architects.

They must have told me three times they were both Architects--in a few minute conversation?

They were definetly a differnt generation than mine, and I remember the "What do you do" introductory questions. I never liked them. I remember really tiring of them them in the bar scene. "And what do you do?" I once told a young lady, I was a Proof reader in the pornography industry. Another, "A professional Drinker." Her, "Ewe", or something like that.

Back to that first encounter, I figured they were just glad to be finished with school, and trying to network. They were proud of their professions, and that's fine.

I knew right away I had nothing in common with the male Architect. We were just two different people. I remember I was working on my car, and my hands were filthy. I knew he wasen't the type of guy who ever got his hands dirty. That's fine, I'm just one of those guys. I try not to pay people for stuffI can do myself, and I was always just getting by financially. I couldn't afford to hire anyone for anything.

There was just something about him, but I couldn't put a finger on it. Outwardly nice, but something seemed phoney.
I was inwardly hoping they wouldn't invite me over for any socials. It turned out they weren't social.

Anyway, I never gave them much thought.

In my neighborhood, we don't know eachother. It might sound weird, but you get used to it, and kinda of begin to like it.

We shared a property line. One day he wanted to replace a fence, but he claimed I was encroaching on his property line--by a few inches. I was kinda shocked. I asked him, "How do you know?" Oh---I can just tell. You know, "I'm an Architect?" Yea--I was shocked. I felt like telling him, "I'm an inactive general contractor", but dummied up. He caught me off guard. (I knew new when these houses were built, the set back linewas 5 feet, and 6 feet for two story homes. He was in a one story ranch style home. If anything, he was on our property?)

I told him get a survey, and put the fence wherever the line is. I walked away thinking, that was kinda weird?

A few years went by. He got a survey. Never heard from him.

They had a kid.

Maybe five years went by, and I honestly forgot their names.

The then got another survey. I think it was a friend of his, because he was helping--holding the markers, etc.

I knew I wasen't on his property, but he seemed determined to get a survey proving me wrong.

A few more years went by.

They had another baby.

In all the years I lived next to them, we would wave, say hi on garbage day, but we really didn't know eachother.

I just knew his wife worked, and he took care of the kids. I thought that was great. I thought he was a great father. They were a great couple! They seemed so normal. Never a fight. Just a quiet couple. He liked to wear a tie though. Never got that one. Why wear a tie around the house?

One day, I was walking home from work, and saw a sign.

"Free baby monitor. It works."

I thought of my next door neighbors, and picked it up.

I knew I wasen't going to knock on their door, but I might just put the monitor on their driveway. Plus--I like to fix disgarded electronics, or see how they are made. I was thinking of taking it apart to see how it was built, or maybe scavage any caps, resistors, etc. They didn't seem the type to have anything used, and I get that, but this baby monitor still had the stickers on it. It didn't look used. Put shrink wrap on it, and it would be new. I decided to keep it. They probally would want it.

So, I'm at my workbench, and device this is just too nice to take apart. I decide to give it to my neighbors. I did want to test it before I put it one their property though.

It's about 6 in the afternoon. I turn it on, and I hear people talking. "Wow!!" I was startled. It literally scared me. Then it kicked it; they must have a baby monitor, and it's on the same channel? Horrid security though!

I immediately turned it off, but I couldn't help myself. It was just so clear. I was impressed with the radio's frequency power.

So---I turned it back on. I thought I will just listen a little bit. I then heard my name. I thought they couldn't be talking about me. We have talked maybe three times in 10 years?

But they were talking about me. I heard, "If he doesn't shut that dog up, I'm going to call the humane society." "Did you see his hair lately?" "Who's that new girl that comes over late?"

I was floored. I didn't think they knew my name.

I thought, what are the odds they just happened to be talking about me at that point in time? They must dislike me? Or, they are people I will never quite "get".

I honestly didn't want to know, or listen.

I turned that radio off. It really did hurt my feelings though. I actually thought they liked me.

Well--I threw the baby monitor away.

They ended up moving. They see me sometimes at Safeway, and both have huge smiles. I wave back--hoping my hair looked o.k.. I get in my car, and try to smooch down my poofy hair.

Crazy people--crazy world?