I really needed this reminder today. If you recall our neighbour sued us because he claimed our block wall was on his property… well, we paid to have our own survey done and found the wall is about 11″ on his side up to 14″, tried negotiating with him, offered again to buy the land (market value about $250 at the high end) or to go with a ‘prescriptive easement’, but he’s just the kind of guy who isn’t about to make a situation easy on anyone when he can make it hard.
He said, what if I want to sell the property and some unreasonable person offers me $20,000 less because your wall is on my land? He suggested we get a view fence. If you could see his ramshackle, hoarder property you would know why a view fence is out of the question.
So… not only do we have to demolish and rebuild the entire 100′ wall, we also have to pay his $7500 legal fees (he made sure to go to an expensive lawyer, and remember, he is/was a member of the bar himself so he knows how to stick it to someone) and also for a new survey that gives the results HE wants—because every survey was 4″ or thereabouts different from the others.
It’s how good you know they can look with God’s help
that counts.
24 hours. Heck, in 24 minutes sometimes.
Don’t you dare give up on Tomorrow because of the
way things look Today. Don’t even think about it…
My condolences BP. This certainly is the type of thing that you need to experience to appreciate. Perhaps consider just knocking down the wall and piling up the rubble as a rustic yankee wall well within your own property line. A frontend loader could do it in half a day.
Vendo, that would definitely make a statement, but without a secure fence that passes inspection, no pool. Summer 117 degrees and no pool? No way.
Oh ya BP, .. the pool. …. I wish I could send you some snow, .. lol
It’s piled up 10 feet high in my front and side yard and we are getting another Nor’easter this weekend here in Massachusetts. My snowblower can’t throw it any higher than that so apparently we are screwed! … lol.
This is not the winter wonderland of Vermont, this is the Blackstone valley of southern MA. Same planting zone as Tennessee. This is not supposed to happen here! We have been getting 1 or 2 blizzards a week since late Jan. and it getting scarey here. I had to crawl over 5 foot deep snow to clear a clothes dryer outlet yesterday. I saw ten foot icicles hanging off a neighbor’s house as I was doing that, but couldn’t see doors or windows on the first floor. A few days ago apparently the plumbing vent on the roof clogged with ice and big gurgling noises came out of the bathtub drains when the toilets were flushed followed by foul smells. Thank god that stopped after a couple of days.
I could go on and on. It’s getting crazy here. And hearing what you said there makes it seem as though you are from another planet and we here are in the ice age .. 🙂
Vendo…I so don’t miss that…except at Christmas. Did the groundhog see his shadow? I wish for you an early spring. It is almost like another planet here at this time of year. It’s perfect “summer” weather here now by your standards. My mother emails me nearly every day and nearly every message is the same; it’s blizzarding and they’re calling for more snow tomorrow. That’s in Ontario on the St. Lawrence. They’ve really messed up the weather with their Geoengineering.
All the things that he and his counsel lack; you have, compassion; understanding; patience and love. You are the lesson; the means by which they can reach their own level of acceptance. They are terribly insecure and can only express that by lashing out. Show them how it is done, by putting them to shame; you have already shown them what goodness is.
The counsel is motivated by money; what motivates the neighbour seems to be hate; a self destructive emotion. Lawyers should never be involved in neighbourly business; they always muddy the water; and push up the price.
If blame is to be apportioned; then the surveyor should answer some questions. Surely the wall belongs to him as it is on his property? So you have given him a wall; what is all the fuss about?
He is fortunate to share in your wall; I would consider it an honour.
Stay strong.
Bobby… very interesting perspective, that he now has a wall. LOL I never would have considered that. He doesn’t even want to speak to us. He hides behind his lawyer. Surveyors tell us that there is always some variance.
The surveyor gave a professional opinion; which you acted on; if there was a problem; the neighbour had plenty of time to bring it to your attention; when the building commenced would have been appropriate. The wall was tacitly approved by him. Now time has passed. You have provided him with a wall. If he plays nice you could consider not billing him; for the wall; your counsel; and the stress that all this has caused you. He should walk away.
As U and I know, WE are coming into Oneness with the overriding theme of Cooperation, and Accommodation, not condemnation and competition but some have yet to receive the memo…
I write this because I know that there are still many, many people out there who are disconnected from themSELVES and that behind that mask of rudeness, harshness, and un-neighborlyness,:>), lies a person who might need a friend or at least someone who recognizes him as part of this incredible pool of humanity
I would knock on his door and speak to him from your heart being genuinely interested in whatever he says and ask for reconciliation and even forgiveness for any perceived wrong.
Consider it a challenge or an act of spreading love to a soul who seems to be low on love.
After all, I believe we are here to love.
I have been in his shoes when someone encroached on my property. It really is easy with property. The lines are drawn. respect them. If he would not have done anything, after 7 years, the land would have been yours. That equals a lot more than 250. dollars when you factor in years of taxes paid, money paid for the property, and future value. He is only protecting the property he paid for that is rightfully his.
Ann, you don’t know him or the situation. That land would not even be his to claim had we not abandoned the utility easement behind our home so that we had a back yard.
Before we even built the wall this guy refused to sign the abandonment of the easement because the builder’s lawyer’s paperwork spelled his name incorrectly. Rather than follow up and help to correct the error and expedite the process, he said nothing and delayed our back yard and pool for a few months.
He then said if we were going to abandon our half of the easement then he wanted to do the same so he could have more land, which meant the papers had to be redrawn again and all adjacent parties sign them, causing more delay. He has been a jerk since before we even moved in.
People need to relinquish their hold on “things”, and money, and property. That is the 3D way. People are so greedy and want to collect and stockpile far more than they need. It’s time to start behaving like the enlightened, galactic souls we really are. This possession-driven mentality has got to go!
I’m sorry, I did not know about the easement portion of the story. The easement behind me belongs to the “platte” of the property behind me, yet I have spent many hundreds of dollars to keep it cleaned and pruned over the years. One neighbor actually cut down a tree that was on my property. The city lawyer told me I should sue him, I did not, but it was disheartening to loose that tree. It is difficult sometimes to get along with some neighbors, and good neighbors are a such blessing.
I know how frustrated you must feel. I hope you can resolve your problem. I have one neighbor that is always looking for trouble wherever she can find it, and I realize that perhaps she is just crying out for attention. What a test this is for you. Hmmmm, maybe you should bake your neighbor a pie. ; )
I wish you a happy outcome on this matter.
Apparently you missed the part where the neighbor acted like a total jerk??? YOu have a point, I guess, but really, how did you miss that the neighbhor acted so rudely and unreasonably?
I betcha he woukd take $$$$, say perhaps the $20,000 so called property loss value to start….got a feeling he could be bought to encourage him to really appreciate the wall..sad!
Did the wall builder not go by a property land
survey? If not he should have some responsibility in all of this!
Best of luck to you…I would try to snooze the guy!
“…that how bad things may look right now means nothing.”
and
“…way things look Today. Don’t even think about it…”
THANK YOU for this! I needed it.
dont give up on today (now) and tomorrow will take care of itself…..what else is the future but another now moment..
Quite a post Molly!
Some people just need to be a miserable pain in the ass. All I can say is just imagine having to be him!
this article says
“…that how bad things may look right now means nothing.”
and
“…way things look Today. Don’t even think about it…”
what is happening today is happening for a reason. For us to learn reasons why things are happening, not to be ignored and avoided. Other wise the same will happen tomorrow and only get worse, which is already happening, and not many seem to notice this because are ignoring it.
That boulder blocking the road is a metaphor to say stop continuing along this same pathway. This is God tapping us on the shoulder to say, hey stop continuing with current perceptions of ignoring things and learn from experiences.
The question is, what do you observe (and experience) to learn from, and what do you observe (and experience) to ignore and judge away.
Karma will be a bitch for this lawyer and all of his ilk when the time comes.
You still have your morals and dignity, he never had any. You have prevailed in my book.
Thank you for the reminder, for myself it just feels like have been on hold for years now. To the point am just numb most days.
Am guessing today is just one of those days that reminds us we are here for a reason, maybe even to hold the light where we are or possibly to help others hold theirs where they are.
We find that smile, the silly kitty or the hawk that just had to stop by and say Hi. Maybe it’s a silly child or a that gentle blarney from that favorite Irishman you love so much. Whatever it is, smile and make a beautiful day for someone else.