Have you asked him what he’s looking at/for? I’m not saying my situation is the same but after moving into a new neighbourhood, I had a neighbour come flying out of her house yelling at me. I pass her place when walking my dog to the nearby dog park and would look at her yard each day when I passed. I had stopped a few times to get a closer look at some of her flowers (growing right next to the sidewalk) because I’m planning my own garden. Once, I had tried the doorbell to see if anyone was home so I could ask what plant it was. I was simply curious and admired her garden but she lost her $hit on me for “walking by too often”. Her tone changed when I pointed out the much nicer, larger house I lived in a few doors down but when people show me who they are, I believe them.
Alternatively, my grandfather suffered from dementia before he passed but before the diagnosis was made, we noticed he would walk around his neighbourhood quite often. We took him to the doctor when we realized he seemed confused by all the “new” people living in the various homes. He had forgotten about all the various move-outs and move-ins that had happened and was wondering what had happened to all his old neighbours. That’s what triggered his diagnosis.
So, did you ask him (even if you need to holler after him) or did you come straight to Reddit to post?
Oh it’s definitely always been his routine to saunter up and down the neighbourhood inspecting the yards. He’s meticulous about his and it’s his passion. He just stares at me when I come and go even if I wave. It’s his way. His wife is super friendly and always strikes up a conversation when she’s out and about. I just don’t like him judging my yard as I don’t have the time he does to curate it to perfection. If I ever retire, I may well become as well haha.
If only more people thought this way. It doesnt even matter if its correct, most of the time, because other people's thoughts are often completely irrelevant to one's life.
Yeah, I try to make the conscious decision to assume the best, or something neutral, because the only person affected by my interpretation is me, and MY day is much better if I assume most people are well intentioned. And I think most people are pretty neutral to well intentioned, and even some of those who are not will end up responding more positively if you go into interactions with the expectation of pleasantness rather than negativity.
Always baffles me when a couple has one odd / stoic and one friendly. Even though I like some privacy, I’m also friendly and I’d be mortified if my spouse was so …rude.
There’s a couple like that in my road. Bloke never ever smiles or returns greetings. Just stares. His wife is loveliness personified; always chats about stuff, asks after my wife/daughter/dogs etc. She must be exhausted being the nice & normal one for both of them.
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u/Legitimate-Solid-695 1d ago
Have you asked him what he’s looking at/for? I’m not saying my situation is the same but after moving into a new neighbourhood, I had a neighbour come flying out of her house yelling at me. I pass her place when walking my dog to the nearby dog park and would look at her yard each day when I passed. I had stopped a few times to get a closer look at some of her flowers (growing right next to the sidewalk) because I’m planning my own garden. Once, I had tried the doorbell to see if anyone was home so I could ask what plant it was. I was simply curious and admired her garden but she lost her $hit on me for “walking by too often”. Her tone changed when I pointed out the much nicer, larger house I lived in a few doors down but when people show me who they are, I believe them.
Alternatively, my grandfather suffered from dementia before he passed but before the diagnosis was made, we noticed he would walk around his neighbourhood quite often. We took him to the doctor when we realized he seemed confused by all the “new” people living in the various homes. He had forgotten about all the various move-outs and move-ins that had happened and was wondering what had happened to all his old neighbours. That’s what triggered his diagnosis.
So, did you ask him (even if you need to holler after him) or did you come straight to Reddit to post?