Comments on: Everyday voyeur http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/ Searching for the question to the answer of 42. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:25:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dawn http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/#comment-564 Dawn Mon, 02 May 2005 19:16:45 +0000 #comment-564 Nice meditative entry... I'd never become particularly close to neighbors until we moved into our house, until we met Niki and Eric (aka "Bob's Your Uncle" and "Betty's Page" on the Brood). Oh, sure, we'd had exchanges now and then with neighbors when living in university housing, even swapping food with a couple people, but nothing quite like this. Until we met Niki and Eric (now in Seattle, unfortunately for us), I'd never quite realized how nice it could be to have friends, really good friends, living so close by. Come to think of it, it was rather like college dorm life, the casualness of our stopping by, except that much of our time revolved around their young son Van rather than playing cards After Niki and Eric moved and as new people moved into the neighborhood, I did what I could to be friendly (i.e., dropped by to introduce myself, baked goods in hand), but nothing ever came of that. And I guess that's ok. Neighbors don't have to be close friends exactly, and we are on good terms with the neighbors we do have, even though we don't exactly socialize. Still, I miss having close friends so near by. I must say, too, that I've always been one for looking in people's houses, liking to catch glimpses, fragments of their lives. Maybe that's why I'm not as bothered as Todd when our blinds are up and I know people can see in, don't mind all that much if others also want to catch a glimpse of our lives. Nice meditative entry…

I’d never become particularly close to neighbors until we moved into our house, until we met Niki and Eric (aka “Bob’s Your Uncle” and “Betty’s Page” on the Brood). Oh, sure, we’d had exchanges now and then with neighbors when living in university housing, even swapping food with a couple people, but nothing quite like this.

Until we met Niki and Eric (now in Seattle, unfortunately for us), I’d never quite realized how nice it could be to have friends, really good friends, living so close by. Come to think of it, it was rather like college dorm life, the casualness of our stopping by, except that much of our time revolved around their young son Van rather than playing cards

After Niki and Eric moved and as new people moved into the neighborhood, I did what I could to be friendly (i.e., dropped by to introduce myself, baked goods in hand), but nothing ever came of that. And I guess that’s ok. Neighbors don’t have to be close friends exactly, and we are on good terms with the neighbors we do have, even though we don’t exactly socialize. Still, I miss having close friends so near by.

I must say, too, that I’ve always been one for looking in people’s houses, liking to catch glimpses, fragments of their lives. Maybe that’s why I’m not as bothered as Todd when our blinds are up and I know people can see in, don’t mind all that much if others also want to catch a glimpse of our lives.

]]> By: Brandi http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/#comment-565 Brandi Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:58:55 +0000 #comment-565 I moved into my complex a little over a year ago and the lady downstairs and I have become friends. I am, however, acquainted with the man upstairs who checks on my windows and door when I am gone during the day. Other than that, I have little in common with my neighbors, but we do say a friendly hello in the parking lot when we see one another. That may also be just a Southern characteristic as well. Since I bought my Condo, I believe I will be here for the long haul; so, I have made a point to get to know the people immediately surrounding me -- again, for safety's sake. Mel, hopefully you will be able to meet those that are closest around you! I moved into my complex a little over a year ago and the lady downstairs and I have become friends. I am, however, acquainted with the man upstairs who checks on my windows and door when I am gone during the day. Other than that, I have little in common with my neighbors, but we do say a friendly hello in the parking lot when we see one another. That may also be just a Southern characteristic as well.

Since I bought my Condo, I believe I will be here for the long haul; so, I have made a point to get to know the people immediately surrounding me — again, for safety’s sake.

Mel, hopefully you will be able to meet those that are closest around you!

]]> By: wadulisi/ melissa http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/#comment-566 wadulisi/ melissa Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:56:08 +0000 #comment-566 When I've lived in a rental more than a year, I end up making a friend or two. Three years is the longest, where I met friends with Dan, a lady from China who studied opera. The next was two+ plus years where I made friends with Sweta, a lady from India who was doing a postdoc in neurosciene. Here I made acquaintances in my building, one in particular is Lieselot. But she, like the rest of The Students, are about 10 years my junior, so we're 'worlds' apart. When I’ve lived in a rental more than a year, I end up making a friend or two. Three years is the longest, where I met friends with Dan, a lady from China who studied opera. The next was two+ plus years where I made friends with Sweta, a lady from India who was doing a postdoc in neurosciene. Here I made acquaintances in my building, one in particular is Lieselot. But she, like the rest of The Students, are about 10 years my junior, so we’re ‘worlds’ apart.

]]> By: Mel B http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/#comment-567 Mel B Thu, 28 Apr 2005 10:17:26 +0000 #comment-567 The difference between the old place and the new place is that people can't be bothered here. In the old place, it was probably more a matter of safety. Except for the children. They stared at you. There was this one girl, probably about 10, who didn't seem to go to school. Every time I walked past, she would stop what she was doing and just stare. She'd stand by my car and stare. For a while I thought she was mentally disabled, but I changed my mind on that. Disturbed, probably, though. Anyway, you don't meet the eyes of the adults there. You mind your own business. And here, while there must be children somewhere, they're quiet. I don't see them. I don't know what I expected as far as friendliness goes. Apartment complexes aren't conducive to making friends in many cases, anyway. I lived in a house for five years, next to a woman who treated me like her daughter. Sometimes it was a bit stifling, because she noticed when I didn't go to work, when I broke my routine, and had keys to my house. But she would bring me pies she had baked, or little presents. She was very sweet. I don't miss having someone watching me all the time, but I do miss her kindness. And to be truthful, it takes a lot to get me to be outgoing. I suppose I could just seize on one of these new neighbors and start talking, but I'm often shy. (Until you get to know me, and then all bets are off.) So I guess I can't complain for not making more of an effort. But I swear, the women who lived in the apartments above us at the old place... Wouldn't even meet my eyes or smile or anything. Probably because they knew their kids were driving me to insanity. The difference between the old place and the new place is that people can’t be bothered here. In the old place, it was probably more a matter of safety.
Except for the children. They stared at you. There was this one girl, probably about 10, who didn’t seem to go to school. Every time I walked past, she would stop what she was doing and just stare. She’d stand by my car and stare. For a while I thought she was mentally disabled, but I changed my mind on that. Disturbed, probably, though.
Anyway, you don’t meet the eyes of the adults there. You mind your own business.
And here, while there must be children somewhere, they’re quiet. I don’t see them.
I don’t know what I expected as far as friendliness goes. Apartment complexes aren’t conducive to making friends in many cases, anyway.
I lived in a house for five years, next to a woman who treated me like her daughter. Sometimes it was a bit stifling, because she noticed when I didn’t go to work, when I broke my routine, and had keys to my house.
But she would bring me pies she had baked, or little presents. She was very sweet.
I don’t miss having someone watching me all the time, but I do miss her kindness.
And to be truthful, it takes a lot to get me to be outgoing. I suppose I could just seize on one of these new neighbors and start talking, but I’m often shy. (Until you get to know me, and then all bets are off.)
So I guess I can’t complain for not making more of an effort. But I swear, the women who lived in the apartments above us at the old place… Wouldn’t even meet my eyes or smile or anything. Probably because they knew their kids were driving me to insanity.

]]> By: wadulisi/ melissa http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/04/27/everyday_voyeur/#comment-568 wadulisi/ melissa Thu, 28 Apr 2005 05:04:26 +0000 #comment-568 I'm remembering back to your old place where folks didn't 'make friends.' Have you expected your new place to be different? Can't even imagine losing all that work!!! Reminds me--must backup my files. Ugh. I’m remembering back to your old place where folks didn’t ‘make friends.’ Have you expected your new place to be different?

Can’t even imagine losing all that work!!! Reminds me–must backup my files. Ugh.

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