I Think I Don't Like My New Neighbor

[Pestle]

Admittedly, I've never spoken to him. I've just seen him jogging around the neighborhood, wearing only a pair of shorts, very very very low around his hips. And once I saw him over the fence that separates our yards, so I walked up to say hi and then realized he was busy urinating. And now he's out in his yard shooting a compound bow. It's possible he has pants on but there's definitely nothing going on from the waist up. It's mid December and 49° and I am on a postage stamp property in the middle of a huge city and there is a naked man shooting a bow 6 feet from my property line. I feel that nature intended this person to live in the woods somewhere.

It does make me question the safety of my daycare kids while we are in our backyard. The next neighbor over works from home on a Bluetooth headset, chipping foam golf balls over our fence. We just chuck the balls back. I wish this guy's hobby was just as benign for very-close neighbors. My brain maintains a steady buzz of neurotic doom, but up until today, "fiberglass arrow to the subclavian artery while winding up your garden hose at 3 PM" had not occurred to me as a likely way that I'm going to die.

[Cat Herder]

Bow season ends January 9th. Hopefully he will be done with his shenanigan's by then. Sounds like he has been on the losing side of some bets at deer camp and is determined to be able to stand the cold, walk the woods for up to 8 hours to find the injured deer and hopefully be skilled enough to not have to. 1 shot, 1 drop.

He may have gone home empty handed with a bruised ego last year. These men pay big buck to come out here to deer clubs and they take those bets seriously.

[Cat Herder]

For the record, my newest neighbor like to play with tannerite. I have several acres of heavily forested buffer land, but not much could tone that racket down. He likes to mix that hobby with alcohol and bonfires. The running bet is he will lose one or both of his hands in the next 12 -24 months.

[Valerie928]

Our neighbor jogs in a pair of spandex only Thinking about it makes me lightheaded

[Blackcat31]

Pestle you might not like your neighbor but your post had me in stitches!

[e.j.]

You're all making me appreciate the fields that surround our house for the most part - and the lack of neighbors that brings! We do have one neighbor who built his house in the field next door but it sits far enough back that we don't have to watch his daily activities. He or his sons did have a drone that seemed to hover once or twice outside of my dd's bedroom window but closing her curtains seemed to solve that problem. I'll take that over the neighbors you've all described!

[flying_babyb]

I had a neighbor who would get mad and think that items didnt belong in her house and throw them into the hallway... The landlord threated to evict her the day it was steak knives

[Pestle]

Sounds like he has been on the losing side of some bets at deer camp and is determined to be able to stand the cold, walk the woods for up to 8 hours to find the injured deer and hopefully be skilled enough to not

I'm not getting that vibe off of him . . . more "protein shakes and waxed chest and hair gel and, for some reason, jogging while loosely dangling his limp baby over his shoulder" which is admittedly hilarious and also alarming. This probably my latchkey generation snobbery talking, but I think he's much more likely to go to an axe-throwing facility than to go out splitting wood while camping.

"Have you seem that man with the BABY?! What is he DOING?!" is the gossip that I have heard from more than one neighbor as they pause while walking the dogs.

I checked the city code and there are only restrictions on firearms; no mention of archery. My will and medical directive are in the cabinet with the shallow drawers in my bedroom. Have them name the new city code after me. "Pestle's Law."

[Cat Herder]

Got it. We call those tacticool hipsters. Bet he slurps mead and eats awesome kale wraps, too. We have been covered up with them lately on the trails. The women are all dressed like Hans Solo and are always falling off of stuff.

[Pestle]

Well, I've been out with the daycare kids for half an hour this afternoon, and he is out shooting his bow. It's parallel to my yard and the kids can't see it because the wooden fence is too high. But it is very, very close to us; look at the space between his house and the fence.

How do we feel about this? Would you try to find a time when he has clothes on and strike up a conversation?

[Blackcat31]

Well, I've been out with the daycare kids for half an hour this afternoon, and he is out shooting his bow. It's parallel to my yard and the kids can't see it because the wooden fence is too high. But it is very, very close to us; look at the space between his house and the fence.

How do we feel about this? Would you try to find a time when he has clothes on and strike up a conversation?

Is he shooting in your direction?
Could he be using blunt or target arrows?

“Most” serious archers care about safety etc so unless you have seen arrows in your yard or fly over your fence, I would feel safe enough to atleast have a friendly neighbor chat about your concerns.
He may be willing to explain his actions and alter them if needed to maintain positive neighborly relations or at minimum to qualm any fears or concerns you have.

Definitely wait until he’s clothed to prevent any distractions from the topic