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Heirstreamer · 08-01-2008, 07:31 AM

Yesterday, my nosey, know-it-all neighbor came over AGAIN to stick their nose into my Airstream project. They usually poke and prod and generally mess with everything in sight

. Today was NO exception

. I have cautioned them that items can easily be broken, such as my cabinet door latches that are plastic on the '67.
My question is; has anyone here had items broken either intentionally or not, by a neighbor or friend, and how did you handle the situation?
Thanks in advance.

Airhog1 · 08-01-2008, 07:35 AM

Electric fence and booby traps!!!

G

richinny · 08-01-2008, 07:38 AM

hickory stick!

you could make them wear boxing gloves ;-)

just tell them that "insurance regulations prohibit entry". give them a few pictues and send them on their way. some folks are just too touchy-feely.

cameront120 · 08-01-2008, 07:40 AM

A 6' high fence along the property line does wonders for tolerating such a neighbor. Also, with people like that you have to be firm and sometimes rude (especially if they're too thick to take subtle hints). I have a general dislike for people like that and don't give them access to my life. Life's too short to put up with that sort.

Grad67 · 08-01-2008, 08:56 AM

Obviously they are jelious. Tell them they can have this much fun too. Then you can go to their yard and poke about. Wear your horns when you go. LOL

Heirstreamer · 08-03-2008, 02:12 PM

I think I'll have to post some no trespassing signs along with "Genius at Work". Maybe they'll get the hint. Some yellow "crime scene" tape might work also. Thanks for the replies.

Ike T · 08-03-2008, 03:15 PM

When we looked at our Argosy, I broke one of the mini-blind holders when snapping the blind back in place. I told the seller immediately, which I think worked out well since he didn't charge us extra for the installing the replacement.

Just tell your neighbors that you are not comfortable with anyone else being around the trailer while you are improving it and ask them to keep their distance. If they don't get the hint, put your local Sherriff's office to work. You are paying tax dollars for a reason.

Inland RV Center, In · 08-03-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heirstreamer

Yesterday, my nosey, know-it-all neighbor came over AGAIN to stick their nose into my Airstream project. They usually poke and prod and generally mess with everything in sight

. Today was NO exception

. I have cautioned them that items can easily be broken, such as my cabinet door latches that are plastic on the '67.
My question is; has anyone here had items broken either intentionally or not, by a neighbor or friend, and how did you handle the situation?
Thanks in advance.

You could also tell them that your working on a special research project for NASA, that's classified, therefore "NO ONE" is allowed in or around the trailer.

Any such trespassers, are being photograph by hidden camera install by the FBI.

You 67 latches could be brittle. We have the original molds from Airstream for the cabinet and roof locker latches.

Andy

76sovereign · 08-03-2008, 04:58 PM

The 1st thing I do when I move into a home is go to all the neighbors, knock on the door and say "Can borrow a cup of bullets"! That usually takes care of it.

You might try leaving a gun laying on the counter and when they come in tell them how stressed you've been lately and how every time you get interrupted you want to shoot something!

wahoonc · 08-03-2008, 05:00 PM

My favorite trick is to become the "nutty neighbor"

Do things like shooting off blanks at various hours of the day or night, carry a side arm, talk about the black helicopters (around here they ARE real, live near Fort Bragg, NC

) etc, etc. Sooner or later your neighbor will think you are either unstable or one step away from the edge and will leave you alone.

Aaron

RBolton · 08-03-2008, 05:12 PM

Get a very curious looking piece that is either already broken or about to break, a piece you don't intend to reuse, and leave it in a conspicuos place so that when the neighbor picks it up, you can cringe and say, "Oh GEEZ - Look what you've done. You've ruined it! How am I ever gonna replace that. PLEASE don't touch anything else." Then sit with your head in your hand and stare at the broken piece until they leave.

Foiled Again · 08-03-2008, 07:24 PM

There is a fine line between admiration and nosy. Also between curious and destructive.

Also... reality check... why do we break stuff ourselves and go "oh well" but when someone else does it we're upset? Old stuff, especially plastic gets brittle. Perhaps your neighbor by breaking the cabinet latches kept you from having it break on a trip and spew food, china, etc. all over the inside of a newly restored unit.

None the less if they are inordinately klutzy and don't seem to appreciate that fact, the simplest and most direct solution would be to tell them the truth. "I'm sorry, but I am going to ask you not to handle things in my project. Something gets broken every time you visit. I value your friendship, but the damage is putting a strain on it."

If they never speak to you again... that would be a problem... because?

Paula

Excella CM · 08-03-2008, 07:50 PM

Ask them if they can help you find your pet tarantula.

overlander63 · 08-03-2008, 08:02 PM

Conceal the electrodes of a taser on a part you know they are going to grab, then hit the switch when they do... Okay, that's mean, I'd probably ask them to look with their eyes, not their hands. And I have.