I’ve had problems in the past with my next-door neighbors (not sure if I’ve biatched about it here) playing loud music. The funny part is, I never actually saw them. The first time it happened, I knocked on the door and they didn’t open the door, instead I had to tell them to turn it down through the door. The second time, they didn’t answer at all and after a call to the apartment office, I haven’t heard much since. I can’t help but think that we could have found some middle ground if they had just opened the door and talked to me face-to-face.

There are also some kids that live down the hall, I can often hear them running around outside my balcony. It never bothers me, as its more random (running around the building, for example) and also, it eventually stops. The kids were playing with a soccer ball today and I heard the occasional ‘thump’ against the side of the building. It was certainly not enough to raise my ire (not that it is easily raised) but frequent enough for me to notice. The thumping soon stopped. I thought the kids had gone inside, but soon there was a knock on the door.

The ball had ended up on my balcony and they wanted me to get it for them (insert ‘get off my lawn’ joke here). I told them I would get it and gave it to them.

It would seem the kids down the hall have more common sense than the kids next door.