Declutter Or Downsize?
Right now, as I type this, I’m listening to podcasts. The podcasts are providing some much needed dopamine distraction while I go through my cupboards and drawers looking for old clothing I can donate to charity, and things I can sell at my local Cash Converters (pawn shop).
It’s a task I am paradoxically avoiding. I am expecting a Housing Trust inspection sometime soon, and I want this place spotless before then, but my motivation for this decluttering / downsizing / purge / scorched Earth policy is that I have criminal neighbours.
The goal is to give them less incentive to break into my home to fuel their drug addiction. I do not know what drug it is but I want no part of it. ChatGPT has said its most likely methamphetamines.
Either way, these neighbours took an instant dislike to me (leaving shopping trolleys in my front yard, throwing stuff in my back yard, etc. It’s a long list) but immediately became chummy with new neighbours on the other side.
The new neighbours have already graffitied my front and back fences and park their bikes in front of my property at 3:30am in the morning.
It sounds crazy to an outsider. I set up video cameras due to the suggestions of friends. The neighbours are now aware of the cameras and have been “testing” them, shining torches at them, staring at them or running past them intentionally.
The criminal activity is not just drug usage, but the theft of local bikes, stripping them down to their frames, spray painting them, and selling the scrap metal to fuel their addiction.
The weight of the bike frames is damaging the dividing fence between our two properties. I am reluctant to ring maintenance to fix the fence because there is a bike frame on the fence with the forks jutting Into my backyard in a dangerous fashion.
What’s really disturbing is that I have done nothing to deserve this treatment and somehow I am now a target.
So, whatever happens I need to be on a position to defend myself, either by looking like a better tenant during a Housing Trust inspection or being ready to move in the case of a transfer.
I’ve lived here 32 years and have never experienced harassment at this level before.
Today it rained and it seems to have cooled them off for a little bit at least for today.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Thank you for reading this.
Stay safe out there (and any advice would be great!)
For now I am minding my own business and only reporting to various agencies when I need to.
I hope you achieve something awesome today!
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