What I mean by getting to know your neighbors isn't about spying or prying into their lives. Just take notice of things that don't look right. Look for obvious things. I'm in no way advocating intrusion on one's property and life. Just look up every now and then and actually "look at your neighborhood".

Being neighborly isn't what it used to be. Neighbors just don't speak that much anymore beyond a simple hello, good morning. Today's society is just "in the house" really.

Don't go get all up in their business, but just keep an eye open. In our situation we were't all up in the neighbors business as they were doing things "in open sight" that became an issue for many of us. Late night hours banging really loud in their (what's now known to be a meth lab). Very bright high wattage work lights on all hours of the night.. They literally brought in a equipment with a plow and dug out over 90% of the grass back there and turned it into one giant mud pit..., they had trash, broken down cars, you name it. Do you know how terrible wet mud can smell after a while?

If anyone is willing to post it for me..., I'll run out back and take a pic of this yard and show you what I'm talking about. You guys would be shocked to see what my family has had to look at for almost a year now. We all called the city on them, but nothing could be done because (not known to us) the PD had an open drug investigation on them..., so the city had to stay out of it to let the PD do their thing.

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 01-16-2009).]