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Re:
Are you sure, Bill? Sometimes it's "opposites attract," and sometimes it's "birds of a feather." If leaving those cans down at the curbside is someone's form of a protest, then something else needs to be 'bundled' . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:51 AM
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Re:
I'm not too sure, adnohr. And the reason I say that is because, since my wife and I have been married and I have been living here, I don't think I've ever seen her bringing up those darned trash cans! And any other outdoor chore that needs to be done is always handled by the husband and their older son. I've no doubt that she has her hands full dealing with an autistic child, so she may be fed up with that! But I honestly can't see her being fed up with any of these outdoor tasks since she never seems to do any of them anyway! There's more than meets the eye here, and a part of me doesn't really want to know the whole story! I would just like someone to retrieve those cans in a timely manner so the whole street doesn't look like a bunch of lazy slobs . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:49 AM
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Re:
That could very well be the case, shamasehar. We are always told not to judge a book by its cover, but how a person dresses, how they groom themselves and the manner in which they present themselves can speak volumes, no matter what. And how someone ( or a couple ) maintains their home, inside or out, can also speak volumes. Yes, there may be some huge personal issues between these two people, and this struggle concerning the picking up of the trash cans may be just a small part of it . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:43 AM
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Re:
Believe it or not, chuck, there have been a few times when the collectors have left almost everyone's cans mostly in the street itself, or in such a position that someone's driveway is being blocked. In those incidences, I have no problem at least moving the other cans to a 'safe' location while retrieving my own. But to actually use someone else's cans, well, we may be asking for trouble there! I'd rather simply keep the peace amongst the neighbors . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:40 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Actually, Sir Wiley, if I was going to 'recycle' either of them, it would probably be her! These are the parents of the autistic child I've written about before, but they do have another son who's perfectly healthy, and right now is probably about 18 years old. However, whenever there is any outdoor chores to be done, I never, ever see the wife out there doing anything! I don't want to be crass, but I think I would hate to see what the inside of their home looks like! Looking at the outside, I can only assume . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:36 AM
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Re:
To be perfectly honest, Kabu, although I have been living here for twelve years now, I really don't know a whole heck of a lot about most of my neighbors, including this couple. I know he works for AT&T ( in what capacity I'm not really sure ) and she was an insurance salesman who 'retired' after the birth of their first child. I also know that the husband is extremely religious, and at least once a year goes to a Christian Retreat for a week or so ( by himself ). I don't know if that's any real clue to their relationship, and I'm sure that their autistic child is an unbelievable strain on them both ( nothing against the boy, but let's be honest . . . they're both human beings ). But again, to know what's really going on in that household is anybody's guess . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:32 AM
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Re:
I truly hope that's not the case, TAPS, but at least some of the evidence may be pointing in that direction! Like I wrote to Naut, no one can really be sure what is going on behind the closed doors of our neighbors, but neither my wife nor I have ever seen these two engaged in any type of argument or showing any kind of aggression toward each other. Perhaps, in front of the neighbors, they're just really good actors . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:26 AM
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Re:
That Archie is a devil sometimes, isn't he, C C T? Yes, people are indeed different, and I guess what may seem to be a somewhat simple task to some appears as a monumental chore for others! Passive aggressive? Maybe. Pure laziness? Probably . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:23 AM
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Re:
It could be, FSI, it could be, although it is difficult to understand. It seems like such a simple chore, and an even simpler undertaking. It's not as if my neighbor asked his wife to repaint the house on her own! I just don't fully understand her dissension over this one particular task . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:19 AM
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Re: Jimmy
You may be right, Naut, but in some ways it's really hard to tell. Although no one can really be sure of what is actually going on inside the households of others, I have this strangest feeling ( knowing this couple as I do ) that she genuinely feels that bringing up those cans is simply not her 'job!' There are many tasks around our house that I would prefer to do just so my wife doesn't have to do them. Most of the time, it's not really a matter of who does it 'better.' As long as it gets done . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on July 27, 2014 at 10:17 AM
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I agree with Naut and TAPS. Then again, he may be the best of procrastinators, and she may be fed up with doing it all...
posted by
adnohr
on July 27, 2014 at 6:47 AM
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The four walls make a 'house' not a 'home' so maybe the disarray outside is part of the lives within.
posted by
shamasehar
on July 27, 2014 at 3:15 AM
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They're the right bundle Jimmy.
posted by
BC-A
on July 26, 2014 at 1:48 PM
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I always try not to touch my neighbors regardless. But if someone uses mine I don't think that I would have any problem. But if you get Wiley advice you may get in trouble.
posted by
Chuck_E_Ibrahim
on July 26, 2014 at 9:41 AM
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JimmyA
Obviously you don't recognize the 'neighborliness' of your empty bucket neighbour. He is simply suggesting y'all fill his bin all the time and let him take care of all the problem with recycling. Hey Jimbo, go suggest to the guy you could even recycle him in his own bin. LOL
posted by
WileyJohn
on July 26, 2014 at 5:39 AM
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Maybe the autistic child keeps her up most of the night and resentment has built...so that she will not do any of his chores cos he won't ever stay awake so that she gets s good nights sleep. I dunno it is a bit silly, and he is a slob not to do his bit too.
posted by
Kabu
on July 25, 2014 at 1:57 PM
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Nautikos hit the nail on the head. There is more trouble in this family than meets the eye (of the neighbors).
posted by
TAPS.
on July 25, 2014 at 12:59 PM
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I suppose people are different Jimmy. I shouldn't think she cares two hoots if there was
twenty cans piled up. I think if she did her old man would not get any peace until he dragged them in. People opposite Archie always leave the bins outside as it means taking them through the house. Archie sometimes nips across and uses a spare one without them knowing.
posted by
C_C_T
on July 25, 2014 at 10:54 AM
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I cannot understand how they function in that matter either...A few of the households in my neighborhood leave their trash cans out for days. I wonder if the same thing is happening to them.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on July 25, 2014 at 10:35 AM
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Jimmy
In most families there's a certain degree of 'division of labor', mostly along the lines of skill. My LSW is better than I am at gardening, but hammering in nails is definitely my job, as is burying rats (and no, it didn't detract from the enjoyment of my latte), LOL...However, that woman's refusal to take in those garbage can's is the kind of passive-aggressive behavior that suggests there are more things askew in that house than meet the eye...
posted by
Nautikos
on July 25, 2014 at 8:48 AM
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