Have you ever been subjected to an individual who invades your space, cuts you off in traffic or intersection, refuses to allow you to merge at a construction site? Okay what about the person who pushed ahead at the coffee bar order station, or the concession stand at the theater or simply caused you to stop walking because of their actions of cutting you off?

Not sure really why we have become such a rude, insensitive bunch of boobs, over the past few years. I suspect it is somewhat related to the changes that society has moved into acceptable behavior. I am thankfully into my octogenarian age range now and I can clearly remember when our nation was full of people who were considerate and respectful of others. Police officers, military personnel, older citizens all were respected and politely interacted with. Neighbors were for the significant most part, respectful of your property rights, didn’t try to inject themselves in your personal or family business. BUT were there for you when you needed help, or information/advice at your instigation! 

Sadly that is rather rare. I was fortunate a while back when my wife and I purchased a standalone house in a well developed neighborhood. We had four neighbors who introduced themselves to us straight away. Share information with us about the neighborhood, the HOA folks, and where the local service facilities such as supermarkets, decent restaurants, and medical facilities. They clued us in on the golf course that wound it’s way through our development and was connected to a resort, including small hotel, restaurant, clubhouse, driving range, and putting greens. In short, they were open friendly and not intrusive at all. One of the neighbors introduced us to a great handyman who essentially was knowledgeable about our type of house, and the household items that most often required repair, a really super man of all trades just about.

We sold that house when my wife was offered a super position at a great increase in pay and benefits. I am retired of course so our focus is on her career, until her retirement time comes around. So, we sold that house and moved back into the northern part of our state. While much of her work effort could and would be remote/from home, the requirement was also there for physical office time which made a 400 mile round trip from our then house to her office and back simply not even a consideration. So that house went on the market and we purchased a condo home in the northern section of our state. We have now been in this condo unit for almost a full year (anniversary coming up in about 3 weeks), and we have met or conversed with one single person in this high rise condo building. Big difference>? you betcha.

While violent crimes, petty theft, and other criminal activity is found in the area we left as well as the area we relocated to, we felt quite a bit safer in the place we left, than we do in the current abode. Sad huh? Having spent a long career that required several job and location changes, I have lived in rural type areas as well as major city type locales. In my early times, following my military career, I also traveled for the companies where I was employed. Over my career, I accumulated over one million miles on commercial conveyances as well as my own vehicles, but mostly commercial travel (air and rail). In the latter years of my career, the travel by air became more of a trial each successive year. The seating got smaller, more cramped, the refreshments/meals became either totally non existent, or carried a substantial price for a crappy serving. The cost of this travel became quite exorbitant and worth less and less. Finally the day came when I had determined that it was time to hang up the laptop bag and briefcase, swap my dress shoes for sneakers, and my suits for track clothes or denims. So, on July 5, 2012 I joined the ranks of the retired old guys.

As I was the president of our condominium board, I had sufficient tasks to keep busy and engaged. Of course being the head of a condo board is not a walk in the park. Rarely do members of the association contact the board, especially the president, with compliments. It is quite often a compliant of some sort. However, after four years on the board, my wife and I decided to purchase a large motor yacht and become liveaboard mariners. We found an aged one, at 54 feet in length, purchased it outright with funds from the sale of our former condo apartment. At the outset, we discovered adage about BOAT, which refers to Bring Out Another Thousand and we did, many of those thousands. You see, our starboard (that is the Right side of the boat) diesel engine seized up, about two hours after we took possession. We had a very expensive and time consuming replacement of that engine with another one, acquired at a very high cost. So having the boat “on the hard” for almost six months and spending that time in a single room in a local hotel, we finally got the engine replaced, other items repaired or replaced, returned the Misty Lady to the water, and made the two day voyage to our final destination, the Washington, DC waterfront and the Capital Yacht Club where we secured a permanent slip to secure our floating home.

We found the folks who were our liveaboard neighbors to be friendly, helpful, and a wellspring of advice and knowledge about motor yachts and all the warts that come with owning and living aboard. We were overjoyed to be with a group of people who were kind and attentive to their fellow water residents. The attitude of our fellow mariners at the Capital Yacht Club was almost a 180 degree difference in the attitudes we experienced when we left the marina for shopping in a grocery store, or the local shops in the immediate area. Rude, sometimes quite concerning of potential violent reaction, we were inclined to drive across the river to the Arlington Virginia area looking for a more civilized environment. Alas, the area there was not much better. Still rudeness abounded, unfriendly attitudes toward others, and no concern about jumping the line for automobiles and human personage. EGAD, what happened to my great USA of the 50s, 60s, and 70s?

Well now we are ensconced in another high rise condo and have been here for just over a year. Withing over 260 apartment units, we have spoken to none of the residents, but have to the management staff who man the front desk of our condo tower. They are pretty friendly. A couple of days ago, an older Asian gentleman resides on our floor of the building, actually spoke to me on the elevator as we were descending to the garage area and our cars. I was dumbfounded at first, but frankly enjoyed the brief interaction with one of my fellow residents. However, think on this, in over 1 year of residency, this was the first and only conversation with a fellow resident. Maybe it was the cane I use for walking balance in my aged body.

Well, we are in the process to make a change for a more friendly area, but that is a topic for a follow on blog note. Keep checking on us?