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Part 2: The Unexpected Landscaping Project
Fortunately, I already had several landscaping materials in my backyard.
Earlier that week, I had received a large pallet of interlocking retaining-wall stones for a patio project. I also had several large soil-filled whiskey-barrel planters and a motion-activated sprinkler that I normally used to discourage animals from wandering into my flowerbeds.
I looked at all of it and had an idea.
Rather than arguing with my neighbor, I decided to improve my own property.
Working carefully, I moved the landscaping stones to the front yard and arranged them along my property line.
The wall was decorative and positioned entirely on my side of the boundary.
I also placed the large planters along the sides of the area where his SUV was parked.
Finally, I repositioned the motion-activated sprinkler so that it would water the lawn when someone approached.
The result was simple.
His SUV was surrounded by landscaping that belonged to my property.
I wasn’t touching his vehicle.
I wasn’t damaging it.
I wasn’t threatening him.
I was simply reclaiming the part of my lawn he had decided to use as his personal parking space.
When I finished, I went inside and went to bed.
The next morning, I returned to my porch with another cup of coffee.
At around 8:30, I saw my neighbor walk out of his house.
He was dressed for a golf game and seemed completely unaware of what was waiting for him.
He walked toward his SUV and reached for the door.
The motion sensor detected him.
The sprinkler switched on immediately.
He jumped backward in surprise as the water sprayed across him and his clothes.
He looked around, confused.
Then he finally noticed the new landscaping.
The large planters were positioned around his vehicle, and the stone wall stood behind it.
He stared at the arrangement for several seconds.
Then he looked directly at me.
“What is this?” he shouted.
I calmly took another sip of coffee.
“Morning, Dave. I decided to do some late-night landscaping. I think it looks pretty good.”
His expression changed immediately.
“You blocked my car in!”
I reminded him that the landscaping was on my property.
He threatened to call the authorities.
I told him he was welcome to do so.
I wasn’t interested in damaging his vehicle or starting a physical confrontation.
I simply wanted the situation handled properly.
A few minutes later, Dave reached for his phone.
He called the authorities.
And for the first time, he seemed to realize that his decision to park on someone else’s property might not have been such a clever idea after all.
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