Call it urban angst, but I relish murderous thoughts when I'm confronted with two major bane of city life - reckless drivers and inconsiderate neighbors. Stress factors like the pollution, bad roads and garbage, are easier to tolerate because they are impersonal. We can always blame the government for these. On the other hand, the in-your-face paugat of our fellow drivers and fellow residents constantly test our patience and sanity.
Having already said my piece about driving, let's tackle inconsiderate neighbors. There is a good reason why we are constantly reminded that "charity begins at home" and to "love thy neighbor." It is to restrain us from acting out uncharitable, anti-social, criminal behavior when dealing with the people who share our space. You name it, breathing space, parking space, space for garbage, space for some peace and quiet, etc.
Sure I’ve had nice neighbors with whom I exchanged foodstuffs, pasalubongs from out-of-town trips, polite greetings, and a few favors . . . but we’re not talking about "nice." Here then, is my shortlist from an informal survey of real-life "neighbors from hell."
A neighbor with a house under construction or renovation who allows the contractor to dump sand, gravel and other materials on the street, thereby messing it up and taking up space. Plus, there is all that noise from the equipment and incessant chatter of the workers. Residents in that neighborhood can't help but become extra careful and wary with the intrusion of so many strangers in their area. At night one would think he would get some peace and quiet at last but then the caretaker and his buddies at the worksite start drinking alcohol and their arguments about the last PBA match can be heard three or four houses away 'till past midnight.
Similarly, if you live in the vicinity of a sari-sari store or karaoke joint where drunkards like to congregate, tough luck. If you live near a billiard den or basketball court, expect heckling, brawls and gambling as a normal occurrence.
A neighbor who likes to throw parties at home without any thought that his guests' vehicles are hogging one lane of the narrow street from corner to corner. Pisses the heck of residents who arrive home to find their driveway or garage blocked by cars parked bumper to bumper. It is somewhat worse when this neighbor also regularly entertains visitors for a mahjong session or group meeting at home and he does not have enough space in his yard to accommodate all their cars.
There are people who let their dogs loose, free to roam around. All it takes is one stray dog or bitch in heat to wander into their territory and it sounds a lot like all hell broke loose, too. They are a hazard to motorists and passersby alike. More so to children if these dogs didn't get anti-rabies shots. Furthermore, they cause a stink with their droppings and when they poke their snouts on uncollected garbage bags and bins.
We once thought of ourselves fortunate when we moved into a rented house beside a vacant lot in a subdivision. To our chagrin we later realized our neighbors dump and burn their trash in this vacant lot every afternoon, with the smoke and smell blown by the wind right into our living room. You see, the garbage truck only comes once or twice a month, though more frequently towards Christmas.
There are neighbors who drive us nuts for "causing public disturbance." Like those who raise their voices early in the morning and late at night. Neighbors who play their radio, stereo, TV at top volume. Neighbors who practice with their karaoke everyday. Neighbors who fire their guns in the air whenever they’re drunk. Neighbors who rev and tune up their car or motorcycle engines in the dead of the night or during siesta. Neighbors who come home at midnight and beep their horns repeatedly until somebody opens the gate for them, never mind if they wake up the whole neighborhood as well.
And there are those who make you wish you had a grenade or two sticks of dynamite to throw at. These are neighbors who don't have a garage or space inside for their vehicle or discarded furniture so they leave it in your driveway.
Neighbors, you can't live with them but you can't shoot them.