Monday, March 11, 2013

Where There's Smoke

     I love my apartment. It's small but full of character. It is at the top of a large multi family house that has been split into five apartments. My neighbors keep to themselves and we hardly see each other, yet one of my downstairs neighbor's presence is always felt.

     One evening as I was getting ready for bed, I smelled a cake being baked by one of my neighbors. The scent wafted its way into my bedroom. When I headed to my living room to turn off the light, another smell hit me and it wasn't cake. It was what an older generation might call "wacky tobacky". A smirk found its way to my face as I headed off to bed.

     Over the next couple of weeks I would smell my neighbor's smoke as I cooked, as I read, or showered. Don't misunderstand me, it is in the privacy of his apartment and he isn't troublesome, so I don't make a fuss. On the weekends however, it comes up through my vents at least 4-6 times a day. I have found that when it comes to neighbors, it is important to pick your battles. This isn't something that needs to be a war.

     Some things are worth addressing. Some are not. He isn't disturbing me or the other neighbors in the house. His music is always at a respectable level and he is always civil when I see him. His burning of a certain "herb" is something I am willing to look past as long as there are no other problems. In comparison to some of my friends, who have much bigger issues with their neighbors, I can deal with a little smoke.

No comments:

Post a Comment