Good fences really do make good neighbours

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2016 (3496 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I have a serious neighbour problem. Some new neighbours moved in and I found out the fence built by the previous neighbours is 15 centimetres over my property line. Now that I know this, I want the situation rectified. I have been over several times to demand they tear down the existing fence and build their own on the right side of the property line. They said they would tear the fence down, but that would be the end of my privacy because they wouldn’t build a new one because they can’t afford it, or so they say. What do you think I should do?

— Upset Neighbour, Winnipeg

Dear Upset Neighbour: Why fight over 15 centimetres? More importantly, you’ll lose your privacy, your peace and possible friends. The 15 centimetres didn’t bother you before you knew about it, did it? So what’s really bothering you? You feel like you’ve been robbed — not by these people, but by someone before them. Ask yourself what you would do with that extra bit of property if you got it back? Build a new fence? Do you have the money? Why should they have to build a new fence?

You now have a free fence built by the former property owners. Enjoy it! Plant creeping vines, flowering plants or vegetables up it or by it and share any harvest with the neighbours when they bloom. Go back there this week and say you don’t care about the silly 15 centimetres someone else took, and would like to be friendly neighbours.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: You should tell the Serious Musician, who was told to “show parents you’re serious about music career,” about Ken Mode. They are a Juno-winning Winnipeg metal band with business backgrounds and university educations. They were featured in Forbes magazine in 2013. Google the article.

— Musicians Need Business Acumen, Winnipeg

Dear Business Acumen: Thanks for your suggestion. Every band in this city would get a lot out of reading this story about the business end of music, so they profit instead of lose money when dealing with the many different parts of the music-industry machine.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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