To Eric, The houses in the suburban area where we live are somewhat close to one another. Two years ago, we constructed a spacious deck and a really attractive screened-in porch. We enjoy eating breakfast and dinner on our porch, and fall is usually our favorite season to spend time outside on our deck.
We can no longer use the outside spaces we used to enjoy since our next-door neighbors smoke a lot of marijuana and the stench is so overpowering and unpleasant to us.
Although they have been here for almost two years, they are not really approachable despite their general friendliness. They only smoked sometimes, so it wasn’t an issue when we smelled the weed last fall.
This year, for whatever reason, they have smoked a lot more pot, to the point where the smell is intolerable when my husband and I walk outside our house five or six times a day.
I don’t care if they decide to smoke marijuana; I do recognize that they have the freedom to smoke on their land. All I want is to avoid smelling it. I’ve thought of approaching the pot smokers, but I don’t know them well and I’m not sure how they’ll respond.
Smoked Out
Stories by
R. Eric Thomas
-
Asking Eric: Brother-in-law s insistence I eat more at meals than I want to ruins yearly visits
-
Asking Eric: My husband’s ‘stream cheating’ ruined my enjoyment of the show, left me hurt
-
Asking Eric: Worried mom contemplates who will care for psychologically disabled adult son after she dies
To Smoked Out, Being conscious of how one’s lifestyle impacts others is a component of being a good neighbor. Telling your neighbors that you can smell their marijuana but would prefer not to is a smart place to start. It’s also the only way to know how they’ll respond. They might not be aware that you find the odor bothersome or that it is carrying.
Hopefully, they will make adjustments to resolve the problem and allow everyone to live in harmony with one another. To assist clean the air, you could wish to get a porch fan if they don’t. Solar-powered fans are excellent choices because they may run continuously without increasing your electricity costs.
For inquiries, contact R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or by mail at P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com and follow him on Instagram.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
