Of fences and neighbors...

So after discussions with my back-door neighbor we finally decided to build a fence which would enclose both backyards for the kids to play in.

But it wasn't so simple.....

We had to talk to our next door neighbor. We would be sharing the fence with them. Being a retired old couple, they were mostly at home. The lady had saved a special large Hershy's chocolate bar for my son on Halloween - so we weren't expecting any problems. However we were surprised by what looked like their fear of our neighborhood and even US!
"Do you know who throws cigarette buts in our front lawn?"
"Did you know that there is a person with a police record who lives down this lane?"
We politely brushed aside those fears saying that on windy days trash sometimes flies around, and that we didn't smoke.
Then finally....."Why do you have 2 dish antennae with so many wires? Does your job involve communication? "
My husband controlled his surprise, did we look like part of some terror ring? We're not even of the right religion or country. So he replied, "One antenna is for domestic American channels, and the other for International Indian channels. They are both from Dishnetwork"
"Ohhhhhh" they sounded relieved.

Well, they had been informed, and fence construction started.
Then the contractor told us he would have to install it 6 inches inside our property just to avoid any issues.
We decided to again talk to the same neighbor - the old man was outside lawn mowing anyway.
" You see, I'm from Ohio. There we have laws. I don't know what it is here"
"There is no such law in Kansas, why should our backyard be 6 inches smaller?"
"Well, Ok..."
"After you are done we'll get a gate made too."
"Then why don't you share the cost of this one side? We don't want to impose, but..... would you be willing to?"
"Hmmmm..... let me get back to you on that. And please make sure the fence faces the right side."

While we talked to him, we also checked our sprinkler system to make sure they don't come under the fence.
So he asked the postman if it was common to share the cost of a fence. Luckily our postman said yes!
So we got the fence installed on the boundary line. And they agreed to share the cost.

But it wasn't over yet. That evening, we came back from work, and along with our back-door neighbors were admiring the new fence and our big backyard - when suddenly our next door neighbor decided it was time to check his sprinklers.......uh oh!
3 of his sprinkler heads were under the fence! We all watched while he shut them down, and his wife sat very sadly by her kitchen window staring at the fence. He came to us saying we should talk to his sprinkler company. My husband said we would talk to our plumber not their sprinkler company. It was actually funny - he was so concerned about which side the fence would be facing, that he forgot to test his own sprinklers, even though he was there all day with the contractors! And now he wanted to pin this on us?

Sigh! We wondered whether the problem was an easy fix, and if the cost would be reasonable. We couldn't ask them for their share till this was cleared up.
Well, the problem was eventually fixed. The lady called the fence company and asked them to clear up the situation with the sprinkler company. I think its done now. And so now we have to go see if they are still willing to share the cost of the fence ;)