I suppose if it’s unavoidable, you could arrive with your list of ‘ideas’ to pitch against theirs, like asking the cat to wear slippers or them to take some of the stickers off their car. I mean, it’s not as if they have to be sensible suggestions, is it? Just something to remind them that you aren’t pushovers.

I agree with you about discomfort of getting to know the neighbors. My question is, “why do renters need to have chats about a property that is not theirs?” Just wondering, although it’s probably far less ominous than I’m imagining it to be.

I third the notion of no good feeling about a chat about the house. Over tea, or anything, frankly. Not even if it were vodka at a local gin joint, and the ‘house’ was where you were all idly speculating that the previously-third-floor occupants might now be residing. I mean, why in hell do you need to talk about the house? Why have a *meeting*, for ghu’s sake; what needs that much formality? Activism is all well and good, but I’d rather do it on my own, thank you…and I get the feeling that there’s something about the house they want to be gettin’ active about. (Maybe the heating?) And either they want to rope you into it, or it, or it *involves* you. A sticky wicket either way. No thank you, people, just because we happen to live in the same building doesn’t mean we have to get all chummy.

Yeah, I’m suspicious too. I suppose it could just be them trying to get to know the neighbors better. But I never did have much of an interest in knowing my neighbors, despite our rep here out West. I mean, if we live in the country yeah, we’re neighborly, we help out when needed, but that doesn’t mean we *like* the people. [g] I likes me privacy, and non-busy people. These folk definitely sound ‘busy’. ::giving ‘em a long-distance, fishy-eyed stare::

Great sweater, even cuter puppy nose!