Cami Kaos gave me the helpful suggestion that when I order a beverage in a US restaurant that I ask for Pepsi. If they have Pepsi, that’s full of win. If not, they’ll say “We only have Coke” and I’ll say “Yes, please.”

It would have not been a problem with you guys & other people who know me but if a super happy server guy speaks to me asking if I want a drink & the first words they hear from me in my Australian accent is “Coke please”, there might be some FAIL.

*cue Shawno playing DIC & Korean Coke clips for 5 minutes*

Now as for the neighbors, I suggest either adding a latch and a lock or boarding that section back up again. If the kids want their stuff, they can wait for you to throw it back or either they or their parents can come to the front door and ask nicely if you could throw it back over. I agree with Jen that it’s a liability issue. You don’t want to kids to “hurt” themselves while in your yard. Besides, who wants other people wandering into their yards whenever they feel like it? I sure don’t.

On the noise issue, if they’re making noise too late at night, call the cops. You’re living in your house. You have a right to enjoy it and nobody should be able to push you into moving. Moving is no fun, the market is garbage right now and you give up 6% of whatever the house is worth when you sell to boot. Unfortunately though, you’re out of luck on the smoke issue, unless your complex has rules regulating it.

I hope things get better on the neighbor front and you can both enjoy your place in SLO again.