Extending the snake laden olive branch

[MedusasOwl]

We have had neighbor issues on a regular bases over here, as it's awfully hard for non-smokers to share a porch with smokers. I won't elaborate too much because that's a whole debate I don't want to get into, but overall we generally have little to no interaction with our neighbors and when we do it's generally just hurrying past as quickly as possible. Especally as Karen and I are introverted individuals and don't really socialize much to begin with we sadly easily come off as the stuck up lezzies next door.

Before Neptune got his new cage, you could see his tub from our window. We were playing a lot of tetris trying to get the critter enclosure situated, and we ended up moving the doves so he was where they used to be, sort of.

So, after a bunch of litter/cage cleaning I go to take the garbage bag of stinky out and of course our neighbors are out smoking on the porch. I intended to just hurry past as usual but the couple asked in unision "How's the snake?" Well... I can't resist an opportunity to talk about my snakes. So I tell them they're fine, and they ask what kind of snakes we have and how many and actually got into a real pleasant chat.

Turns out our neighbor lady had a burmese a while back that eventually got too big to handle and she had to give up (like happens, sadly) but she really misses having snakes around and Neptune had rekindled that desire. She said she was thinking of one of the much smaller species now and was looking into it. She and her husband/boyfriend/roommate/I have no idea had been joking that we fed those doves they used to see to the snake, and I assured that the birds were fine and we just had a freezer full of rodents instead.

My throat was burning something awful afterwards but it was very cool to finally find some common ground with our neighbors. It was also a HUGE relief that they weren't the sort to go "EW, ACK, SNAKES, I'll have the office do something about this!!" you know? lol. Turns out they think it's awesome we have snakes and I feel more comfortable pausing to talk to them and hopefully even working out something with the porch that makes us feel less like prisoners in our own home eventually.

Hidden blessings of the snake hobby Making peace with the neighbors!

[JLC]

Awwww...nice to hear a tale like that from a positive note instead of the usual negative ones we hear.


Maybe sometime you can just let it slip out...something like..."Ya know, we would really sit and talk more out here on the porch, but we have some health issues with the cigarette smoke. But we'll enjoy talking when we can."

[adizziedoll]

It is always so cool when you tell someone you have a snake, and theyre eyes light up and ask you all sorts of questions. Unfortunately, we usually get the "eww, you're sick" look lol

[Melicious]

I always try to make my encounters educational for my neighbors when they're receptive to it. Most of them love to see the kids out and about. I'm so glad that you've found a common ground with yours.

[MedusasOwl]

I thought you guys would appreciate a more positive "OMG you have snakes!" story.

Next time I chat with her I will bring up the smoking thing though, if for no other reason than to explain we're not trying to be rude by zooming past all the time. It'd be awesome if I can talk snakes with her on a more regular basis, they seem like nice folks!

[4theSNAKElady]

Yeah, you're lucky Sheree, because the apt. i used to live in was in DE, and they are very strict regarding keeping snakes. Me and my roommates had to be careful about who knew we had snakes, as well as for the most part, keep it on the DL. Whenever we had an "inspection", we would quick cover all the cages with fancy sheets, put candles and a few knick-knacks on em', and voila!! We learned real fast how to make snakes and their cages dissappear faster that you can say bushmaster. In DE, most snakes are illegal w/out a permit, which you have to have an acre of ground to acquire. A couple of friends of ours pissed off the wrong people who did know they had snakes, and they consequently made the paper, having all the animals confiscated, and fines issued. Whew!! glad I don't live there no more!! PA is a nice, snake-friendly state.

[MedusasOwl]

As far as our apartments are concerned we only have one pet -the cat- because in their own words "Pets with cages/tanks don't count." So the rabbits (even though they're rarely in their cage), the birds, and the snakes aren't breaking any rules technically. And Cleo we have to pay a pet deposit on.

[4theSNAKElady]

Yeah, the apt. I used to live in had the same exact rule. But, they'd probably freak out and kick us out if they saw all the snakes we had...especially my one roommates baby rattlesnakes!!!!

[cueball]

"easily come off as the stuck up lezzies next door"


Lol..that's awesome! It's nice to see things went well. Good luck with the smoke issue. Maybe tell them that snakes are allergic to smoke and you are fearful for their wellbeing

[cassandra]

Maybe tell them that snakes are allergic to smoke and you are fearful for their wellbeing

Because that's a lie...an honest explanation "we [the humans] have pretty serious allergies to cigarette smoke, etc." is much better.