My neighbor across the street is moving. He's been loading stuff onto trucks and trailers all week.

This guy has lived there for several years...the way time goes by it may even be as many as ten. He's not particularly mechanically inclined, his grass is usually pretty tall, and he has some weird habits like grilling his steak on a charcoal grill in the driveway with one of those brush-clearing flamethrowers instead of actually lighting the charcoal. But he's quiet, keeps to himself, and doesn't cause any drama...the best kind of neighbor. I don't even know his name, but I'm going to miss him .

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
and he has some weird habits like grilling his steak on a charcoal grill in the driveway with one of those brush-clearing flamethrowers instead of actually lighting the charcoal

Wait, you mean he uses the propane torch directly on the meat?

I use a propane torch (similar to a weed burner) to light the lump charcoal in the bottom of my egg, but I do the actual cooking over the lit coals later, after giving it time to come up to temp. The torch is quicker and easier than using a charcoal chimney.

quote:

Wait, you mean he uses the propane torch directly on the meat?

Yes. He stands there and blasts that thing with the torch until it's "done". Never lights the coals. I'm not even sure if there are any in there. You can always tell when he's grilling because you can hear that propane torch going at full blast for like 5-10 minutes straight, lol.

Like I said...kinda odd, but it's his dinner and if that's how he wants to cook it more power to him!

Well bless his heart...

BTW, your last sentence in the OP reminded me of this Ron Swanson quote.

If I'm channeling Ron Swanson, then I'm living right .

Coincidentally, I work for a small town in Indiana, just like "Pawnee" from Parks and Rec. It's disturbing how much that show can mirror real life in small town politics, and sometimes other ways. It's almost more of a documentary than a comedy. A couple of years ago, I was driving by our street department and somebody had set up a little corral in the strip of grass out by the sidewalk, and there was a miniature horse in there. Apparently we even have our own "Little Sebastian" .

Adios neighor dude



I can go years without knowing someones name at work, usually work in close proximity with about 30 people. Also usually don't notice when someone is gone for a while, a benefit of working alone for the most part and no one knows how to do my job

He lives across the street and you don't know his name??

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
He lives across the street and you don't know his name??

I don't know the names of half the people who live within a three minute walk of my house.

My wife, on the other hand, knows the name of every doggie on the street and they all run to greet her when they see her outside.

I lived with people in their house, and I can't tell you some of their names.

(21 different homes before I was seven)

Saved a bunch of money on greeting cards over the years...

Had a neighbor across the street for 17 years and never knew his name. My neighbor to the east of me has chatted with me 4 times in 22 years. They didn't seem to mind and I didn't either. To the west next door was a revolving door of renters until last year and we had the new neighbor over for Thanksgiving. Now I get along with the two new neighbors across the street. We chat and look after each others property. To each their own.

I shouldn't have said anything. Bought this house 30 years ago. I knew probably 20 neighbors, had block parties, cookouts. Most have moved away, I'm still here. The couple across the street, they are 20 years younger but she's in poor health I keep an eye out for them. A phone call and I'm across the street in 30 seconds.

I know most of my neighbors that aren't transient renters, but not this guy. His last name is on his mailbox, but beyond that I know nothing about him, including his first name. He's just not sociable. We wave when we see each other, which isn't all that often, but he's just not talkative and that's ok by me. Like I said, not a bad dude, just keeps to himself and does his own thing. I can respect and appreciate that.

I would take 100 of him over the lady on the other corner who's adult son moved in after he got out of prison and got into several domestics with his baby-momma outside in the street before parole finally violated him and he got sent back. Or the renters behind us that used to burn trash and fill our house with garbage smoke before they left it smouldering one night and the wind blew it into their garage and burned the house up. The landlord ended up fixing that place up (slapped a metal roof over the charred rafters ) and the dude who moved in has been pretty decent. Older biker guy who doesn't burn trash and keeps to himself.

It's a great neighborhood .

Swing by the Costco, and get him a big ole apple pie .

Offer it to him and tell him your first name and say thanks for being a good neighbor ,
And wish him a heartfelt best wishes in his future endeavors.

I’ve been in my house for 25 years. Most of the neighbors I have met I have no interest in being social with for one reason or another. May your new neighbor be just as nice.

20 yrs in this place, I know my next door neighbor well enough. I introduce myself as an introvert, and honestly don’t expect me to start random conversation.

7 of the 9 houses on this block seem to be like minded. We all get along great!

Same here.

The couple across the street are the only ones I know well enough to chat with occasionally. The guy one door down from them goes for walks once or twice a day; so, since I see him pretty regularly as I'm coming or going, I slow down and say "Hello". The couple next door I'll wave to if I see them, but don't even know their names.

A few years back, we lived in another neighborhood that had several Karens and lots of drama. Some of those folks would actually have meetings to discuss the neighbors they didn't like. I was one of the folks on their shitlist because my I didn't mow my lawn often enough to suit them.

We've been in this house for 10 years now and I really like that people keep to themselves and mind their own business.

Shoot him again.

I only read the thread title.

OK, now I read the rest of the thread. I don’t see a problem using the propane weed torch flame thrower to cook a steak. I have one and I’m a little disappointed I didn’t think of that.

I know some of my neighbors, but my wife and I are at different stages of our life than most of the neighbors. They’re mostly retired empty nesters while we have four years to go on that.

I've never been one to just go up and start talking to complete strangers. I've been in this house for a year and a half now and I've actually talked to 3 neighbors. I'd been here 6 months and talked to nobody, then the retired couple next door were having a yard sale so I walked over and introduced myself. He comes over now and then just to say Hi, his wife is wheelchair bound (stroke) so I don't see her much. Then there's the older gal who lives alone 2 doors down the other direction. Nice old lady. Her dog and mine bark at each other several times a day. And one guy down the street a bit who was out one evening last winter with his yard tractor with a blade on it, plowing the snow off the sidewalks and clearing traffic lanes, piling all the snow down the middle of the street. I walked outside and said Hi and thanked him. Nice enough guy, we wave when we see each other. Other than that I don't really talk to any of my neighbors. My dog now, he talks to all the other dogs in the neighborhood frequently. Gets to be a regular chorus sometimes.

Wow, I know everybody on the block. What they do, what their politics are, choice of drink, etc etc. New people moved into a house 4 doors down after the neighbors of 28 years moved out (divorce) and I was helping them do plumbing the first day.

I want to know who I can trust and who I can't.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
and he has some weird habits like grilling his steak on a charcoal grill in the driveway with one of those brush-clearing flamethrowers instead of actually lighting the charcoal

Wait, you mean he uses the propane torch directly on the meat?

I use a propane torch (similar to a weed burner) to light the lump charcoal in the bottom of my egg, but I do the actual cooking over the lit coals later, after giving it time to come up to temp. The torch is quicker and easier than using a charcoal chimney.

He could be cooking Sous vide which cooks the meat in hot water to the right internal temperature but leaves the outside looking unappetizing.

After the meat is cooked, you can then use a Su-V gun to put a sear on the meat very fast. I use one after I smoke my steaks as it's faster to sear than cranking the smoker to a temperature high enough to sear.

You also can use the grill gun to start charcoals or do creme brulee.

Su-V Gun

Thanks, Paten!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rey HRH,