The university students have returned. That means, a full night of sleep on weekends may be problematic if you have rental property behind you.
Years ago, our Gainesville neighborhoods had lots of rental properties and lots of parties. Residents with day jobs stumbled out with children or pets, somewhat bleary eyed. Other neighborhoods formed associations, talked with the police departments or the city about noise ordinances.
Turns out a lot of students hadn’t realized they were noisy, and many of the residents hadn’t realized some early morning habits (broom sweeping, neighborly shouts across the fence) could be just as detrimental to sleep as late-night parties.
I asked my friend Stan, a retired lawyer, how he handled noise. He said he didn’t want to join the ranks of old curmudgeons. Once he had made that decision, he slept soundly. I kept that in mind.
In the meantime, I moved to live on five acres of land in Provence, where the only sounds would be cicadas or owls. However, neighbors in the valley gave frequent karaoke parties that ended about midnight. Around 5 a.m. , packs of hounds began barking to be fed, and the neighbor just above me began hammering sheet metal. And there was always one sputtering Mobylette, which might not make it up the hill.
Now, I’m back in the city. To ensure sleep, I have purchased a rattling tower fan and ear plugs. Actually, the ear plugs and Stan’s philosophy are all I have needed for a good night’s sleep.
Sweet dreams! ZZZZZZs
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