Room Without a View

  I don't know about houses that cost millions and houses outside of AZ and NV, but in most houses I've been in in those areas--including mine-- you can't see out of the front of the house. It's maddening. It's frustrating. It might even be dangerous.

            

Neighbors called our house in Idaho "the tree house" because the whole front of it was windows top and bottom floors. On the top floor you could see over trees and get a view of the whole neighborhood. That had it's advantages and draw backs. We saw everyone who drove or walked by whether we wanted to or not and they in turn could see us if they looked quickly and carefully. (We don't like curtains pulled shut.) I found it comforting to see all manner of activity in the hood--we knew every one's comings and goings. Kind of like Cladys Kravitz on Bewitched.

Here in the desert, however, all houses I've seen have no windows in the front of the house with the possible exception of bedrooms. That does me no good at all in keeping up with the biz. When people knock or ring the bell, I have to run to the bedroom to see who's there. Yes, there's a peep hole-psh! Can't see a thing out of it. The side window is glass blocks. If I don't scurry I either miss the visitor or take the risk of opening the door with no knowledge of if there's an ax murderer or the visiting teachers. It's a dilemma. Even if you open the front door you can't see to the drive way unless you walk to the end of the sidewalk. What idiot designed these abodes?

Last Saturday night our neighbors to the left (I have no idea if it's north, south, east, or west) had an all-night party and not a family-friendly one. Police came twice. The second time was at 5:00 a.m. Drunks stumbled from the house like earwigs from an overturned rock. Men screamed obscenities at each other, bumped fists in forgiveness, and then fought again. There were women fights, man and wife fights, drunken laughter and loud music. I DID NOT call the police, but I'm thankful for whoever did. Though I wished they'd called sooner and more often.

My point with this story is that I sleep in the front bedroom. Otherwise I would have missed much of the noise, bother, and excitement. Any one who wants to see out has to come to my bedroom, i.e. Rick and Lola. It was a wild night.

We have several windows in the back of the house but they look out to the back yard and a 6-ft. tall block wall. Can't see a dang thing there either unless you go out on a berm, perch on the highest rock, and stretch. (Well, Rick can see by just standing on the berm, but he's a foot taller than I am.) So, you see, my perspective is limited. I don't like it.

It's the same at my daughter's house in Vegas, but they have a huge peep hole which just distorts people as if they were in a mirror at the fun house. I still can't see out there unless I run to the boys' bedroom. (They have blinds and blackout curtains and all forms of blockages.)

I know you possibly don't care, think I'm an idiot, presume I'm a nosy voyeur, or all of the above. I just had to get this off my snoopy chest. I assure you that my main concern is the safety factor. What person who has a full life would care what's happening outside? Pshh!