I got caught up in an assumption yesterday and I wonder if people do the same about us... Our navy neighbors (Audrey's parents) got reassigned from Portsmouth, VA to Portsmouth, NH at the end of June. We will miss them dearly...
The new neighbors (He, she, and their 3yo daughter) are also military. The landlord informed us they were being transferred from San Diego with the US Coast Guard... For the first couple of days they were here, we welcomed them and had some neighborly chats, mostly regarding the arrival of their household belongings that were somewhere in limbo. They spent the first two nights at a local hotel...
My assumption: He is USCG and she is "the military wife"...
The truth: She is active military, he is going to be attending school (he was also USCG but finished his stint). I had to admit to them that my assumption was entirely wrong (they said that was not unusual)...
Our landlord has been very forthcoming with any potential tenants for the upstairs. She lets them know up-front that there is a gay couple in the downstairs unit. That we take care of the basic yard work and have exclusive use of the driveway (all other parking is on-street)... I guess the parallel to my misguided assumption is: I wonder what these folks "think" before they meet us and get to know us? So far (with the exception of one tenant) we have all become great friends and neighbors... But I still wonder what preconceived notions they may have had...
Ok, just a short post today, Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA, USA
6 comments:
Why don't you ask? LOL
Island Guy:
I did ask, but it was after the assumption was formed in my brain...
I remember when our real estate agent showed us the house we eventually bought, and she looked at me, and whispered, "There's ANOTHER gay couple in the neighborhood!"
I know she meant well, but.......
Of course, since then, David and Neal have become our great friends.
I think we all create those preconceptions no matter who lives "down there" or next door. We base them on what's in the yard, the car(s), what color the paint is on the house, and yes, what the real estate agent whispers to you. I try to ignore that stuff and just stick out my hand in introduction. Of course, I'm sure they all watched as we unloaded the trucks, just to get a notion of who we were when we moved in!
Peace <3
Jay
It is interesting that your landlord feels the need to be forthcoming about a gay couple living downstairs. Would he also have to divulge that two red heads lived downstairs?
We have straight couples that live in my building, but it does not bother me. As long as they keep it to themselves....
Aaron and I bought our place from a gay dude, felt right. however, I'd be upset if my relationship was ever a hinging point on someone's decision to live near me. doesn't everybody love gays?
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