Caught between the legacy of the past and the pressures of an encroaching new order, his encounter with Sophie, a stern neighbor, ignites a conflict that is about much more than fishing rights. It is a clash of belonging and control, tradition and change, where every ripple on the water mirrors the turbulence in his heart.
I 25M live in my family’s cottage which I was given ownership of. The cottage itself is a waterfront property facing a medium-sized lake. My family has been living here for generations as my great grandfather originally bought it before passing it down eventually leading to me.
My neighbors are a different story as many of the people I have known since childhood has moved out. The houses that my neighbors once had have been torn down and replaced with “designer” style homes.
With the construction of these homes came new neighbors and an HOA of which I am not a member.
My problems started with my next-door neighbor Sophie(F50-60?) over fishing. One day after doing some Canoe fishing I was approached by Sophie on my beach. She started asking if it was legal to fish on the lake to which I said it was as long as you pay the 25$ per year license.
After that, I said that I had to go as I had caught some fish and I wanted to start processing them for dinner as it was getting lake. After our conversation, I did not hear from her for over two weeks.
My encounter with her this time was not in person but through a letter. In this letter, she wrote about how “dangerous” fishing is to the environment and why I should stop. In response, I chose to simply chuck it in my recycling bin and ignore her as it wasn’t worth my time.
My most recent encounter was two days ago while I had some friends over. It was in the afternoon when I had ran back into the house for some more beers along with one of my friends.
While grabbing the drinks we heard a knock at the door. When I answered the door it was Sophie and she had another letter. Before handing the letter she said that she had tried to be diplomatic and now she has had enough and has a letter from the HOA.
Admittedly I was a bit tipsy at the time and in response, I laughed and called her stupid for believing the HOA can do anything before closing the door on her.
After sobering up I feel conflicted, on one hand I feel that I was justified in my actions because my fishing is none of her business. On the other hand I feel that I could have dealt with her in a more tactful way.
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) feels conflicted, believing their right to fish on their property is being unfairly challenged by a neighbor who objects on environmental grounds. The OP responded to initial concerns with dismissal and laughter, escalating the tension rather than seeking resolution.
Given the neighbor’s escalation from polite inquiry to formal HOA involvement, is the OP justified in viewing the fishing restriction as a private matter that does not warrant engagement, or did their dismissive reaction forfeit any chance of a respectful, diplomatic resolution with the neighborhood association now involved?
Here’s how people reacted:
But I think a letter (since Sophie seems to like letters) is in order. In it, say you have been thinking about your recent interactions with her and you wish to clear up any impression she may have had based on them. Tell her that if she thinks you were abrupt, it was because you had friends over and wanted to get back to them. Also, with regard to the HOA, tell her your property is not part of the HOA and you will not be responding to any letters or anything that comes from an HOA that does not cover your property. Also, you realize that you have had three interactions with Sophie and they have not been the sort of interactions you would prefer to have with neighbors. Tell her that this is troubling, and if she wants to come over and share a beer, you would be glad to host her and share with her what you like so much about the lake and the area.
She may be an entitled, arrogant ass, but she is your entitled, arrogant-assed neighbor. Feuding with neighbors is more heartburn that you need.
HOAs can be a pain, but I assume from your post that it was built around you. Even if you are in the HOA, it will be fun to take it up with them and rub her nose in it when nothing happens (also assuming the HOA does not regulate permitted fishing).
I’m fan of trying to be more than cordial with neighbors–we are all in this together–but it sounds like she refuses to be rationale about anything contradicting her world view.
NTA.
PS, YES, I know her HOA cannot do anything about her coming onto his property, but if she is going to issue empty threats, turnabout is fair play!
Anglers play an important role in protecting and conserving the aquatic environment. They act as custodians of the waters they fish and are often the first to notice and report pollution incidents or other environmental issues that need addressing.
She’s bordering on harassment. Not only that, I’m sure she’s lying as the HOA knows you’re not a member. Which would mean that they can’t do anything to do. Not only that, an HOA can’t control how often and where you fish. This woman is the reason a vast majority of Americans refuse to live in an area with an HOA.
And that’s why I avoided HOAs when house hunting. I don’t get the point of paying an addition fee on top of a mortgage just for someone to tell me what I can’t do to my own property.
I am dying to know how fishing is bad for the environment? I feel like you’re sitting on a gold mine of material here.
NTA