WORST NEIGHBOUR? NONE AT ALL

I stumbled across this interesting story in the Calgary Sun and it paints what is becoming a more common scene during the current economic downturn. It is one thing to deal with a neighbour who is blasting music late into the night but as more and more houses are being abandoned because of the real estate collapse, sometimes the worst neighbour is none at all.

Its not just about uncleared sidewalks or unkept lawns and gardens, you also need to worry about squatters and vagrants moving in and the risks they bring with them (risk of arson, drug crime, etc.)

I also recently saw a TV news piece on the battle against West Nile virus in Southern California. The increasing number of abandoned homes with swimming pools has created a perfect breeding ground for the mosquitos that carry this deadly disease, this report by the CDC paints a bleak picture of the situation. This isn't just in California, as the same pattern has been reported from Florida to New York to Seattle.

There is one plus side. Abandoned homes and their empty swimming pools have become fertile ground for the latest generation of skateboarders, eager to live their own Lords of Dogtown dreams.