We have gained some new extremely inconsiderate and uncooperative neighbors. I have tired to talk and negotiate a peaceful resolve only to become ignored, falsely accused, or retaliated against by even worse just barely legal or outright illegal behavior. They moved from a metro area in SE MI and are used to being that way and don't see any need to change their careless co-existence with others. Due to the harsh degree of which he has regarded us I have had to call the city mgmt and regional utility and state capital on several occasions to get the infringements upon us corrected. We live in/retired to an attractive, NORMALLY very laid-back and peaceful port city in mid-northern MI. We will probably never be friends due to our documented history. Because of his false accusations I dare not ever approach him or any family member unless he retracts his false accusation, in document form, and I have stressed that to him and he just doesn't care if we are ever friends. It doesn't matter to him. He is from another world.
I do not share, Miggles, in order to hijack your thread. I only wish to relate. I was forced to obtain correction action above him because what he was doing was destroying my house and infringing upon my property and he would not even respond to my attempts to get him to act or he would postpone action long after the destruction had its way.
If you do not want to have to move or you do not want to have a neighbor who sees you fall having a heart attack and turn around and go inside and contently watch you die or your house burn down while you are away, you NEED to work this out face-to-face in the power and love of the Lord. Totally forget you being there first for eon of years. The law and your city's zoning ordinances do not recognize that and they know it. In fact, new neighbors means that the city/state is going to probably be getting more real estate taxes from them than you if such is taxed in FLA as it is heavily in MI. Our new neighbors are going to be paying twice the RE Taxes than us and are giving the govt an opportunity to raise everyone's in the area RE Taxes, due to it being a new construction.
As many here have suggested, and as impossible as it seems, I also think that you need to work this out face-to-face. Send them a letter (snail mail) and invite them over or ask a good time to come over, attach a gift card to a local restaurant. Proverbs seems to advocate bribery. Look it up. Maybe you can bribe them into a peaceful co-existence. Try not to get into any litigation of any kind, if at all possible. Remember, there are false accusations that they can make these days which can set you up for a real fall; esp if you are right next door. Some people types are VERY keen to these things. Think about how Pres Trump has been set-up and sabotaged over the years. One can make a lie a "truth" if they have time and opportunity to set it up.
Tho a bribe is an illegal payment to do something illegal, I get what you really mean: give to those that do wrong to you.
Ah....that sounds familiar, doesn't it?
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
or more well known yet:
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
c Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12 NIV
How could we ever (or....always) do this?
To me, I need the prayer Christ gave us to pray, each day, as He instructed:
Matthew 6 NIV
So, in a way, the first step, the main step, the key step, for me, and I think for others, is prayer.
@miggles