Naughty Neighbors 2010-02 [2025]

Pass the earplugs. And the plat map. This feature was originally conceived as a slice of suburban cultural observation for early 2010, reflecting the anxieties and irritations of the post-recession era.

As the groundhog prepares to make his annual prediction, perhaps the only forecast that matters is this: the naughty neighbor isn’t going anywhere. He’s out there now, revving his snowblower at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. The only question is – what are you going to do about it? Naughty Neighbors 2010-02

The Great Recession’s shadow looms large. People who are underwater on their mortgages can’t move. They’re stuck. And when you can’t flee a bad situation, you fight for every inch of territory. The home, once a sanctuary, has become a cage. And the neighbor’s leaf blower at 7 a.m. on a Sunday isn’t just noise – it’s an assault on the last thing you feel you own: peace and quiet. Pass the earplugs