I’ve lived in my house for 7 years, on a narrow street of terraced houses, so it’s quite easy to see what people in the houses opposite you are up to, especially if they have their lights on and curtains open during the evening.
When I moved in, a family of two parents and two late primary school children lived opposite. I don’t know for a fact that the man is the kid’s father but they look like him enough for it to be a fair assumption. We only know each other to say hello to, or say “how are you?” “Fine thanks” - we’ve never gone further than that so I’ve never asked them any questions about themselves.
After about 6 months of living here, the man one day just disappeared. As in, I realised I hadn’t seen him for a few days and that his car was gone...and then he just never reappeared. I assumed the parents had split up and he’d moved out, although I did think it was odd I hadn’t seen any arguing or shouting or him storming out or anything, given I can see into their living room and bedroom most evenings (and I’d seen the mum yell at the kids a couple of times so I know she does yell if she wants to!). It also seemed odd that he never returned to visit or pick up the kids but I thought maybe the mum always drove them to him, or maybe he wasn’t their dad after all, or maybe he was a dick who’d abandoned them.
About 18 months later, he suddenly reappeared again, with as little drama as when he’d left! No dramatic hellos or welcome home party or anything, he just came back as though he hadn’t been away. I then started to think maybe he’d had to go away for a specific work project or something, although that seemed unlikely as he’s a local electrician (his car is a van with the company logo).
Anyway, another couple of years later...and he disappears again! Exactly the same as before, no rowing or tearful goodbyes, just one day he’s not there anymore. And then a while later...he’s back! I then started to think maybe he has a double life and has another family somewhere else that doesn’t know about this family and that’s why he can’t visit when he’s staying with them?! He finally left again around this time last year, so he’s been away for the whole of COVID and a few months before that too.
DH thinks I’m mad and need to mind my own business, and clearly I do, but it’s lockdown and I’m bored and he’s just returned again!!
AIBU to want to know where he goes for so long and why he comes back?!
AIBU?
To be intrigued by my neighbours (nosy neighbour alert!)
Conkergame · 27/10/2020 20:06
Am I being unreasonable?
615 votes. Final results.
POLLWhen a bloke in our road went to prison the resident busybody made sure everyone knew about it, so I would say it's definitely not that as someone would have mentioned it.
It's human nature to be a bit curious if routines are a bit out of the ordinary. I don't know many of my neighbours that well but from my sofa I can see three houses very clearly. I have all sorts of theories about them based on their comings and goings 
.
Yes I think the mum is SAHM as I don’t see her going out for work. But then tbf she could be working from home like I am at the moment. Hmm dad could be going back to home country I suppose. I’m trying to remember if he had a foreign accent when I spoke to him but I seem to remember he sounded English. But who knows? I really just want to ask them now but am too scared! Also they would definitely think I was being too intrusive, which to be fair, I would be!
We’re thinking of moving next year so maybe I’ll ask them then as at least I’ll be gone if they’re annoyed with me!
@Conkergame
I don’t think he can be in the military - we’re nowhere near any army barracks and I’ve never seen him wear any army uniform, plus he’s quite skinny!
Do local electricians do stints abroad?
My friend’s husband is in the army. We are no where near any kind of army base. I’ve never seen him in uniform but he certainly went off for tours of duty.
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