To be intrigued by my neighbours (nosy neighbour alert!)

[Conkergame]

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?!

[SeasonallySnowyPeasant]

@LolalovesLondon I imagine it's to reduce the number of people traipsing around knocking on doors. I'm only doing it for my immediate NDN. They get sweets and there is 1 instance of contact rather than them going out, knocking on 20 doors and sticking their hands into 20 bowls of sweets.

[BameChange123]

Prison
Electrical Coǹtractor for infrastructure repair (Afghanistan)
Maybe a single male visiting relative (in between contracts) who is too right to pay his own rent?

[BameChange123]

Tight !

[jessyjo2]

Do u have any electrical work u need doing? Head over and ask to speak to him about a job u need doing. See what response u get.

[EatPrayYoga]

YANBU

It is natural to be curious but I would expect people to put up blinds or close the curtains if you can see in that much

[Hesnotlocal]

Are you sure he's the woman's partner? When I was a child my Uncle (Mum's brother) lived with us on and off for many years- living and working in our home town when he was with us and all over the country at other times. We found out years later that there was quite a lot if gossip in the village about what the arrangements were (especially since my Dad worked away a lot).