AIBU to be at my wits' end with where I live?

[Bluewhitefloral]

Just a rant. I feel like I’m starting to hate where I live. 3 bed semi in a suburban area, where my DH was keen on moving to be close to his elderly parents/our friends. I love the house but just wish I could pick it up and move it somewhere else.

I posted a few years ago about the neighbour’s kids kicking balls over the fence and being noisy early in the morning/late at night. Although the ball situation has improved slightly as the kids get older (it was up to 5 a day, now probably about 3 a week), they are still so, so loud and inconsiderate. Every night when I put my DD to bed (7-8pm) they are smashing a basketball around the garden or battering a punch bag. This went on until 1030 last night. She has to have her white noise on full blast and it still doesn’t drown out the noise.

I’m constantly seeing posts on our local community page about anti social behaviour in the area and witness this myself. We live on quite a busy road and every day see groups of kids in balaclavas intimidating others on their bikes/scrambler bikes. I hear about kids in local parks being beat up/robbed/threatened.

I just feel regret at moving here. There are plusses to it (being close to the schools, shops, restaurants/bars) but just feel trapped and miserable. The area we live in is classed as a nice one and as such the house prices are high but I can’t help but think we have made a mistake paying so much for somewhere where I’m so unhappy and I now have to just deal with it.

My DH thinks these things are merely an annoyance and that it could be a lot worse which I agree it could be. I just can’t shake feeling so negative about it and constantly wishing we had the money to afford a detached house in a quiet area with no immediate neighbours.

Just finding it so hard to put things into perspective.

I live in a cul-de-sac and I am the NhW Co-ordinator. I basically sign people up when they move in, and circulate regular updates from the local police, plus anything else of interest. Occasionally, someone will complain about something and I will send out an email if I think it's appropriate, or I signpost them to the right organisation, police etc.

I know some groups are very proactive, but ours is fairly quiet, so basically you can be as busy as you want. Most of the neighbours seem to appreciate my efforts.

That's a very different NHW type. Our Coordinator was the first neighbour to welcome us on the street. She has become a very good friend.

Our NHW group (each street or up to a maximum of 25 houses on big roads) coordinators are in contact and update us when there's a communication to share. They focus on prevention and knowing each other. We have a street party once a year or coffee catch ups and it's supportive and positive.

I can, however, understand that it can do easily be the opposite...it's all down to the people who volunteer as coordinators.

How old are the noisy kids - they will surely give up hanging about in the garden when they get to ?12 and be inside on games.