Please turn off your backyard lights at bedtime
 

Our backyard neighbors have installed up-lights on their backyard garden. We both back onto a villa wall. I'm sure they are lovely from inside, but they are leaving them on all night long. While they don't shine directly onto our house, the glow bouncing off their house leaves our bedroom in perpetual twilight. Very difficult when you wake up at night and your brain thinks its morning. I'm sure they haven't considered this and will kindly put them on timers or shut them off when they go to bed. Eleven pm seems reasonable, yes?

Couldn't you just go talk to them?

Vorage, I am probably wrong, and perhaps some will call me judgmental, but it seems to me people who do such thoughtless things really don't care. Consideration for other simply gets lost on them.

Perhaps speaking to your neighbors in this case will get the job done but the idea that you have to confront them for something common sense should have alerted them to is a bit much.

I had a neighbor in MN who let his dog roam. a beautiful and intelligent creature and smart enough to know that it was better to cross onto my lawn daily rather than his masters. I thought this dog owner really does not care. I called animal control but it didn't stop and after four calls to animal control it still persisted until the day we moved.

...///

What area do you live in? We have backyard solar lights and one on a timer. I don't "think" they shine into anyone else's backyard. Perhaps they will see this and become more aware of the situation.

I agree with Joyce.

I also agree with Barefoot.

I leave my bedside light on to sleep. I always have. And the TV.

We have a set of double street lights at the end of our drive and at midnight you could sit out there and read the paper.

I am glad you mentioned this. I would never ever think that landscape lighting would bother anyone.

that is what curtains and blinds are for.

Heck yes. Invite them over to see how it lights up your bedroom at night.


I had a similar circumstance; I went and bought dog food and dog treats, made friends with the dog. The dog would come straight over and lay on our deck and wait for us to come out. One evening the neighbor came looking for his dog, he found her laying on our deck. He complained about us feeding his dog, and I told him "If I have to pick up the dogs crap from my yard, I should get to enjoy the dogs company too!" They were so jealous, they put a fence up to keep the dog from coming over.

what a BRILLANT idea -

This wins the "You made me laugh and best comeback" award today!!!:BigApplause:

The vast majority especially in TV are NOT inconsiderate dinosaurs. As an alternative and opportunity to establish good relations, one could empower oneself and speak in friendly manner and explain the situation. Why make an enemy when there is much to be gained from civil relationships. As my grandfather was fond of saying, "the most mature person in a relationship is responsible for taking the first step towards resolution".

See, I love all this discussion and it does shed a new light (heh, heh) on the issue. I was all huffy about it and never considered the idea that they may need the comfort of lighting. While I'm not the person to knock on someone's door about this, I resented the idea of blackout curtains when the blinds were perfectly fine before. Now that you all have given me some perspective, if the problem persists (and I may just get used to it) blackout curtains will be ordered.

Than our jobs are done. Nap time.

After reading this, many thoughts came to mind. I think there are some people who wouldn't even give it a thought that it was bothering anyone because they are probably used to it.
If I lived by myself, I'm pretty sure I would have some kind of lighting in back yard for my peace of mind.

Problem solved. Well done TOTVers. Time for a nap. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :mornincoffee:

how about plantation shutters for the bedroom? Maybe the neighbor already has them and that would be a perfect way to strike up a conversation.......

We installed motion lights and our new neighbor came by and said the lights were shining onto his lanai (rabbits, lots of rabbits setting them off). We adjusted the trajectory of the lights and the problem was solved. Motion lights are inexpensive to buy and easy to install. We appreciated our neighbor letting us know it was a problem and the fix was easy. Personally I miss being able to see the stars with all the light pollution in our world today.:(

:thumbup:

Have to say when I am alone I leave the outside lights on all night. And sad to say sometimes the TV. It's a comfort thing. Our solar lights last till about 3am but dim as the night goes on. Some coming from a big city may need those brights to feel at home

Our neighbors across the street have uplights on their landscaping, but they go off a few hours after dark. I have christmas lights around my screen room, and I have them on timers, too.

Timers are a good idea

I agree, Due to the outside street lighting we put up darker curtains and when we want more light we just open them up:thumbup: I can not control what the community or my neighbors do. :shocked: too bad I wish I was that important:boom:

Does no one besides me sleep with their windows open? :)

Being able to circulate some fresh air in trumps any security concerns for me, so a blackout curtain wouldn't help.

But my bedroom is never completely dark these days, anyway, what with the digital clock and various luminous electronics. I leave a towel draped over the modem because it's so blinky.

I love to leave the windows open when the weather permits. I hate to close my blinds because I like to see outside while I can't sleep at night. I always, always check with a neighbor if something I do outside is bothersome - wind chimes, uplighting, etc. If we could just think about the other guy instead of ourselves this world be such a better place.

I agree that the neighbor may be unaware. My current next door neighbor put a large light in their front yard that resembles a turn-of-the-century lightpost. It lights up the block. And our bedroom, which is at the front of the house. Their bedroom is at the back, so they didn't realize the light was so bright at night. We mentioned it one night while we were out to dinner together and they put it on a timer, so now it goes off at midnight. We never go to bed before then, so that's fine. Everyone's happy--except the neighbor on the other side of us who still resents the light. He used to be a forest ranger and he loves the dark.

Thinking that posting it here and that would somehow wander to this board and this exact post is not reasonable....nor is it a display of common sense...no offense...

Put up some blinds, shutters or curtains that put the room into darkness even in daytime...that way you'll know they'll block out their lights...

As to approaching them...that should have been done immediately and with a great deal of politeness...believe me when I tell you waiting will only bring a tone into your voice you might not be able to disguise...

I can't imagine sleeping with the windows op[en in this heat and humidity.

The OP did not say if they were acquainted with the folks who have the big night light.

If not, it is a perfect time to invite them over for a glass of wine - and not a glass of "whine". Discuss a timer as a solution. You might find a new set of friends in The Villages.

One of the first things our law enforcement officers suggest as a deterrent to crime is keeping the areas around our home lit.

Too much humidity and pollen
 

:beer3: Too much pollen and humidity for me but if it works for you great.

Indeed, and we have automated lights that come on at sunset and off at sunrise around our home up north for exactly that reason. I was considering putting in the same at our new home in TV, but now I'm worried it will upset the neighbors. Perhaps if I made them motion sensitive that would be a reasonable compromise?
--
bc

Motion detectors
 

About 17 years ago someone went through the neighborhood and hit a bunch of cars including ours. Broken passenger window but nothing found to steal. Immediately istalled the motion detector lights from lowes and no more thefts after that. Neighbors to the left have had things removed regularly from the yard and vehicles and never put lights up. We have had to replace two bulbs in all those years. Paid off for us.

My Lanai backs up to the back tee of a golf course. A neighbor a few doors down (seasonal residents) leave a double spot light on day and night even when they are not here. It shines in our kitchen/living room and I just put up a blind to pull at night.
We have 2 Chihuahuas that we take out of the lanai to do their business and needed a light at night to make sure there are no predators in my back yard. We have seen a red fox go past several times as wells as an eagle, and know there are coyotes around the area.
I bought a clear bulb led rope light and attached it under my eaves and run it off a timer.
This gives enough light to see around our yard, but does not shine like a spot light or motion detector light would. Anyone who has small dogs need to be with them at all times when they are outside.....they can become dinner for the predators!

One of the reasons we bought our CYV was that there were no homes behind us, only a street and other villas that faced toward us. We soon discovered since the wall behind us was low and that the post light from the house on the next block shined into our bedroom window. We and a neighbor contacted The Villages regarding the height of the wall, long story short, too bad. The homeowner was doing nothing wrong, and of course they should have their light on. The solution, blackout shades for the window and the slider, expensive but worth it.

Or just put some blackout shades on your window.

Doesn't light still filter through plantation shutters? I like a completely dark bedroom for sleeping at night and so does hubby. I would be an unhappy camper if I had landscape lighting brightening my bedroom at night. Personally, I don't want to have to put blackout window treatments on my windows. I had other ideas for window treatment for our master bedroom.

Bedroom light
 

From a safety standpoint a little light in the bedroom is a great thing. I can't tell you what a trip over the dog in a dark bedroom has cost my dear hubby. Think about it.