The problem with thermodynamics

[fbhjr]

My wife and I have lived in this apartment for 21 1/2 years. For the most part, we like it.
It is centrally located, big enough for our stuff, easy to maintain and not too expensive. (Not cheap either…)

One of the big downsides is that you have no control over who is living in the building with you.
I know, if you own a house you don’t get to say who is next to you either.
But, generally there is more separation for houses.

The problem is one of our downstairs neighbors smokes and my wife and I are both allergic to smoke.
We had the problem last summer and fall, and then it stopped.
Didn’t know why. I had hoped the older man who smoked had quit. He seemed to have health issues and know it was bad for him.

But, no, he hasn’t quit.

Yesterday when I was coming home from the market with our Easter lobsters I saw my downstairs neighbors helping that guy up the front stairs as he used a walker.
So, I guess he was off at a hospital, or some other sort of treatment center.
I have to admit my thoughts were not kind to see his return.

And, last night the smell of cigarette smoke crept into our bedroom again.
Despite closed windows and an air filter, my wife’s allergies were enough to drive her to the living room to sleep.
(Our bedroom is in the corner of the building and seems to catch everything in the wind more than the living room just one window over.)

This morning I’ve taped the windows up to minimize the leaks and cranked the air filter to maximum.
Hopefully it will help.
Hopefully someone in clearly poor health will quit smoking.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had problems of this kind. Back when we first moved in our downstairs neighbors had the habit of smoking things other than cigarets on their balcony.
I’m just as allergic to pot as tobacco, so still didn’t like it.
They didn’t do it often or for very long at a time. So, it wasn’t as bad as this.

But, one time we had my wife’s uncle and aunt over for dinner in the summer. As we sat there with the windows open the smell of pot started coming in through the window.
My wife and I looked at her uncle the state policeman as he sniffed the air.
"What’s that?" he asked.
"Our downstairs neighbors smoke," I said.
"That’s not a normal cigarette," he said. "But, it is very familiar…"
I had some fears he’d go downstairs and arrest our neighbor, but he didn’t.
Just as well really.

Those folks moved out and it stopped.
Hopefully history will repeat itself.

Comments

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

so sorry the smoker is smoking. I have found that filters don't work...sometimes I think the tar in the cigarettes makes the smoke too heavy...that is just a guess, but I see how the tar stains my white paint in my house. Can you put in an exhaust type fan that would suck more air out of your room than what seeps in? It also could be coming up from the floors.

I know that some smokers are so addicted that they cant stop the cravings and continue. My Dad's Mother smoked through a hole in her neck when she was dying of cancer. She knew she was dying as the throat cancer hit her brain so she enjoyed her butts until her brain shut down her consciousness. Kinda scary thing to see as a kid.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see how that would make an impression on a child...

[meathiel]

My aunt also had cancer and started smoking in the hospital ward (it was still allowed to smoke inside then). Smokers just will never learn ...

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

You guys should not visit Denver. It's gotten very smoky here.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I have only changed planes there so far. And, no smoking in the airport...

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Smoke comes up through the floors in our building something horrible. Actually I can smell what the apartment underneath me is cooking the leaks are so bad. Right now, my storage room will smell like pot after the neighbors downstairs smoke it.

So sorry you have this problem, It's one that a lot of people don't understand. They say use air spray and stuff, but they don't realize the smoke is still there and covering it up doesn't make your physical reaction any less. (yeah, I dealt with a lot of rolled eyes) I have damaged lungs so breathing is important to me now.

I quit smoking 9 years ago and still get really bad cravings. It's hard. Really hard. (it's easier for me because smoke bothers me instead of making me crave worse)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I can't bring myself to say this guy shouldn't smoke in his own home, no matter that it bothers me.
I just wish his home was elsewhere...

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. I hope your next downstairs neighbor is a nonsmoker.

[tjoel2]

That is definitely one of the downsides to living in an apartment!

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

On which floor do you live and how many floors does the building have? Random curiosity.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

We live on the top of 3 floors.

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

That's a comfortable spot, I think. Not too up high and no one above you.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

Maybe suggest he try e-cigarettes? Possibly cheaper and less harmful for him, and definitely less stench for you.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

Oh that really sucks!! I can imagine that your thoughts were idd not kind when you saw him enter the building again.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ugh! I feel for you two! Luckily California is really hard on smoking. California landlords have the right to restrict or ban smoking as they wish, including the apartment itself. My complex lets no one smoke inside or nearby, they have to go to the parking lot to do it. I wish they wouldn't permit even that, but I guess making the whole property smoke-free would cost them residents. And our laws prevent smoking in restaurants as well -- I don't think I could move someplace that permitted that.

Good luck keeping the smoke out!