DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a large condo complex where all the parking spots have been auctioned off. Guests are expected to park on the street (where there are plenty of spots but issues with break-ins).
My neighbor in the spot to my right has one parking spot, three cars and always has guests over. I can expect a text once a month from her asking or telling me she is in my parking spot. The holidays are the worst.
If I am in my spot or say no, she tells her guests to park in the fire lane behind me. Years ago, I hit a car parked there. I have asked her not to park there.
But she is on the HOA and bends the rules at her convenience. She even screamed in my face when I asked her guest to move his car so I could pull out.
I don’t want to alienate my neighbor. But I no longer want to be faced with giving up my parking spot or getting parked in. Is there a polite way to tell her no to any more requests to park in my spot?
GENTLE READER: The part that makes this difficult -- and unfair -- is that this neighbor is on the HOA. Miss Manners suggests that you use it against her:
“Since you’re on the board, perhaps you can figure out a way to free up more parking spots. In the meantime, it’s just not possible for me to give up mine. I’m sure you understand how frustrating it is when you can’t access yours.”
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(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
