I’m just going to wait and see if the new “volunteer” contacts me looking for decorations. I’ll just explain that I threw them out last year and they’ll have to purchase new decorations - they cannot cost more than $30. It’s two lighted pine garlands with a cheap fake velvet bow. Wild horses will not get me to buy new decorations even if it cost 2 cents.
@Gourmetmom , If the neighborhood really wants the decorating to go on, then everyone will need to pitch in for the decorations and perhaps hire a pro to put them up. Everyone benefits from them, so why should only a handful of people get stuck with the labor?
And if their attitude is that if a light is on your property, you are responsible for it, then this means you have the freedom not to decorate or even to chop it down :lol:
Either they own it or you do.
I also like the suggestions of just ignoring and not decorating.
My boss will sometimes say, “What are they going to do? Throw me in jail?” as a way to remind us all that whatever problem is on deck is not to be taken too seriously.
I doubt they will hire someone to do the decorations, since probably half the neighborhood doesn’t decorate their own home and so would not support the expense. I think it’s just one more holiday obligation and it’s a big pain.
Over the years, I have noticed a few poles are not even decorated until the week of Christmas and then not taken down until February - slackers, lol.
There was a woman who organized the whole thing and even did more than her share of poles, but she recently moved. It really does require a dedicated person who wants to coordinate the whole thing and do some of the work to fill in the gaps in coverage. Without that person, I think it’s one of those traditions that should just go away.
Yeah. Time to let it go. Probably everyone will be relieved. And I’ glad you recognize that it’s time to stop. No sense in teasing out a bad fall doing a good deed.
Did you pay for previous years decorations with a credit cards you can access statements for? Send him a bill for ALL of it and tell him you expect him to reimburse you. And that after he has reimbursed you in full you will donate $30 back this one final time for buying (but not hanging, taking down, or storing) new decorations.
Or ignore him.
Or say no.
exited to add: Having read the previous comments it sounds like a good time to let the tradition go. I’d still be tempted to ask him for reimbursement though.