So I just got back from Las Vegas. My parents invited me to go with them and I jumped at the chance. I had never been there and I needed a vacation! We had a great time touring the hotels and casinos, people watching, eating some great food, seeing some shows, and relaxing by the pool. I loved it there and look forward to going back another time.
But one thing I did NOT like about Vegas was all the cigarette smoke! I am very sensitive to smells and I had a headache every single day we were there. Just one wiff goes straight to my sinuses and my head. I know I'm not alone in that. (Perfumes and cleaners do that to me too.) It just makes me feel yucky. Plus, it got into my clothes and my purse and my hair and my pores.
When I got home, everything I took to Vegas smelled like smoke. I threw it all in the laundry and I thought that was that. Later that night, as the evening was cooling off, I decided to open all the windows and let some fresh air cool the house down. Then I smelled it again. Cigarette smoke. What? I thought I'd washed it out of everything. Then I realized it wasn't coming from me or my stuff, it was wafting through the windows from outside. My new neighbors are smokers, and they were out in their backyard puffing away.
Now, I have nothing against cigarette smokers. If they want to smoke that is their business. But I do have a problem being forced to inhale their smoke along with them. I am very happy with all the smoking laws that have been passed. Let smokers smoke in their homes but not in places where everyone else is exposed.
So, where does my situation fall? It falls through the cracks of the laws and the system. My neighbors ARE in their home. Or at least in their yard. They have every right to smoke. But I'm in my home too and I have a right to fresh air. Yes, I can close my windows, but I WANT them open. I like fresh air, and then I don't have to run my air conditioner at night.
The irony of all this is that it really pisses me off that the anti-fireplace group here in Davis, wants to ban wood burning. Their concern is people with asthma and other breathing problems. I get that. I actually have asthma, but fireplace smoke doesn't bother me. Cigarette smoke doesn't bother my asthma either, it just bothers my sinuses. I want to be able to have a fire in my fireplace.
So...I don't know what the answer is. Personal rights versus the rights of many. I like things to be fair. I know....life isn't fair. So, I guess I have to keep my windows closed as long as smokers are living next door.
What do you think?
Oh, and because everything I think about, puts a song in my head, I'll share that with you too.
Oooh, you're in a tough spot. Like you, cigarette smoke bothers my sinuses. Years ago, I had to remove my baby from a daycare provider sneaking a puff. Her big brother told me and the rest is history but I guess she felt justified since she was in her car.
ReplyDeleteBeing outside is still a problem for people who don't smoke. It's us against them and vice versa.
That is difficult. I might have to say something. Even if they are at home and should be able to do what they like, they may try to be more cognizant of your dilemma. I know if I was a smoker and my neighbor said they were sensitive to the smell I would try not to smoke where it would affect them. Glad you liked Vegas...it is the mecca of people watching!
ReplyDeleteTotsymae, yea, she probably didn't realize she smelled like smoke. That's too bad. Annie, I want to just accept it and go with the flow, but I think you are right, I should try to say something. It's pretty serious for our health, not just an inconvenience.I was thinking maybe I'd call the landlord. Since they are renters, I can start with her and we know her real well. She might not even know they smoke and she could have that in her rules.
ReplyDeleteit is funny isn't it how we have all learned that it is the polite thing for us to suffer in silence and not upset the "offending" person. OR, that if we have an opinion on one thing, we must feel the same way about another? I don't know .. sometimes I think .. wouldn't it be nice if we all felt empowered to just be ourselves and say what we think? I mean a decision has to be made for the greater good sometimes but surely we can hear one another out and see if there is a better solution??
ReplyDeleteConsistency, yes. I think is is the "debate" mentality that makes us think our views have to somehow match up with each other. For instance, if you are pro-life then you must be against the death penalty. Sometimes we are not "logical" in forming our opinions, they just come from the heart, and that is ok. Thank you for your thoughtful comments!
ReplyDeleteM - that is a tough one. Like you, your neighbors are enjoying the privacy of their space and are probably not aware they are offending your space. I grew up in a house of smokers and never took up the habit. I don't like smoking and living in California we are spoiled since there is no smoking in public places anymore... I like this, but it also bothers me that we are policing human rights. Possibly a uber air filter in your house?
ReplyDeleteLove the blog Michael Ann! I think smokers should have to smoke inside their home if it's close to the neighbors, when it's close enough to waft. But then I think of their children and inhaling the smoke inside...definitely not good either. Bottom line is that smoking does pose lots of different problems and I think things should err on the side of children and non-smokers first. I too get the worst sinus headaches from it and Lon and I hate the smoke in Vegas, it permeates everything including your suitcase. Hey, by the way, would love to see a blog post about peoples' experiences being Republican in Davis!
ReplyDeleteHey Lynette, thanks for visiting and commenting! Well, believe it or not my intention is not to get political here! I was just voicing my thoughts and wondering, how do you deal with this? It's interesting to see others' thoughts on the matter. I will sometimes post about very trivial matters, I'm sure. Come back and visit!
ReplyDeleteI think that Las Vegas is the "smoking room" for the entire country...it is an exception to the no smoking rule because people go there to be decadent.
ReplyDeleteBut in your backyard? That is tough in this situation because your neighbors are trying to do the right thing for their house/family by not smoking inside. Is there are another place that they could smoke that is not near your window? Could you not open the windows on that side?
I am spoiled here in California and don't have to encounter smoke too often. Las Vegas was a challenge! My neighbor's backyard is parallel to our two kitchen windows and two bedroom windows. All the once we would love to open on a cool summer night :( I'm going to call the landlord. I have a feeling that is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteAs you might expect, I have a slightly different take on this...I think that people in general and Americas in particular have a defect in their social training that makes this situation seem like a dilemma. We are trained that individual actions can be completely separated from the environment around you, which is an effect of Cartesian dualism analysis and religious dogma. In fact, and entire political philosophy is based on this tenet (Libertarianism). However, I think a more effective paradigm is system theory - every actor and every action affects every other action, and can be shown to affect other actions. If you look at the world that way, the dilemma melts away, since the individual action (smoking) cannot be separated out from the environment around it.
ReplyDeleteAs Obi-Wan Kenobi said in Return of the Jedi, "You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view..."
- SP
Wel...I had to read that a few times to get it, but yes, it makes sense. It's still a dilemma though! :-)
ReplyDeleteFunny you mentioned smoking wafting through your windows. I had the exact same problem today at my bed and breakfast. One of my guests(here for four days) had been smoking out on the deck cause it's not allowed inside. Today the weather got cooler, so I left the kitchen window open (the deck in off the kitchen)
ReplyDeleteThis morning when I started down the stairs for the kitchen, I got a great big wiff/gulp of smoke...nearly knocked me over. It was 8:00 am and she had been out there smoking (3 cigarettes) since 6:30...really pissed me off...but she's a paying guest so I had to deal with the problem delicately... I sympathize with you Michael Ann. I too get terrible migrains from smoke, paint, and perfume.
BTW, found you on She Writes blogging site and saw that you had a new blog. You're off to a good start. Love for you to stop by mine, if you have time: www.business womens forum.blogspot.com/
Nancy, thank you for visiting from She writes! And thank you for your comment. I imagine you have a lot of touchy situations come up if you own a Bed and Breakfast! I will send you a message at SW to find out exactly HOW you handled the smoker. I will definitely go visit your blog!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new blog. You are rockin' it.
ReplyDeleteI'd go right over and approach your neighbor honestly, human to human. You are a very sweet, conscientious person, that will come across. Be direct and honest and unapologetic about how it affects you. They may not be aware. It's hard to be cold and nasty and selfish when a person is honestly talking to you in a genuine way (not that they would anyway... they're just smokers, not criminals). And if they're renters, they're probably students and the honest, good neighbor approach is nice and good modeling. You could even take them a plate of baked goods to welcome them into the neighborhood. I think honest is best. Face to face is brave, and disarming. Plus, it really bothers you and that's totally legitimate. You have a right to have a smoke free environment.
Thanks, Kari! I'll have to give that some thought. They just moved in! I hate to say "Hi, welcome to the neighborhood and btw your smoke really bothers me." Ha! Plus, I failed to mention, since it wasn't relevent, that we had to call the police on them Friday night for loud partying! So....we may not be off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteWith your intelligence you should run for political office in Davis and help change some of the rules and laws that adversely affect your life.
ReplyDeleteNice try, Dad!!
ReplyDelete