Maybe I'M Blowing This Way Out Of Porportion

[thatonethere]

Ok. I was enjoying a necro bowl and reading a book on my porch yesterday. My nice neighbors had their grown daughter over. I've been minding my business and smoking in peace. I blew some smoke out, and her daughter says with distain and complete disgust "That is the most horrid smell." I heard her, and I really didn't think too much of the smell, but it was a bit bad. OG Nak Lemon, or any shisha for that matter doesn't smell all that good when you do a second round of coals. With that, I imediately took the coals off of the bowl, turned the bowl upside down so I could let it cool in order to empty the shisha, and I took the hookah inside. I felt really bad about it because I was making an impact on her visit with her parents. At the same time, I was on my porch and relaxing on my property. My neighbors children often bring their children over, and they are all very nice people. I felt like I might strain the relationship between her (or any other family members) and their parents. Their parents are amazing , and I don't want to tread on their family life.

Am I a bad neighbor for smoking my hookah without taking into consideration whether or not the smell might get to people around me? Should I put it away when they come over? The thing is, my neighbors haven't said anything to me about it at all. I thought since my porch was a lot higher than their driveway, the smoke wouldn't really affect anybody that much because it could go about 2-3 feet above their heads. The worst they would get is maybe a little whiff, and not a lung full (at least that's what I thought". Should I go over there and speak to them, or do I wait for them to say something? Like I said, they are very nice people and they may not want to approach me in fear of hurting my feelings.

Maybe I'm overreacting about it, but I do care about where I live, and the people in my neighborhood (minus a few exceptions). I want all of the people I like to see me on the same level as a person. I don't want to be that neighbor that everybody finds annoying. I didn't mind the crazy neighbors feeling whatever they felt, but I don't want to piss off my nice neighbors at all. I really, really like them, and I feel that I'm treading a little too hard now.

My first instinct was to not smoke necro bowls anymore (which I can deal with not doing), but what if hookah in general bothers them? I want to sit on my porch and enjoy a bowl without having to worry. I don't want any unnecessary tension between anybody.

Help??

Sorry about the spelling. It's really late, and I'm working. Edited July 8, 2010 by thatonethere

[Venger]

Honestly my first thought is "it is your property and you can do what ever the hell you want". But if you really care what the neighbors think, ask them. The next time you see them just say "does my hookah ever bother you guys?" I smoke necrobowls all the time and have never had a bad smell issue. I smoke indoors and live with two none smokers and neither one has said anything about fowl odors. Perhaps the girl just saw the smoke and assumed it would smell because of indoctrination about the evils of smoking. bottom line, just ask.
Ray

[camelflage]

ask them if it bothers them. seems like a polite neighborly thing to do. if they havnt said anything by now i would hope theyre not harboring some resentment that they wont speak up about..

[Chreees]

Free country , your property.... Buuuuut, to be a courteous neighbor you should just politely ask if it bothers them. I smoke on my balcony with people out in the courtyard around the pool and also my neighbor going in/out a lot. No complaints.

[Cp44]

ask the parents next time if smoking on your porch bothers them or not. If not keep smoking.

[NitetimeReign]

Like Ray, my first thought was hey FU it's my property and if you want me to change pay all my bills here. Ok with that side outta the way...lol It's very understandable to want to get along with your neighbors. So it's basically what everyone is saying here. You won't know until you ask. The way you put it they seem like great reasonable neighbors so I would think they would be upfront and honest with you if you do ask. Hope all works out either way you go.

[thatonethere]

I haven't seen any change in their behavior since I've had my hookah sessions outside, so maybe it doesn't bother them. But the only way I can be sure is by asking. If it does bother them, I'll relocate my hookah sessions to a shady spot under one of my trees on the other side of my yard (a great spot for chilling If I do say so myself). That way the smoke doesn't blow in their direction.


Now that I think about it, her daughter used to smoke cigs (the one who said the smell was horrid). I haven't seen her smoking in a long time (I think she quit).Hmmmmm.

[Chreees]

Hookah smell>Cigarette smell ANYDAY!

I actually think hookah smoke smells good, except for when I do round two on coals or if it's a necro'ed bowl.

[Rani]

Here's my view...... I've spent a major portion of my life worrying about other people and how whatever I do might be affecting them. You'd be surprised how much stress and anxiety I caused myself worrying about my impact on other people and trying to interpreting their actions in return. Took me a long time but I finally figured out that people generally have their own lives to get on with, don't pay a hell of a lot attention to whatever it is I'm doing and so long as I'm not aggressively trying to infringe on someone else's freedoms, I'm good. Your neighbors are grown adults. If they don't like it, they can walk over and ask you to please don't while they're at dinner, or whatever. And you in return can be a good neighbor and not smoke in that place at that time. In the meantime, get on with doing whatever you choose to do and trust your neighbors to have enough gumption to talk to you about it if it bothers them. Besides, considering that it was a second round of coals, and Lemon to boot, I'm willing to bet the daughter thought there was something other than tobacco in your bowl. Hell, maybe she was disappointed to discover it was just tobacco on the second whiff!

Quit worrying about it.

'Rani

[thatonethere]

You could be right Rani. I did think the whole thing through, and I've decided that I won't smoke Necro bowls in that spot anymore. I'll continue to enjoy a session on the porch as long as the weather permits, and if they tell me that my hookah bothers them, then I'll comply. Other than that, I'll continue to do what I want to do.

[thatonethere]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='08 July 2010 - 03:14 PM' timestamp='1278627242' post='474476']
[b]Hookah smell>Cigarette smell ANYDAY!
[/b]
I actually think hookah smoke smells good, [b]except for when I do round two on coals or if it's a necro'ed bowl.[/b]
[/quote]

Cosign x 1000000! hookah ftw.
Yeah. I was smoking a necro bowl. I just didn't think it smelled that horrible. From now on, I'll avoid necro bowls, and round 2 coals. They can be kind of gross . Edited July 9, 2010 by thatonethere

[Nonsmoker]

I appreciate that you are considerate enough to even ask this question.

As the nonsmoking neighbor of some hookah smokers I can tell you that it is very offensive. I'm not trying to start a battle here, I know this is a hooka forum, but I was doing a google search to see what I can do about this issue. I'm sitting in my living room it's a warm night I have the windows open and all I can smell is cherry hookah smoke which makes my stomach turn. Unfortunately I'm downwind. I have asked my neighbors politely, and then not so politely, to manage their smoke so I don't smell it on my property and perhaps the language barrier is too much for them because they don't get it. We actually went to court and arbitrated an agreement over this issue in front of a judge and they agreed to install a filtration system, which they haven't done. So it's going to be back in front of the judge again. Yes you have an absolute right to do whatever you want on your property, but should that trump my right not to smell it on mine? Especially if I can't stand it? The L.A. Superior Court Judge I was in front of didn't think so, he agreed that I had as much right not to smell it as they do to smoke.

I just thought you guys might appreciate a non-enthusiast perspective on the issue. Would a smokeless ashtray kind of setup really harm your enjoyment of the hookah?

[fineout]

Smokless ashtray setup? im not sure i understand what youre talking about...

Nonsmoker, i appreciate your opinion on this issue, i think your case is special however, because apparently your neighbors are asshats and dont care about what you think. The OP obviously cares and said that he would do something to move and not have it bother them, and they havent even said anything about it to his face. I imagine that he would probably do something if they did what you did, sorry to hear that you had to go all the way to court and give you a bad image of us hookah smokers.

[NitetimeReign]

Ok as I was reading nonsmokers post it got me thinking cause enough bad stuff is out there about hookah smokers anyway. So I'm thinking most of us here would say forget you it's my property on anything because that is a side we all have that wants to resist any kind of authority. Not that we follow that side but that we all have one. I know I personally would try to do what I could to be a good neighbor with my hookah smoking. As fineout pointed out nonsmoker, your neighbors obviously don't care at all about your feelings or you wouldn't have had to go to court. But I believe most of us on this forum would try and work out the best solution with the neighbor. Sorry you have had this experience but don't allow it to make you think all ppl who smoke hookah are like this. Good luck with your situation nonsmoker and I hope you get it all worked out.

[Chreees]

Yes, Nonsmoker, please do not think we are all asshole hookah-smokers. I know I'd be courteous to you as a neighbor. Sorry you have sucky neighbors. Hopefully you can get them straightened out.

[Tyler]

Um, I smoke hookah inside my apartment with all the windows closed and I live upstairs of a HOUSE conversaion (to give a size estimate) and there is a 2nd studio apartment upstairs with me. She has NEVER once told me she has smelled the hookah so I don't understand how someone "downwind" of an outside hookah smoker would ever be able to smell anything let alone at the level it would cause some kind of unpleasent odor. I'm calling BS on the "nonsmoking" neighbors thinking it is NHT/ciggerettes. Maybe OP and the nonsmoker should go over the hookah smoker's/neighbor's house and learn about it before they complain.

[Nonsmoker]

Thanks for the responses, if any of you were my neighbors I obviously wouldn't have this problem you all seem thoughtful and accommodating. You are right my neighbors simply don't care how what they do affects me. I know that not everyone who smokes is inconsiderate. As I said I just thought you might be interested in another perspective on the matter.

Tyler, I promise I'm not making it up. I have had friends over and they have said, "what is that smell" while we are sitting inside my house, and these are houses not apartments. It is very strong and sweet and to me unpleasant. I know the smell well because my grandfather used to smoke one and it is exactly the same as I smell when I pass one of the hookah bars in L.A. Before we got to the point we are at I did go over there and saw the ornate nargila sitting out. I explained that I could smell it and it disturbed me. Their response was "too bad, close your windows" My neighbors either sit in their back yard or their front room, which is a converted attached garage, with their doors open and in either place I can smell it in most of my 1300sq foot house and my front or back yard respectively. The thing is if it were a loud stereo I could just call the police, but this is much more difficult to prove and seems to affect only my property, the breeze blows my direction and it diffuses almost completely just at the opposite property line the only other area affected is the street in front of my house.

Anyway thanks again to all for listening and responding thoughtfully it is as I suspected, specific to my unpleasant neighbors and not to hookah smokers in general.

[porksandwich9113]

Nonsmoker, that sucks.

I always smoke either Inside, or in the back porch. But houses up in Minnesota have tons of distance between them, and I happen to have a double lot on my property..so the smoke and smell gets nowhere near my neighbors.
Sadly your neighbors seem to be ass-hats and won't do anything on their end. Keep pushing them in court. The judge might actually slap them with a fine - which could throw their ass into gear on doing something about the situation.

I do have a couple tips for you though, because I didn't think the smell permeated in the rooms I smoked it, but other people who don't smoke can actually get a faint smell from it in my house.

1. Smoke Eater Candles.
http://www.american-candle.com/product.php?productid=106&cat=28&page=1

Combination of some waxes and other additives help destroy the smoke smell. When your neighbors light up, drop this in the windowsill it comes in. This should help with a chunk of the smoke your getting in your house.

2. Hepa air filters. Sadly this is more expensive than a 3 dollar candle
http://www.air-purifiers-america.com/

These High Efficiency air-filters take about 99.9% of allergens, particles, ect out of the air. That includes smells.
Maybe the judge can make your neighbors buy one of these for your room. Lol.

3. Lysol Neutra Air.
http://www.lysol.com/products/neutra-air-products/freshmatic/
I know we see ads for those damn scent dispensers all the time. They drive me nuts - but these things actually work.
You can get the wall part for 7.99-10.99 depending on where you shop - sales, ect. And each refill costs about 4 dollars.
Each refill contains 2,400 sprays, which on the highest fastest setting is 15 days straight. On the lowest setting, one refill can last 2 months.

I usually just plug in the thing after I am doing with my smoking session(s) 2-4 hours of smoke in my room smell is gone in a matter of 45 minutes.


Good luck with your endeavor!

[Venger]

Nonsmoker gives your neighbors our URL and have them log into the forum and see this post. We will be happy to school them for you. It is no difference than if the had a dog that crapped in the yard and the smell drifted to your property. When we have neighbors we enter into a social contract to live in peace with each other. If people can't play nice they should live where there are no neighbors. His rights as a property owner only extend to his property. When what he does disturbs your property then he is in the wrong. Good luck.
Ray

[thatonethere]

[quote name='Nonsmoker' date='10 July 2010 - 12:10 AM' timestamp='1278745855' post='474638']
I appreciate that you are considerate enough to even ask this question.

As the nonsmoking neighbor of some hookah smokers I can tell you that it is very offensive. I'm not trying to start a battle here, I know this is a hooka forum, but I was doing a google search to see what I can do about this issue. I'm sitting in my living room it's a warm night I have the windows open and all I can smell is cherry hookah smoke which makes my stomach turn. Unfortunately I'm downwind. I have asked my neighbors politely, and then not so politely, to manage their smoke so I don't smell it on my property and perhaps the language barrier is too much for them because they don't get it. We actually went to court and arbitrated an agreement over this issue in front of a judge and they agreed to install a filtration system, which they haven't done. So it's going to be back in front of the judge again. Yes you have an absolute right to do whatever you want on your property, but should that trump my right not to smell it on mine? Especially if I can't stand it? The L.A. Superior Court Judge I was in front of didn't think so, he agreed that I had as much right not to smell it as they do to smoke.

I just thought you guys might appreciate a non-enthusiast perspective on the issue. Would a smokeless ashtray kind of setup really harm your enjoyment of the hookah?
[/quote]


I'm sorry your neighbor sucks. Honestly if you were my neighbor and had complained about my smoke (especially if it was entering your home) I would definitely do something to keep it away. The thing is that hookah smoke doesn't smell like a cigarette or cigar, therfore we don't mind it as much. In fact we like the smell. Now that a nonsmoker's point of view has been brought to the table, it really changes my perspective. I don't think the smoke is entering my neighbors home ( I bet they would definitely be pissed if it did). But to take extra measure I'll figure something out.


Can smoke eater candles work outside on a porch?

[porksandwich9113]

[quote name='thatonethere' date='11 July 2010 - 02:55 PM' timestamp='1278878127' post='474756']
[quote name='Nonsmoker' date='10 July 2010 - 12:10 AM' timestamp='1278745855' post='474638']
I appreciate that you are considerate enough to even ask this question.

As the nonsmoking neighbor of some hookah smokers I can tell you that it is very offensive. I'm not trying to start a battle here, I know this is a hooka forum, but I was doing a google search to see what I can do about this issue. I'm sitting in my living room it's a warm night I have the windows open and all I can smell is cherry hookah smoke which makes my stomach turn. Unfortunately I'm downwind. I have asked my neighbors politely, and then not so politely, to manage their smoke so I don't smell it on my property and perhaps the language barrier is too much for them because they don't get it. We actually went to court and arbitrated an agreement over this issue in front of a judge and they agreed to install a filtration system, which they haven't done. So it's going to be back in front of the judge again. Yes you have an absolute right to do whatever you want on your property, but should that trump my right not to smell it on mine? Especially if I can't stand it? The L.A. Superior Court Judge I was in front of didn't think so, he agreed that I had as much right not to smell it as they do to smoke.

I just thought you guys might appreciate a non-enthusiast perspective on the issue. Would a smokeless ashtray kind of setup really harm your enjoyment of the hookah?
[/quote]


I'm sorry your neighbor sucks. Honestly if you were my neighbor and had complained about my smoke (especially if it was entering your home) I would definitely do something to keep it away. The thing is that hookah smoke doesn't smell like a cigarette or cigar, therfore we don't mind it as much. In fact we like the smell. Now that a nonsmoker's point of view has been brought to the table, it really changes my perspective. I don't think the smoke is entering my neighbors home ( I bet they would definitely be pissed if it did). But to take extra measure I'll figure something out.


Can smoke eater candles work outside on a porch?
[/quote]


They can help, but even inside they are only part of solution.

[Josh Hamilton]

I'm glad I have cigar/cigarette smoking neighbors. I would guess they have seen me smoke hookah a couple of times but Ive never puffed it at them in close range. Although I haven't done a necrobowl outside or inside for that matter. For some reason it's been very windy every time I smoke out the deck.

[indian_villager]

Keep doing what you do. If they have an issue they should come to you. Unless I am doing something obnoxious I just keep on doing what I do on my property....(parents property)

[Arcane]

just scrap...

[thatonethere]

[quote name='Arcane' date='12 July 2010 - 08:33 PM' timestamp='1278988409' post='474846']
just scrap...
[/quote]

Can I just use your hookah in your avatar to break over someone's head? (I know you're kidding)
Remember I bought the house, I can't just pick up and move. They own theirs, so they aren't going anywhere. The last thing I want is constant drama. But hey if that works for you, then by all means, go for it. I on the other hand don't want to see my stuff missing, deal with vandalism, cops, or any craziness.

So far, things have mellowed out on the home front, and I've omitted necro bowls from my smoke sessions. We'll see what happens in the future.