Last summer, when my husband and I arrived at our summer house, we were greeted with an unpleasant surprise. Since we typically start our season around June, we weren’t aware of the changes our neighbors had made over the spring.
While we were away, our neighbors had built a new outdoor toilet—but not just anywhere on their property. No, they placed it right next to our fence! You can imagine the “lovely” scent that greeted us as soon as we stepped onto our land.
Of course, this had to be addressed, but we didn’t want to cause any drama or hard feelings. We live in a friendly village, and our neighbors are generally nice people. So, I started brainstorming a way to handle the situation diplomatically.
The Problem Grows Worse
When our neighbors’ family arrived for the summer, they began using the new toilet frequently. It wasn’t just the elderly relatives—it was the whole gang, including the children. The smell quickly started to reach even the farthest corner of our property, especially near the bathhouse. It became nearly impossible to enjoy working in the garden or tending to the flowers with that odor in the air.
Complaining was out of the question; I didn’t want to jeopardize our relationship with them. Tolerating it wasn’t an option either. So, I turned to my husband, and together we came up with a clever, non-confrontational solution.
The Ingenious Plan
My husband, always the practical thinker, came up with a plan to deal with the situation without making waves.
Here’s what we did: ✔️ We dug a small triangular hole on our side of the fence. ✔️ We built a neat mound of earth between the hole and the neighbor’s toilet. ✔️ We lined the bottom of the pit with roofing felt to keep the water from soaking into the ground. ✔️ Then, we connected the drainage from our house, summer kitchen, and bathhouse to this system.
The Clever Trick
The trick was simple yet effective: the water from our property slowly began to flow into the neighbor’s pit. As the water level rose, it began to fill their toilet’s pit, which ultimately caused it to overflow.
The Outcome: Problem Solved
Within a few weeks, the neighbor dismantled the toilet and moved it to the far end of their plot, closer to the field. They never mentioned anything to us.
Later, our neighbor casually told us, “The water started to stagnate in the low area, so we moved it.” My husband and I exchanged knowing glances but said nothing.
Why This Was the Perfect Solution:
No Conflict: We avoided any arguments or confrontations. No Complaints or Threats: The neighbor solved the issue on his own, without us needing to say a word. Eco-Friendly: Our little solution was subtle, and no one suspected our involvement. Preserved Relationships: By handling it this way, we kept good relations with our neighbors—after all, we might need a favor from them someday.
In the end, we were both pleased with how things turned out. As they say, a clever person always finds a way!
