what towns can you still go to bed with the windows open? (Knoxville: townhome, landlord)

[Sprague and Henwood]

Originally Posted by trinityjoy

I know there are lots of people that wanna know this same question, but we are within about six months from the move and last night as iI went to bed the smell of freash air came acroos my face and I thought "oh no, out of all the questions I have thought to ask this one is the most important" We are really leaning toward the knoxville area I really am finding alot of good things about Maryville too. So are there certain places that you can sleep without fear of waking up and finding someone has gone through your house?

I don't think a town like that exists anymore.

[Lamplight]

I live in Murfreesboro and the main reason I don't sleep with the windows open is because of the noise, not intruders. However, someone sneaking into the house does factor into it a little, because I don't have fixed screens on my house. Instead, I have adjustable, removable screens that could easily be removed silently, whereas getting through a fixed screen would probably make more noise. And I'm a pretty light sleeper.

As far as crime goes, I've accidentally left the back door unlocked, left for a couple of hours, and come home with nothing stolen. Once I accidentally left my shed door wide open, with the contents visible from the street and several expensive bicycles (among other things) inside. I left for several hours and didn't notice the open door until I got back, but nothing was missing. I guess it also depends on what part of town you live in. My neighborhood is on the lower end of the financial spectrum, but it's not at all a "rough" neighborhood. But it is right in the middle of town. I guess the neighborhood is nice enough that we don't have many shady characters hanging around, but not so nice that anyone thinks we have anything worth stealing.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by Sprague and Henwood

I don't think a town like that exists anymore.

Thanks--I didn't realize how close a call we just had. Just got back from church and we'd left the windows open and the doors unlocked. Everything was right where we left it.

Phew, that was a close one!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by skinem

Thanks--I didn't realize how close a call we just had. Just got back from church and we'd left the windows open and the doors unlocked. Everything was right where we left it.

Phew, that was a close one!

I know. I kind of thought the same thing. I think it comes down to people's perceptions and some real situations.

Stats are tough, because they can be really, really skewed, but some places do have more crime than others.

Where I was born and raised, there is not a lot of crime. And that is more than my perception. I was the crime reporter.

When I moved to Florida I often thought that it didn't matter if folks had to keep everything air-tight and sit in the A/C for most of the year because it wasn't safe to keep your windows open, anyway. That was a huge culture shock for me.

But some people can have little crime in their town but if they don't feel safe, hey, they are not sleeping with the windows open. And yes, in the middle of the last century in the middle of nowhere a family was slaughtered and Truman Capote became famous. No place is safe, really. But, to me, sleeping with the windows open is a relatively safe affair where I now live. It's not foolproof but we are probably fine. You have to live your life happy or what is the point?

[creeksitter]

I wish i could sleep with the windows open --- This year it went from too hot even at night to cool nights where I want to conserve the heat inside the house. Maybe next week I'll get to leave the window open overnight.

I don't worry about crime because i live in a scary neighborhood -- the criminals are scared of my neighbors!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

I wish i could sleep with the windows open --- This year it went from too hot even at night to cool nights where I want to conserve the heat inside the house. Maybe next week I'll get to leave the window open overnight.

I don't worry about crime because i live in a scary neighborhood -- the criminals are scared of my neighbors!

We live in the same city. I slept with my window open last night. Several weeks ago I started sleeping with the windows open, and then last week it got too cold, but it was nice with the window open, last night. It was 81 degrees yesterday and today. It's going to get down to 50 tonight and be in the 50s every night next week. I like it cold when I sleep.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I know. I kind of thought the same thing. I think it comes down to people's perceptions and some real situations.

You're absolutely right--that is often the case.

Most studies over the last 20 years have shown that most people believe that it is more dangerous today than 10, 15, 20, 25 years ago while the crime stats in nearly every category show the reality to be the opposite.

I think the 24 hours national news coverage is much to blame for this. We hear today of every thing done wrong in the other side of the nation when we didn't used to.

I know when I left my windows up and doors unlocked when I leave the house that I could come back to a ransacked house. However, where I live, odds are I won't. Besides, where I am, if someone wanted in bad enough, locked up or not, they're going to get in and chances are no one would see. And, then I would not only come home to a ransacked house, but one with damaged doors or windows.

And, again you're right...no place on earth is absolutely safe. Heck, life isn't safe. Living is hazardous to your health.

[mtneer]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I wonder what else everyone does. Do you all leave your doors open during the day? For instance, my husband and kid just left to go pick up pizzas. I'm sitting here with two doors wide open. Would you all lock the doors? Do you keep them locked during the day?

You leave doors wide open? I would never do that for fear of what the electric/gas bill would be. That and letting in the dang mosquitoes!

[mtneer]

Originally Posted by 2mares

If I left a window open, I would be more worried about waking up with a raccoon in the bed with me than someone going thru my house.

No kidding! I know someone in Roane Co who left the windows wide open to air out the house while they were doing spring cleaning. The next morning they found a opposum had set up housekeeping in their linen closet!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by mtneer

You leave doors wide open? I would never do that for fear of what the electric/gas bill would be. That and letting in the dang mosquitoes!

The inside door not the storm door, silly.