While the cat's away the mice disappear?

 

Okay, I haven't been home for most of May and June. And the other day I was standing in my yard and realized things were different. It took me a few minutes to figure out what was odd. There wasn't a sound coming from anywhere. As I pondered on this, it dawned on me that things had been rather quiet since I'd been back home. Turning around, I looked at the neighbor to my left. The house now stands empty - the dogs, cars, trash, and whatnot from the yard are gone. Ah, yup, I'll never have to listen to them yelling and screaming at each other for hours on end. Nor will I ever enjoy the sounds of him playing the drums at two in the morning again. Shifting a little, I took a peep at the neighbor in the front. All the toys, broken lawn mowers, cars, junk, etc. in that yard were gone as well. Hmm, no more kids yelling or jumping over the fence into my yard for no reason. Spinning around, I gazed over at the neighbor to the right, that yard was empty as well. The older-than-dirt van that made enough noise you could hear it from the moon had disappeared, along with all of their trash. Plus, that yard has weeds taller than me. Yes, I know all of those homes are rentals so there has been a neverending rotation of people in and out in the five years since I've purchased my home. But to have them all be vacant at the same time is a bit unnerving. I go away to have a little peace and quiet, I never expected to come home to find myself all alone in the middle of a sea of calm. Yet, aren't our homes supposed to be our place of rest? Thus, I'm going to enjoy this moment of respite while I have it - who knows what kind of neighbors will move in next...