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27
Resident Surprised To Catch Strangers On Their Patio, Learns It’s Been Going On For Weeks
Living next to a hospital has to be one of the most convenient and challenging things, especially when the boundary between medical facility and residential space is blurred.
For today’s Original Poster (OP), who lived in a unique apartment complex, this blurred line led to an unexpected and unwelcome intrusion on what should have been a private sanctuary after discovering that hospital visitors had been routinely occupying their patio.
More info: Reddit
RELATED:
Living next to a hospital sounds very convenient until random strangers pull up to your patio thinking it’s a public café
Image generated by Bored Panda using ChatGPT (edited)
After months of working seven days a week, the author quit their job to finally rest and spend time at their home, which bordered a hospital
Image credits: screechimacryptid
Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)
On one Saturday morning, they were unexpectedly woken up by loud voices right outside their apartment
Image credits: screechimacryptid
Image credits: lookstudio / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Stepping outside, they discovered two strangers casually sitting on their patio furniture, drinking coffee
Image credits: screechimacryptid
The ladies then claimed they thought it was part of the hospital next door and had been using it for weeks
The OP started by explaining that their apartment bordered a hospital, literally. The ground-level apartments were apparently former medical offices, giving the space a layout that blurred the line between residential and institutional.
After months of grinding away with no days off, the OP had finally quit their job and was enjoying a slower pace until an early Saturday wake-up call from two people chatting rather loudly for the OP, who just wanted to sleep in. After getting up to check, they were met with two complete strangers who were sipping coffee at their outdoor table.
When confronted, the women casually explained that they thought the patio was part of the hospital. One of them apologized, but not before revealing they had been making themselves at home for over two months while visiting a friend in the hospital.
Despite the patio being clearly decorated and lived-in with personal touches like furniture and fairy lights, the women never clued in that this wasn’t public property. However, this left the OP deeply upset at the obvious trespassing.
Image credits: wirestock / Freepik (not the actual photo)
According to Archistar, converting commercial or medical buildings into residential spaces can help address housing needs but comes with significant design challenges. They explain that one major issue is reduced visual and acoustic privacy, as poor separation between units can make it easy to see or hear others, diminishing the feeling of personal space.
Additionally, when private areas like windows or patios face directly onto shared spaces, residents often feel exposed and less in control of their environment. This lack of clear boundaries between public and private areas can lead to discomfort and a decreased sense of autonomy in daily life.
Psychology Town explains that personal space acts as an invisible buffer zone people maintain to feel safe and at ease. When this space is intruded upon, it can trigger discomfort, stress, and even anxiety. They emphasize that these reactions aren’t just emotional, they’re physiological, often activating the brain’s fear center, which responds defensively to perceived threats.
On the other hand, informal use of “gray areas” like porches, courtyards, and shared walkways often involves unwritten social rules and blurred boundaries. Urbanism Speakeasy explains that these spaces sit between public and private zones, and formal ownership doesn’t always determine who feels entitled to use them, which can often lead to conflict unless clearly stated.
Netizens were quite divided on this one, with many users empathizing with the OP’s frustration and urging them to put up signs or involve management. Others, however, viewed the situation as a misunderstanding rather than malice, pointing out that the visitors didn’t cause damage or behave disruptively.
What do you think about this? Is it fair to be this upset when there was no damage or mess left behind? We would love to know your thoughts!
This left the author deeply upset, and while some netizens empathized with their frustrations, others couldn’t understand why they were so upset
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What do you think ?
Ontario Canada 4 months ago (edited)
I lived in an apt building where the ground floor units had compact open patio spaces and a patio door that faced the parking lot. The upper floors had enclosed balconies. These were private spaces just like the balconies above. I had tomato plants, flower pots and an oversized green rattan chair.and small table. I noticed my tomato plants and flowers were dying and could not figure out why. Then I can home one day and someone had repainted my green chair and table red. Management and neighbors had no clue. No cameras( old building cheep management) and no one saw anything. Two weeks later got notice I had a flower delivery while I was at work. Photo showed a pretty flower box with a red bow. I arrive home to find no box. Someone had opened the box, placed the flowers in a vase and left them , with the card, on my patio table. I called management again and this time I threatened legal action. Found out it was a 60 year old nosy as F neighbor. She said she was trying to be helpful by watering my plants. ( So they died from over watering) That my green paint was peeling and needed repainting. so she repainted my stuff. That she was helping with my flower delivery. I was beyond pissed off. I felt violated. This was not some 90 year old women with dementia. This was a 60 year old woman who felt that she controlled the building because she had been there 30 years. I felt violated and creeped out . So yeah. I do not think the person in the hospital story is over reacting or angry. It is messed up. Management did nothing. They actually said I was overreacting.
Kristen Woehlke 4 months ago (edited)
Was walking my dog one day and after he finished, I came inside. I live with my mom and take care of her. She had called me to come and look at something and all I could do is close the door and my dog was running to her, I didn't even get his leash off. I didn't lock said door. So we're talking about something and I thought I heard the door open. I didn't think much of it, because I have barn cats who throw themselves against the door if they are hungry. I then hear my fridge open and slam shut and my cabinets open. THERE WAS SOME WOMAN IN MY KITCHEN RUMMAGING AROUND! I go out and ask what the silly f**k?!? "Oh I was wondering if you had any spare change. I'm thirsty and want a soda." I said "If you knocked like a normal person, I might have said yes, but you just invited yourself in and started rooting through my s**t! Get out or I'm gonna pound you into the damned dirt! (former Correctional officer). I grabbed her and threw her out and off my porch!
Ontario Canada 4 months ago (edited)
I lived in an apt building where the ground floor units had compact open patio spaces and a patio door that faced the parking lot. The upper floors had enclosed balconies. These were private spaces just like the balconies above. I had tomato plants, flower pots and an oversized green rattan chair.and small table. I noticed my tomato plants and flowers were dying and could not figure out why. Then I can home one day and someone had repainted my green chair and table red. Management and neighbors had no clue. No cameras( old building cheep management) and no one saw anything. Two weeks later got notice I had a flower delivery while I was at work. Photo showed a pretty flower box with a red bow. I arrive home to find no box. Someone had opened the box, placed the flowers in a vase and left them , with the card, on my patio table. I called management again and this time I threatened legal action. Found out it was a 60 year old nosy as F neighbor. She said she was trying to be helpful by watering my plants. ( So they died from over watering) That my green paint was peeling and needed repainting. so she repainted my stuff. That she was helping with my flower delivery. I was beyond pissed off. I felt violated. This was not some 90 year old women with dementia. This was a 60 year old woman who felt that she controlled the building because she had been there 30 years. I felt violated and creeped out . So yeah. I do not think the person in the hospital story is over reacting or angry. It is messed up. Management did nothing. They actually said I was overreacting.
Kristen Woehlke 4 months ago (edited)
Was walking my dog one day and after he finished, I came inside. I live with my mom and take care of her. She had called me to come and look at something and all I could do is close the door and my dog was running to her, I didn't even get his leash off. I didn't lock said door. So we're talking about something and I thought I heard the door open. I didn't think much of it, because I have barn cats who throw themselves against the door if they are hungry. I then hear my fridge open and slam shut and my cabinets open. THERE WAS SOME WOMAN IN MY KITCHEN RUMMAGING AROUND! I go out and ask what the silly f**k?!? "Oh I was wondering if you had any spare change. I'm thirsty and want a soda." I said "If you knocked like a normal person, I might have said yes, but you just invited yourself in and started rooting through my s**t! Get out or I'm gonna pound you into the damned dirt! (former Correctional officer). I grabbed her and threw her out and off my porch!
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