Update: 'I've always wanted a green pool': Couple makes repeated complaints about neighbors' backyard, neighbor decides to paint pool permanently to spite them

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 10, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

This swimmer is going to have a very special pool, all thanks to their neighbors. 

This couple sound like the neighbors of nightmares. While most people have a passing relationship with their neighbors or are friends with them, other people don't have any intentions of being warm and fuzzy to their neighbors. Instead, they seem to spend all their time criticizing and nitpicking the smallest little details of this OP's yard. 

The OP had a great solution to their constant criticisms, which was to paint their pool their favorite color. I don't know why more people don't do this. You'd be the talk of the town if you had a red or purple pool. The possibilities are endless! For neighbors this invasive, the OP would be smart to invest in a really tall fence to stop their prying eyes. Especially because in the final note, the OP says that they were spying on their kids, too. Once the OP gets these neighbors off their back, hopefully they can actually relax and enjoy their green oasis. 

Scroll down to read this whole story, which includes photos of the pool during renovations and several updates along the way. Then, these 25+ people shared their pettiest revenge tactics to get back at friends, parents, coworkers, and more. 

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  • 01
    Green - '[The neighbors] apparently went on at length about how much they hated looking at a green pool. Green is my favourite colour.'
    via Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - I painted my pool green after my neighbour complained about my green pool. One of my neighbours complained about our green pool. It had been neglected for the winter and was looking a bit gross. I was actually in the middle of getting the chemicals sorted when an officer from the council turned up to do an inspection. I showed her all the chemicals and she was satisfied that I was getting it sorted.
    via u/deleted
  • 03
    Font - A week later, and she's back. Neighbours have complained again. It turned out the fibreglass in the pool was badly damaged and we've decided to rip it out and start again. Neighbour does not like the concrete pool. Council officer mentioned that the neighbour kept going on about how at least the concrete look was better than green. They apparently went on at length about how much they hated looking at a green pool. Green is my favourite colour.
    via u/deleted
  • 04
    Font - The tradies doing our work also heard the neighbours complaining about our green pool. They showed me a colour chart that lists emerald green as an available colour. They'll give me a discount on that colour if I want it.
    via u/deleted
  • 05
    Font - I've always wanted a green pool. We're going to start painting next week. Hehehe. updated: Here's the colour chart. We struggled to choose between emerald green and brook green, but emerald green is closer to the colour it was before we emptied it.
    via u/deleted
  • 06

    Here's the colors they had to choose from. That's a vibrant emerald!

    Rectangle - Regency White Opaline White (CR) New Jacaranda Tahitian New Riversand Brook Green (CR) Whitsunday Crestwood Misty Blue Emerald Green Aquamist (CR) Lagoon Pacific Blue (CR) Mid Blue Pond Green Atlantis Turquoise Adriatic (CR) Devonport
    via u/deleted
  • 07
    Font - Update 2: This is what it currently looks like https://imgur.com/a/o5RYxVG In the first image you can see the some original fibreglass, which ended up fading to a kind of pale yellowish blue. The green in the middle is the sludge that was left at the bottom after we emptied it. It was gross and smelly. The second image shows the pool after it's been ground back and the top tiles removed. It's ready to be sealed next week. The sealant has to cure for 7 days, then we can paint. So I'll be b
    via u/deleted
  • 08

    OP shared some photos of the pool in the middle of its renovation

    Water resources
    via u/deleted
  • 09
    Sky
    via u/deleted
  • 10
    Font - Update 3: 18th November So, the pool is STILL not done. We have finally finished sealing it after lots of problems with the weather. Here's how it looks at the moment. https://imgur.com/gallery/PGEzEkX It has to cure now for 7 days, then we can add the paint AS LONG AS it doesn't get over 30 degrees C. It's going to be tight to get it finished before the really hot weather starts.
    via u/deleted
  • 11

    The pool looks even better here, and the OP added more to the story as well

    Plant - M
    via u/deleted

    Believe it or not, this neighbor was still complaining. 

  • 12
    Font - I have spoken to the neighbour a few times. They've made several more complaints to the council about us because of the noise and rubbish associated with the renovations. The council have told them that if they make another vexatious complaint, they will take action against them. I have also spoken to the neighbour about a tree on the fence line that is pushing against the fence, causing become a bit unstable. It's apparently our fault and they're not paying to have the tree removed OR to
    via u/deleted
  • 13
    Font - trimmed all our trees that overhang their fence and thrown the branches into our yard. And into the pool. Sigh. I am biding my time. My council friend said that they bear the responsibility (obviously) and that when we get the council out to inspect the newly renovated pool, they'll make a big song and dance about the fence, send them a fine and a repair it or else order. So, still nothing too exciting but I WILL update once the green paint starts going on.
    via u/deleted
  • 14
    Font - UPDATE 28th November. Posted here because the update post was taken down and the mods have not replied to my message asking why. So. Our pool is nearly finished. Here are the pictures showing the progress. https://imgur.com/a/7UyOQje
    via u/deleted
  • 15
    Water
    via u/deleted
  • 16
    Font - The weather has really held us up. The sealant needed three days of clear weather to go on but we didn't quite manage it. You can see the ring left by the rain that arrived about 12 hours short of the sealant curing. Then, when it was FINALLY time to put the colour on, the weather got really hot. We managed to get the first coat on, but can't do any more because it was 48 degrees C here today and you can only use the epoxy between 10 degrees and 28 degrees. Everything will need to be sand
    via u/deleted
  • 17
    Font - Today, the neighbours realised that the pool was going to stay green. I saw them looking over the fence and they did not look happy. They told us: Green pools are against the law. When I asked them to show me what law, they backtracked. They're going to report us to the council again for painting our pool green. It's an awful colour and we should be ashamed of ourselves. I've made their lives miserable since they moved in and it's our fault they've had to complain so much.
    via u/deleted
  • 18
    Font - They said they would "fix" the pool themselves (I showed them one of the new security cameras at that point) They were going to send some friends around to "talk" to us. I reported it to the police (who said they'd go round and have a chat to them) and also spoke to a lawyer who confirmed that a) there is no law against a green pool and b) he would send a cease and desist letter for us if he could come and swim in the green pool. It should be noted that both the police officer and the law
    via u/deleted
  • 19

    The OP never did make a final update, but you can see from the resulting bright green pool that their emerald pool would annoy their neighbors endlessly.

    Font - I spent the afternoon trimming trees and dropping the branches back over their side of the fence. Small petty things are satisfying. But so are big expensive ones. I'll update when it's filled with water.
    via u/deleted
  • 20
    Font - Edited to add: I forget to mention that, when I told them it was creepy that they stared over the fence to spy on my kids in their swimmers, they completely lost the plot. Screaming, swearing, the works. They wanted to know what I was implying. I said I wasn't implying anything. I was saying their behaviour was creepy and was the sort of thing that lead to people being suspicious about their intentions towards the children. They didn't like that at all.
    via u/deleted
  • 21
    Font - kitkat1224666 You got me at "My favourite colour is green" I am 100% on board with the green paint. Maybe the neighbours could, idk, STOP LOOKING INTO YOUR YARD IF IT ANNOYS THEM THAT MUCH.
    via u/kitkat1224666
  • 22
    Font - gothiclg +2 Reminds me of the HOA for one of my parents old neighborhoods. They wouldn't approve any of my parents reasonable color choices (they wanted beige or white, both of which were rejected) so my dad got the ugliest shade of green he could (think the darkest shade of green in the US Army digital camo) and painted the house that. Place was an eyesore but the HOA couldn't do anything about it. I drove past the place 10 years after we moved out, still the same ugly green.
    via u/gothiclg
  • 23
    Font - vengefulbeavergod An emerald green pool sounds lovely! I shall enjoy it vicariously through you
    via u/vengefulbeavergod
  • 24
    Font - Scully152 Officer from the council? What country are you in? I LOVE your petty revenge!!!
    via u/Scully152
  • 25
    Font - GoabNZ I personally agree with emerald green. It's a lot closer to the colour of the original green pool, but it's still a nicer colour than brook green. Still, I can't fathom being a nosy neighbor using the council to tell others how to live
    via u/GoabNZ
  • 26
    Font - 524²) AnnaGreen3 I understand the first complaint because it could be a health hazard, but why entertain his complaint about what color of pool he hates his neighbor having? Is the dislike for the color of the neighbors stuff a normal complaint?
    via u/AnnaGreen3

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green neighbors petty-revenge-reddit neighborhood swimming nosy petty revenge pool swim petty swimming pool pools swimmer funny neighbor
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