Years of living in military housing have made me realize one thing: some people will find fault with ANY and EVERY thing you do, and they're usually the ones we get stuck living next to. 

We too have strict rules about music in our house, whether it be from a stereo or an instument: We never play after 8pm or before 10am, and we make it a point to find out if our neighbors are shift workers - because if they are, we'll change our playing schedule to allow them to get some rest during the day.  Heck, if we had neighbors who were shift workers we wouldn't mow the lawn until we knew they'd got up for the day.  However, a couple of the neighbors we've had have been complete and utter whining bastards who found fault with everything we did yet neglected to give us the same considerations we were giving them.  When Dave worked nights and they knew he was sleeping they'd go out and mow the backyard (right next to our bedroom window).  They'd have parties and play music until 3am, and if we complained they'd react by waiting until the cops left and then turn up the music even louder.  Eventually we got tired of reporting them and just tried to live with it, and when we couldn't....

....we, much like you, had enough and moved house.  The next people who moved in apparently didn't get tired of reporting them, because 4 months later they were asked to vacate military housing.

Good for you for refusing to conform to someone else's demands, and even more kudos to you for refusing to give your money to someone who knows you're innocent but who won't stand up and defend you.  You're not doing anything wrong.

In fact, in moving house, you're doing everything right.  I know it's scary; Dave and I are thinking about buying a house and it scares the daylights out of me....but it's the best thing to do, I think.  For you and for us too.

Every time we buy a house it scares me.

Then after about six months to a year, I wonder what in the world I was worried about and how could I ever be content to rent?

hahahahahaha.

Congrats on the house. May you enjoy many YEARS of piano playing in it.

If I were you on the day before you moved out...I would make the loudest music festival noise possible. Play the hell out of the piano, crank up the stereo...sing at the top of your lungs...whatever you want, just to show her what annoying is. Of course, I do get some sick pleasure out of revenge tactics...

~Zoo

Hope things turn out well for you, BlueDev.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Gosh...I'd probably enjoy hearing the piano if I lived next door. I wish I had one of my own (I long to take lessons again).

What total, and utter, twats your neighbors turned out to be.

I'm excited for you and the move. If it weren't for school, I'd ask for the week off work to come help you move again.

Of course, at this point I hate moving, because no matter how bad it sucked to move all of your stuff - our house, thanks to mom and all her stuff . . . is ten thousand times worse. Pure, unadulterated hell. Oh well. Soon it'll all be over and we'll be in the new house . . . and you can say the same.

Congrats to you and the fam!

Embrace you challenge. Nothing worth having comes easy.

Be cautious and thoughtful, but dont worry.

Congratulations!

Gosh what awful neighbors and even more dreadful landlady! I detest ones like that, they smile and commiserate with you and behind you stab you in the back. Blech!

Congrats on the new purchase! All will be well. This is your time to celebrate. I'll pray that all goes well! BTW, what a bunch of morans who don't appreciate music, especially natural playing piano music?!

Having just moved because of an awful landlord and neighbours, I know something of what you've been going through. Being a musician, I sympathise even more so. Toni and I would love to be able to buy our own place and if we could have an ideal, it would be house, not an apartment, for much the same reasons as you.

I can't believe people would complain about piano playing. I'd love to live near a piano player. Heck, I'd even ask if I could have lessons.

If and when Simon and I take the plunge, I insist on whatever we purchase being on a considerable bit of it's own land, far away from neighbors, which tend to be a royal pain in the ass no matter how you look at it.

We don't have a ton of space, the lot is about 1/3 of an acre.  But there is plenty of space on the sides and behind, I doin't think we will have problems.  And to be honest, we really aren't that noisy, despite what our neighbor thinks.

some people will find fault with ANY and EVERY thing you do, and they're usually the ones we get stuck living next to.

Yep, that is who we ended up living next to this time.

Congrats on the house. May you enjoy many YEARS of piano playing in it.

Thanks Tova!

Congrats on the new stage in your life. Nothing compares to the nerves you get when you sign for the huge $$$. But I bought this house at 21 and even though there have been many adventures in home ownership, I love having my own place.

You are a pretty level headed guy. I'm sure you will make wise choices thoughout the process and take your time getting your home just right. (Although, I'm STILL working on that)

Congrats