'Encroachment'....The 'Frog Story'....

My mind has been whirling, all afternoon, about this word...after visiting with our very sweet, and knowledgeable, City Clerk... When I used this word,{encroachment... encroaching...} for my definition, of changing set backs, for fences, from '8' feet from the property lines... to '25'.... Our City Clerk, corrected me, immediately..."This is not 'encroaching'..." Hmmm....It sounds like the City is Encroaching... Her reaction, got me thinkin'... Am I mistaken... Am I using this word, out of text? So, when I got home, the first thing I did, was look up the word 'Encroach'...{I told her, this morning, I'm not too bright... I'm no Lawyer, after all... Just seems to me, if we are paying taxes... tons of taxes, on this property, on every square inch of it... well, I thought, we should be able to use every square inch of it...the fence should really be 'on' the property line... after all, we maintain it... every square inch of it...{along with the City's and State's land, John mows...}I asked her, what the land would be good for, the 'set back' area... she thought we could enjoy it, as a yard...{we are taxed, 100% Commercial, on our entire property... every inch of it... even the creek bottom.... I do a lot of sweating, twice a year...Every inch, is very precious...} hmmm I'll tell the Farmer that... he can't use his set back area, to grow anything... I can't use mine, to sell anything... we're talking thousands of square feet...between 6,000 and 12,000... oh my....} So, after looking up the definition... I find... I was using the word, exactly, the way it was intended... Here's what I read, for the definition... En-croach 1. To advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits: Make gradual inroads: 2. To trespass upon the property, domain or rights of another, esp. stealthily or by gradual advances. Hmmm. Yep, I think I was using the word 'Encroaching' correctly. This is truly what I meant to say... The 'Gradual Inroads'.... Yeah... That's it... Have you ever heard the 'Frog Story'? Oh, I'm sure you have.... this seems fitting... There once was a Frog... He was asked, if he'd like to bask, in a wonderful pool...{I'm sure it was a Big City pool} He was thrilled... He bailed in... the water was lovely... it kept getting warmer, and warmer... ahhhhh.... it was like a wonderful Sauna... Ooops... 'til he was cooked... That Sauna, was soon boiling....You see... we are like The Frog... We trust others, to control the fire... That's all well and good, until it isn't... Wake up... Speak up... I'm NOT ASKING FOR MORE!{ I'm asking for, much, much less...} I'm asking, to be left alone, in my little Lily Pond...This is Our Piece of Dirt... Just let us live, and survive... Fairfax, is a small town... I have lived here, going on 30 years... It has grown, by leaps and bounds...Other folks want a small town life, too... The funny thing is, once they live here, they want Big City Rules... I say, if you don't like it... the Big City would Love to have you back.... I'd love you as a neighbor, but, leave the baggage, at the City Limit Sign... I'm going before the Council, tomorrow night... I didn't have time to get on the agenda... oh well... I'll wait, and speak at the end of the meeting... I thank God, for bringing this, to my attention... I am the Passive Frog... Usually throw this little paper away... Too Busy! But... not yesterday... I was pitching mail, and when I got to this... something said, "You had better read it..."... oh my... God does work in mysterious ways... My stomach hates this... but... my Heart says it's the right thing to do.... These folks, know all the 'ins and outs'... but... I know what's right, and what's wrong... I may be no Lawyer, but I'll do my best... Like my Dad would say... "Just do your best... that's all you can do... If you have done your best, there will be no regrets..." I'll keep ya posted... {put me in your prayers... it's me against the 'Giants!' ahhh... what the hay... a few more battle scars... I'm gettin' pretty used to 'em...} Barb C.