And within a few uncomfortable weeks, we would return to waving politely across the driveway.
That didn’t feel adequate.
They hadn’t used our hot tub once.
They had apparently been doing it for almost a year.
They brought food.
They brought drinks.
They played music.
They were comfortable enough to treat our backyard like an extension of their own property.
They had stopped worrying about being caught.
Tom and I made two decisions.
The first was simple.
He installed an automatic lock on the backyard gate that could only be opened using a code from our side.
Their access would end permanently.
The second idea was mine.
I had trained as a chemist before moving into regulatory compliance, so I knew enough about compounds and skin contact to choose something harmless.
I found a food-grade dye that was safe for skin and would gradually fade within a day or two.
After prolonged exposure, however, it would leave a clearly visible green tint on the skin.
Harmless.
