Well......*I* have a real issue with people just traipsing into my yard just
because they feel like they have a right to but do not know me, do not care
to meet me, and are not there to interact with me. And, if they also feel
the need to avail themselves of the water which I have to pay to use they
are doubly in my bad graces. That is impolite, at best.

I agree with this and said as much to my husband. He told me the hose was lying
next to the sidewalk already running, so he didn't enter the yard or turn the
hose on. I'm not defending him, just passing along what he said.

Now, if they rang
my bell and asked me I'd be thrilled to get them a drink of cold water from
my fridge, especially if kids were involved. It's all about boundaries and
being considerate, imo.

I live in the city and wouldn't have felt comfortable about having him do this,
either, unless he knew the person he was asking.

And, just to throw something else into the mix, you do not know what has
been flowing through that hose nor what has been in contact with it
recently. It is quite possible that that lawn had been recently treated
with pesticides and the hose was covered with them. It would be quite
unhealthy for those pesticides to be ingested.

You'll see I just posted as much to Scott. Thanks.

beeswing