It can be hard to assert boundaries when dealing with active alcoholics. My landlord is steeped in his disease, now begins drinking in the morning. I avoid calling him as much as possible. His son is now taking over the business. He is arrogant and manipulative. The upkeep here is poor, people who do the repairs often don't show up and you have to handle everybody just so or a major confrontation can ensue. I've been working my way out of the situation but it takes time and money to do so. I have learned to practice a lot of detachment and patience with the disease and try to keep resentment from creeping in. I have choices. I'm grateful I can keep moving towards the door one day at a time. 

I have had a repair going on here for at least a half week now. It's been slow. People don't show up, people don't have the proper tools for the job, people tantrum about how the last guy did it and storm out of my place in a huff not to be heard from again. Drama, instability and alcoholism. This is just the hired caretakers I'm speaking about. Now I will get to the landlord and his son. The son on a call today basically told me if I didn't like it I could move. How about that! lol I made my points clear but not in a confrontational way. They don't like someone with backbone here, it's inconvenient. You get what you get when and if they say so. Someone was to be coming this evening to my place to finish the repair.  Well, after the son mouthed off to me he had other thoughts. He showed up with his dad in tow this afternoon. Dad was three sheets to the wind and wanted to assess the repair job in progress. I have dealt with him many years and knowing as I do that he now starts drinking in his office in the early hours, I was not going to come out a winner in this situation. His son may have known this too and it could have been just why he brought him along. His son didn't like the fact that I had asked for what I rightly deserved. You see they seem to have this skewed thinking that were houseguests here rather than paying for space. His father actually asked me what had been done as far as the repair. An interesting question given it's his business and his workers. He then determined the remaining part of the job which is simple aesthetics just didn't matter. He gave me a bs story about it taking between seven and ten days to give a eighteen inch square patch of ceiling a presentable appearance. He was quick to point out how he knows I wouldn't want that kind of timeframe for getting it done. Of course I could have called his bluff and said to go ahead with the job but why bother. The water leak is repaired and although I don't like the looks of job, I don't have to look at it forever. If it get to be too much I'll take it up with the father early in the day when he's sober. Honestly, I know how to talk to him and he can be much more decent about things than his son if you catch him at the right time.

But all in all, I know Hp is nudging me to begin looking for a new home - one that honors my sanity and serenity. I have no active alcoholics in my home but I am surrounded by them as neighbors, caretakers, landlord and his family. It's in my power to keep my serenity as I work my way out of here. They likely left today feeling they'd successfully manipulated me.  LOL like I've never come up against that before! I can begin looking for a better place to live instead of just talking about it, put the word out to friends too. You see.. there are actions I can take on my own behalf always. Alcoholism only has power over me if I let it. Thanks for letting me share with you.  TT