I went on a month-long business trip and trusted my neighbor Lisa to watch my house, as she’d done for years. She promised to care for the plants and collect the mail, and I left feeling confident.
But just four days in, my client rejected my pitch, and soon after, I lost my job. With nothing holding me back, I came home early—only to find a strange minivan outside and a family using my kitchen. Lisa admitted she’d been secretly renting out my house for a year and keeping the money.
I didn’t call the police but made her return everything. That ended our friendship. I downsized, started fresh, and now rent out my home myself—on my own terms.
Lisa still lives across the street, but we don’t speak. I’ve taken back my space and my peace.
