zlacker

Separation does go a long way to preventing disputes about whether a property line is exactly here or 3 feet west. Or whether the garden and lawn upkeep are sufficiently in keeping with the neighborhood standard.

I'm guessing my garden might be considered substandard in many suburban settings.

I'm mostly pretty sympathetic with people doing whatever is "reasonable" with their properties including drying clothes on a line. But there's clearly some point in a suburban neighborhood where broken down cars and decaying furniture will among other things depress nearby property values which is an understandable issue for the owners.

>>ghaff+(OP)
The property line thing: not so much. My neighbor hires out the working of his field. The gate into both fields in in common, but it entirely on my property.

The contractor doesn't know this, so plants to the center of the gate. Which is 3 or 4 rows of corn on my field.

Property lines are problematic everywhere.

>>JoeAlt+k2
Fair enough and certainly access right of ways can be an issue requiring lawyers especially if a property is being sold. That said, issues relating to a tree branch being over some property line tens to be less likely to become an issue when everyone has a fair bit of land.