Living next to a hospital has to be one of the most convenient and challenging things, especially when the boundary between medical facility and residential space is blurred.
For today’s Original Poster (OP), who lived in a unique apartment complex, this blurred line led to an unexpected and unwelcome intrusion on what should have been a private sanctuary after discovering that hospital visitors had been routinely occupying their patio.
More info: Reddit
Living next to a hospital sounds very convenient until random strangers pull up to your patio thinking it’s a public café
Cozy lit patio at night with empty chairs while strangers use the outdoor space disrupting time off.
Image generated by Bored Panda using ChatGPT (edited)
After months of working seven days a week, the author quit their job to finally rest and spend time at their home, which bordered a hospital
Person tries to enjoy time off but strangers repeatedly use their patio as their own without permission.
Person tries to relax on patio decorated with fairy lights but faces disturbance from strangers using their space.
Person tries to enjoy time off at home but is disturbed by strangers using their patio without permission.
Man with a beard showing frustration after strangers use his patio as their own during his time off.
On one Saturday morning, they were unexpectedly woken up by loud voices right outside their apartment
Person tries to enjoy time off but strangers use their patio as their own, causing a rude awakening early in the morning.
Text describing a person’s rude awakening from strangers using their patio as their own, causing frustration and disbelief.
Person tries to enjoy time off, frustrated by strangers trespassing and using their patio as their own space.
Text excerpt expressing feelings of violation and mentioning neighbors and their routines in a shared living space.
Person relaxing on patio surrounded by tropical plants, trying to enjoy time off in a peaceful outdoor setting.
Stepping outside, they discovered two strangers casually sitting on their patio furniture, drinking coffee
Person relaxing on patio interrupted by strangers encroaching on their time off in outdoor space.
Person tries to enjoy time off outside, interrupted by strangers trespassing and using their patio as their own space.
Person tries to enjoy time off on patio but faces rude awakening from strangers using their outdoor space uninvited.
Person tries to enjoy time off but strangers use their patio, causing a rude awakening and unexpected disturbance.
Text excerpt reading Assuming these two had been doing morning coffee at 8am or later, I would have missed them, related to person trying to enjoy time off.
The ladies then claimed they thought it was part of the hospital next door and had been using it for weeks
The OP started by explaining that their apartment bordered a hospital , literally. The ground-level apartments were apparently former medical offices, giving the space a layout that blurred the line between residential and institutional.
After months of grinding away with no days off, the OP had finally quit their job and was enjoying a slower pace until an early Saturday wake-up call from two people chatting rather loudly for the OP, who just wanted to sleep in. After getting up to check, they were met with two complete strangers who were sipping coffee at their outdoor table.
When confronted, the women casually explained that they thought the patio was part of the hospital. One of them apologized, but not before revealing they had been making themselves at home for over two months while visiting a friend in the hospital.
Despite the patio being clearly decorated and lived-in with personal touches like furniture and fairy lights, the women never clued in that this wasn’t public property. However, this left the OP deeply upset at the obvious trespassing.
Two strangers sitting on a blue patio set surrounded by plants, intruding on someone’s time off outdoors.
According to Archistar , converting commercial or medical buildings into residential spaces can help address housing needs but comes with significant design challenges. They explain that one major issue is reduced visual and acoustic privacy, as poor separation between units can make it easy to see or hear others, diminishing the feeling of personal space.
Additionally, when private areas like windows or patios face directly onto shared spaces, residents often feel exposed and less in control of their environment. This lack of clear boundaries between public and private areas can lead to discomfort and a decreased sense of autonomy in daily life.
Psychology Town explains that personal space acts as an invisible buffer zone people maintain to feel safe and at ease. When this space is intruded upon, it can trigger discomfort, stress, and even anxiety. They emphasize that these reactions aren’t just emotional, they’re physiological, often activating the brain’s fear center, which responds defensively to perceived threats.
On the other hand, informal use of “gray areas” like porches, courtyards, and shared walkways often involves unwritten social rules and blurred boundaries. Urbanism Speakeasy explains that these spaces sit between public and private zones, and formal ownership doesn’t always determine who feels entitled to use them, which can often lead to conflict unless clearly stated.
Netizens were quite divided on this one, with many users empathizing with the OP’s frustration and urging them to put up signs or involve management. Others, however, viewed the situation as a misunderstanding rather than malice, pointing out that the visitors didn’t cause damage or behave disruptively.
What do you think about this? Is it fair to be this upset when there was no damage or mess left behind? We would love to know your thoughts!
This left the author deeply upset, and while some netizens empathized with their frustrations, others couldn’t understand why they were so upset
Person frustrated as strangers trespass and use their patio without permission, ruining their time off.
Person frustrated as strangers repeatedly use their patio without permission during their time off.
Commenters discuss strangers mistakenly using a private residential patio, highlighting the frustration of patio invasion by others.
Reddit discussion about a person’s patio being trespassed on by strangers using it as their own space.
Online conversation where a person shares frustration about strangers using their patio without permission.
Reddit user expresses frustration over strangers using their patio, disrupting their time off and personal space.
Person tries to enjoy time off but neighbors invade and use their patio as their own without permission.
Comment urging a person to post a no trespassing notice to protect their patio from strangers using it without permission.
Person sitting on their patio looking surprised as strangers use the space without permission, disrupting their time off.
Person relaxing on patio looks surprised as strangers use their outdoor space without permission.
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