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Relatives wanted them as neighbors - until they didn't

Adapted from a recent online discussion. Question: My brother and his wife recently bought a house and said - not once but twice - we should look at the house around the corner that was also for sale. I was a little surprised because, though my brother and I get along well, his wife has never expressed much interest in our family.

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Question: My brother and his wife recently bought a house and said - not once but twice - we should look at the house around the corner that was also for sale. I was a little surprised because, though my brother and I get along well, his wife has never expressed much interest in our family.

We went to look and wound up really liking it. We decided to make an offer and asked (before we did) whether they were sure they were OK with our making the offer. They said yes (somewhat enthusiastically, too). So we made an offer.

After we did, my brother sent us a text basically saying they were afraid that living so close would be stressful to them, that our kids might have issues in school (same ages, not even in school yet). My husband and I were obviously upset.

Our offer was accepted, and we decided to keep moving forward. We never responded to his text, and there is some obvious tension. My brother has refused to respond to texts about inspectors and mortgages, etc., refusing to acknowledge we are going through with the purchase. My brother's MO is usually to ignore any conflict. I feel like we probably should talk things out, but I am not sure of the best approach at this point. Any advice?

Answer: When people do something that nuts, "should" is off the table.

Since their roulette ball has dropped into the "panic at your moving so close" slot, I suggest you avoid any remedies that would only exacerbate their fear of being invaded. That means no more texts about inspectors or mortgages (a good policy anyway, seriously) and no "We need to talk" overtures.

What would work? Possibly nothing with this crew, but you can try keeping in touch with them on roughly the schedule you've always been on, and seeing them at the next interval you usually would. Prove you won't be up in their grilles.

When you do see them, what the hell, thank them for tipping you off to this house.

This is, of course, highly weird - no mention of his urging you in polar opposite directions? - but you aren't starting the weird, you're just rolling with it. Maybe when you prove you'll respect their space, they'll be a little less protective of it.

Comment: I realize neither one removes the larger problem of the brother's saying one thing and now another, but I'd want to know what "basically saying" means with respect to the text. It could be just a need for reassurance: "I want to be sure we're aware of the pitfalls of living close by and guard against them." Or it could be a highly buffered objection: "I don't want you living this close for reasons that don't make me look good, so I'll hide it under concern for our relationship and our kids."

Comment: I once lived side by side with friends in an apartment, and, I kid you not, we didn't see them all that regularly. Just keep doing what you're doing, and let things flow naturally. I hope they are pleasantly surprised that their kid(s) love their cousin(s), and everyone is better for it.

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Chat with Carolyn Hax online at noon Fridays at www.washingtonpost.com.