This might be the Nail in the Apartment Life Coffin for me!

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Or rather, the first one in a series of upcoming nails.

If I had to subtitle this thread, I'd call it "I'm a useless social f**k-up who can't forgive myself for making simple mistakes, and gets upsets over the simplest confrontations."

You see, just tonight, I think I might have done something that would be the first step towards my inadvertently being evicted. I was coming home from shopping with my mother, and when I got on the elevator, I pressed both floors 2 and 3 just for fun. But I'd forgotten it because my mind was thinking of something else, and I'd gotten off a floor too early. But I didn't realize this until I tried to open the door with my key, and a voice that I took to be curt said from behind the door 'wrong apartment!'.

I mean, he didn't even open the door and confront me like the last time I made that mistake!
Normally, this wouldn't have upset me, even if he did that to me the first time, but me and that other tenant who lives below me...we've had a little friction between us.

You see, sometimes because of my odd little OCD habits, I've taken to thumping on my floors with my feet when I see something mentally stressful to me. At first, I wasn't aware that he could've heard the noise until one day he talked to me about it when I was getting my mail, and he was waiting for the elevator. I apologized, he forgave me, and we got on with our lives. But 6 months later, after still not stopping my habit, I distinctly heard him thump on his ceiling in response...and that really messed me up! I'd thought about coming downstairs and posting a $20 on his door as compensation, but I opted to leave a note of apology instead.

But tonight, I think I went too far...as I said, I was carrying groceries, and when he curtly told me I got the wrong apartment, I decided to leave my 12-pack of Pepsi next to his door, AND a $20. I quickly went back to my apartment and wrote a note saying 'it's on the house. And don't worry about the little something extra I included. It's something I owe you. Trust me...'

Which brings me to right now...I'm scared for my life as to how he's going to react when he sees that soda and the note I left him, but I'm not going to retract them. I know that I'm a general nuisance to him, and that money isn't meant as a bribe, but as compensation for all the times I'd driven him nuts...

I'm scared... Please give me some thoughts.

Usagi1992

You don't owe people anything special for accidentally going to their apartment. Most people would just think "Oops" and feel a little silly and walk away.

You should be more concerned with the neighbor below you. That person took the time to task you to stop stopping around and you should respect that.

Update - My prediction came true, and that neighbor didn't accept either the soda OR the money, as both showed up outside my door the next morning. But I was prepared to accept that he'd do that, so I had a little mental ragequit moment. Heh, you'd be surprised how flammable cotton is: it burns twice as fast as paper, and half as fast as nitrate film.

I have no regrets. I was prepared to give up 20 dollars that night, by hook or by crook. As I said before, being repentant is practically a bodily function to me.

Yeah, you do care a lot and he seems like a jerk.

Probably just let him be a jerk and not interact with him, random neighbor and doesn't seem like he's someone you'd want to be friends with either.

I'd feel scared if a neighbour left me sodas and a $20 bill because I'd be wondering OMG, WHY!?

Maybe instead of repenting, put your energy to use creating practical solutions. Like, make a solemn oath never to push two elevator buttons ever again. And get some extra-thick padding and a plush carpet/rug so your nervous foot-tapping doesn't drive the downstairs neighbour crazy.

Nobody wants gifts or money from someone they're already annoyed at, they just wish to be left alone in peace and quiet, as attempts to atone will only annoy them even further.

that's strange and adorable. i want you to be my neighbour!