Hi lavieenrose, I'm sorry to hear your troubles. I am not in exactly the same situation, but I worry that I will be soon. I live alone, too, and it's not easy having to manage everything alone without the physical help or the emotion support of sharing responsibilities and decision-making. We have a lot in common, including a dog with behavior issues and a sloping driveway with no one to shovel it!

Anyway, I'm not experienced enough with hard winters to know about snow removal rates, but I wish you could find some reliable teenage neighbors to help you for a cheaper rate.

As for your neighbor across the street, I don't agree with the other person who suggested that you do "tit for tat." I just haven't found that to be productive; it just tends to escalate hard feelings and increase the tension and anxiety. Maybe you can talk to him again and remind him that moving the snow to your yard is not an option. Or do you have someone who can talk to him on your behalf? I find that, as angry as things can make me, that the more I am nice about resolving conflicts, the better the results. But I don't mean being nice to the point of being a pushover.

Anyway, I saw your post and just wanted to wish you well....take care.