I was recently looking for a new apartment, and it has been my dream for the last decade to have an outdoor space of my own - even a tiny shelf of quiet space outdoors.

One day I found a perfect little place with a nice cozy yard and was moments away from putting down a deposit when I noticed a sign in the adjacent yard for a daycare center, accompanied by a sandbox and lots of toys. I refrained from leaving a deposit and called the number on the sign. After standard greetings, this is the conversation that followed.

Me: Sorry to bother you, but I'm actually considering renting the apartment next door and I'm wondering about the noise level. Can you tell me what time of day the kids usually use the yard? Her: What? Me: I'm hoping to rent the apartment next to your daycare, and I just want to know if I can expect the yard to be quiet in the mornings and evenings. Her: I've never been asked that question before. Me: Oh, well sorry about that. But can you tell me if you use the yard before 10AM or on weekends? Her: This is a very strange question. Me: Is it? Her: Uh, yes. I've never been asked something like this before.

The conversation went in a circle like this for some time, her telling me that it was a strange question and me politely persisting, before I just gave up. This was on a Friday. On that Sunday afternoon, two police officers showed up at my home. She had reported my phone number and told them she was concerned that I was "following the children and trying to find out when they would be alone." Luckily the cops were very understanding and rolled their eyes when I told them the story. Just one of those things, I guess. But the more we get used to it, the more likely men are to encounter police who are not so rational.