I live in the Midwest and use my garage for a lot of DIY projects. Lately my neighbors have been dropping by more and more to "borrow" tools or use the space for quick fixes. It started small - a ladder or a drill here and there, but now they show up unannounced on weekends, ask me to help troubleshoot, and sometimes hang around for an hour while I'm in the middle of my own work.
I like these neighbors and don't want to make a big deal out of it, but I'm getting resentful. I work all week and my garage time is my way to unwind. I'm also worried about liability if someone gets hurt, and I do not want to be the one storing their half-finished projects. One neighbor even suggested I make them a spare key to the side door so they can grab things when I'm not home, which feels like a hard no.
I'm not great at being direct without sounding cold. What are some polite but firm ways to set boundaries? Ideally I'd like to stay friendly, stop the unannounced visits, and limit borrowing without becoming the "mean neighbor." If you have specific phrases or scripts that have worked for you, I'd appreciate them.