First post. Been lurking for a few weeks. I'm newly married and don't have any issues with the wife (yet). I started reading up here more as a preemptive attempt to be the best man, father, and husband I can be and not let the marriage go to shit like I've seen so often in the world around me. Sorry for the following wall of text.

Dickhead neighbor that verbally bullies the rest of the neighbors around us tried his shit with me over the weekend. A few months back he tried to make small talk with me and I told him, calmly but firmly, I had nothing to say to him (I've witnessed him being a dick to the other neighbors for no reason and I get along well with them, so fuck that guy)

This has lead to him shooting me the middle finger every time I drive by. Whatever, I usually dont give a shit and just ignore him. He's an older man that has nothing better to do but sit home all day and be a dick. Well I drank some beers (maybe a few too many) over the weekend and was out front with the wife when he walks up to his front gate and starts staring me down and trying to be intimidating. After a minute of this I asked him if he had something to say. He started spewing his usual bullshit and tried to bait me to come on his property and say it to his face.

I told him to step out in the road and I'd whip his ass like his daddy never did. I was sort of bluffing cause I know the type. He's just a fucking loud mouthed coward. Never the less I was ready to do whatever needed to be done if it came down to it. Of course the wife started freaking out and begging me to calm down. The coward then turned around and walked inside his house.

I, of course, was pretty amped up for a bit afterwards and was upset with myself I let this worthless piece of shit make me mad enough that my wife needed to try to calm me down.

The following morning he was out front his house waiting for me to leave for work and slung his gate open all dramatic (but stayed inside) and made a bunch of gestures at me. Fuck him, I laughed at him, and drove on by. I didnt see him this morning but I know this is not the end of it and I'm sure I escalated the situation.

I'm gonna own this shit and go back to just ignoring this fucking guy no matter what shit he tries to do. I wont let him get me out of frame again. My wife (or anyone for that matter) doesnt need to be the one calming me down.