Humans are known to some people as creatures of habit. They fall into rituals that can make their lives feel dull and uninteresting. In the short story "Neighbors" by Raymond Carver, envy is the theme. In the case of Bill and Arlene Miller, their envy is made clear right from the start. "'Well, I wish it was us' said Bill."(Carver, 6). They are best friends with people they would much rather be.
             At the beginning of the story, the Miller's, although satisfied with their lives, "now and then felt they alone among their circle had been passed by"; passed by to the point where they crave the adventure that their neighbors, Jim and Harriet Stone, experience (Carver, 6). When it comes time for the Stones to go on a trip, the Miller's find themselves able to assume some aspects of their neighbors' identity by tending to their apartment. Just by being alone in their friends' environment, serves their fantasy well. However, they do not stop there.
             There is a gradual workup to the extreme fantasy fulfillment. It is very similar to a child who, while the parents are not around, decides to play dress up. In some children's eyes, their parents are ideals which they emulate. Whether it is dressing up, putting on makeup or mimicking them, the child is fulfilling the constant desire to be grown up. In doing so, the need to conceal what is being done may enhance the fantasy, so the child will take extreme caution in playing out the role with the fear of being caught.
             Unlike the child, the casual attitude that Bill conveys in the neighbors apartment is as though he is deserving of the fantasy. In the apartment, he finds himself roaming about, taking things that may or may not aid in the illusion of this now existing role he has embarked upon. This role grows as Bill gets more comfortable. "He reached back for the Chivas Regal. He took two drinks from the bottle, wiped ...