Kevin Spencer wrote:
I wanted to get some opinions about my behavior. I recently
moved into a house (I'm house-sitting for a few years) and
I have never had my own driveway before this move. I find
myself always backing into the driveway now when I park, so when
it's time for me to go anywhere, I can pull out forward, and
I won't have to worry about backing into a small child or
another vehicle.

I have noticed that most others always pull forward into their
driveways, in fact one neighbor did actually ask me if I
"was planning to go to a fire" .... in a friendly way.
Does anyone else back in to the driveway .... or am I
unusual?

Probably a bit unusual, but there is nothing generally wrong with it.

My wife used to back into our driveway so that the driver's side door
would be on the center of the drive. It was narrow enough that people
getting out on one side would have to step on the lawn - she didn't
like stepping on the lawn in her work shoes (heels, etc). Since the
drive faced south, backing in kept the sun from beating in on the
through the back window and cooking our kid's car seat. She kept a sun
shade in the front window. We have recently moved, and I sold my boat,
so she has room to park in the garage now.

My company has a policy telling anyone driving a company vehicle to use
what they call "planned parking." Part of that is, when possible, to
park in such a way that backing will not be required when arriving or
leaving. When backing cannot be avoided, we recommend that it be done
on arrival, not departure. The idea is that when you back into a
paking space, you can usually visually clear it from the drivers seat
before parking when you arrive. And when leaving, it is easier to see
traffic hazards you may be pulling into when going foward rather than
backing.