Two problems I see. 1) ...the wife would't let me... She needs more training,lol.
2) the neighbors don't like your new hobby. You will need to win them over, perhaps in time, you may even turn them into beekeepers. Let your passion and enthusiasm always shine through, and give neighbors free honey, every new batch you harvest. This goes a long way. Keep your bee's flight path high, if your hives will be close to the property line, by constructing a high fence.
My high fence:

...JP