I don't think I'll ever live in another place that has an HOA. I once lived in a townhome for 8 years, and had a deck put on the back. I couldn't enjoy the deck because of the sun and the mosquitos. So I bought a SunSetter Awning, assuming it would be ok with the HOA, since I also had a very narrow, swamp like creek almost adjacent to my backyard, which helped bring in even more mosquitos. Anyway, once the awning arrived, I was so excited that I nearly decided to put it up, and ask the HOA for permission afterwards. But I did the right thing, and wrote them a "Letter of Request", to attach it. It took them somewhere between 6 and 12 months before I was finally allowed to attach it. I must have bought it during the winter, otherwise, I would have rushed them a little more for an answer.
I remember finally bumping into the HOA president one day, and asked him if they ever got my request to attach my SunSunsetter. I believe this was right before the spring. Anyway, he responded by asking me, "What's your rationale?"...lol. I believe he was a school teacher. I can laugh at that crazy response now, but I sure couldn't laugh when he asked. So I told him why I needed my SunSetter. So he said they'd give me an answer real soon. Then I bumped into him again about half way through the Summer, and he told me to go ahead and put it up. Then he moved away two weeks later. Sounds like he was the one holding everything up. Btw, this awning came with the screen room attachment. Anyway, I had nothing but fun in that SunSetter with all my family and friends. I believe the HOA also had trouble with the sunroom having a screen room attachment. However that was the main thing that was gonna keep all those mosquitoes off of us. Go figure.
The second major issue I had with that HOA, was when I bought a second car, because my old one was too small for a man my size, and the car was getting old. So after I bought my new car, I started leaving my old car parked in the guest space next to my permanent parking space, which was right in front of my house, so I could keep an eye on both of them. After awhile, I guess somebody again thought I was showing off. So I got this letter from the HOA that was addressed to everybody. In it, it asked that if you were single, which I was, and had two cars, which I did, and had no family with small children, which I didn't, then to please let couples with newborns, have guest spaces closer to the houses. I guess this was meant to save people carrying their newborns from a little longer walk...and I mean little. I immediately ignored this request because first, it sounded way too personal, and second, all the additional guest spaces were only about ten yards aways, in the center of the two adjacent rows of townhouses, right in front of the mailboxes. That's like asking a person that just because they're single, and not carrying a baby, they should abandon the guest space right beside their permanent space while it's available, and park their other car, that they also paid for, it a little further away by the mail boxes, where you can't keep an eye on it along with your other car parked in your permanent space...not to mention the area was crime ridden. I could see if the couples with babies, had to walk much longer, and not just 10 or 12 yards longer. That's not worth asking somebody to park their car further where they couldn't see it too well, when they could have parked it right in front of their house beside their other car, where they could keep a much better eye on both cars. Then when I think back, I actually had my older car park in one of the guest parking spaces by the mailboxes half the time anyway. That was because I would still drive it to work sometimes, and when I got back, the guest parking space next to my permanent space would be already taken half the time...I guess by a neighbor with small children, or with a baby. That's would made that letter feel more personal than it already did.
The last straw, was when they towed my old car that I would park in the guest parking space next to my permanent parking space...only when I got there first. There reason was, my guest parking pass was improperly displayed, as it hung on my rear view mirror, and it was behind my work place badged...the place it always hung. They never had an issue with this, as long as they could at least see the corners of my guest parking pass, which was yellow. Before you tow away a resident like me, who lived there for 8 years, who never been late on their HOA dues, you should at least give them a warning. That was too personal. I fought this, but they decided not to refund my tow fee. By coincidence, I saw an opportunity to move away later that month, and I was outta there. But it got even crazier the day I moved. They actually tried to tow away my U-haul, while it was parked in my parking space, right in front of my house...and it had some of my furniture in it. My brother, and two of my helpers caught that tow truck driver right after he hooked up my U-haul. Luckily, they were bold enough to stand right in front of that tow truck, until that driver got out, and unhook my U-haul. I assume the HOA was behind this. I guess they were gonna say that since I was living in the right-end unit, my U-haul was blocking the parking space of the neighbor living on the right side. But this was at noon time, and their parking space was empty, like almost everybody else's during that time of day. Like how much hate can they have towards somebody who never did anything to them. Maybe they really didn't wanna see me go...or maybe a little bit of both. I was always a very friendly person. By the way I had to dress for my IT job everyday, and being the only one carrying a briefcase (at least in that part of the subdivision), it was obvious I had a good paying job, not to mention I could afford that new townhouse all by myself, along with the SunSetter. I already know that stirred up some envy...so what else is new.
I know this thread was suppose to be about 55+ communities, but it seemed more like it was about HOAs. With that said, I'll probably stay away from 55+ communities, since most of them have HOAs that can come up with some crazy rules outta nowhere, and make things miserable for you if they want to...and it's hard to fight them. I have even more reasons I probably wouldn't want to move in one of those communities, other than their HOAs. I hear that a lot of times, if you move their close to 55, your in the minority, when it comes to age. Plus I've heard some of these places have cliques, and it can make you feel like you're starting high school all over again. I already experienced some of that when I use to eat at some of these senior cafeterias near me after I turned 55. But the biggest fear I have, is the possibility of getting close to people in their golden years, and their suddenly not there anymore.
