troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those with two left feet.
It's Troy again.
I survived the HOA meeting.
Sounds like there are a very small minority of squeaky wheels in the community. Guys with no children and landscaping/horticultural degrees, who want everyone to conform to their way of thinking.
One of them, Chris, who ran for the board previously, and didn't make it, even comment that the dates to have holiday decor out that go a full month or more (Halloween and Christmas only), are too long. Because "Come On! Halloween is only a day. You just need two days for it."
I turned to him and said. "Dude! Halloween is a seasons that begins the day after labor day. The time allotted for decor isn't long enough."
Which got an eye roll from him.
A few moments later "Chris" complained that there are chipmunks destroying his front stoop, and burrowing under his unit. People need to stop feeding the animals.
People are feeding the chipmunks? people asked...
well, all the animals. stop feeding them all, the geese, the rodents, the feral cats.
I asked "Even bird feeders? get rid of them?"
He nodded enthusiastically as if that would make the chipmunks leave. And the geese leave. Never mind all the oak and walnut trees in the neighborhood.
Oh, he has a unit along the front row that overlooks the big pond. Next, he's going to tell us the fish in the pond are too noisy. The kids with the poles should stop feeding them worms.
After a lot of discussion, the prez cut it off, and had the board vote.
It was a look of utter exasperation on all of them as they voted to approve the new measures.
I would have voted no, but they need closure on it. They're trapped between Chris and a few others that say the rules don't go far enough. And a now vocal majority that say they're biting off too much, and we need some more freedom, or at least standards.
I've got a problem with some of the language in the articles. The grandfather clause for stuff that might have been approved on accident - like I've got a new 2-light window that used to be 3-light. Our plan was approved by the appropriates. But I'm going to have to submit a form so they know it's an issue and it was approved. New language approved said it can remain as is until major rennovations to the exterior of our unit.
Like redoing the concrete patio that we want to do in five years or so.
Or, slightly more than half the buildings are still scheduled for siding replacement. Ooops... sorry, your grandfathered stuff is no longer grandfathered. Shell out for new (whatever).
While I'd love to not have an HOA, we're three years away from paying this place off. And the housing market is inflated right now. I don't want to take a 3 year pay-off window, and turn it into a 15 year payoff. Wife doesn't want to pull from our retirement funds to make a move like that. And she likes the walking trails and no maintenance.
So, moving isn't an option. Especially with her arthritis onset, she doesn't want a yard to look after.
That means, I'll probably run for the board, and hope to keep Chis and his anti-chipmunk buddies off.
It's Troy again.
I survived the HOA meeting.
Sounds like there are a very small minority of squeaky wheels in the community. Guys with no children and landscaping/horticultural degrees, who want everyone to conform to their way of thinking.
One of them, Chris, who ran for the board previously, and didn't make it, even comment that the dates to have holiday decor out that go a full month or more (Halloween and Christmas only), are too long. Because "Come On! Halloween is only a day. You just need two days for it."
I turned to him and said. "Dude! Halloween is a seasons that begins the day after labor day. The time allotted for decor isn't long enough."
Which got an eye roll from him.
A few moments later "Chris" complained that there are chipmunks destroying his front stoop, and burrowing under his unit. People need to stop feeding the animals.
People are feeding the chipmunks? people asked...
well, all the animals. stop feeding them all, the geese, the rodents, the feral cats.
I asked "Even bird feeders? get rid of them?"
He nodded enthusiastically as if that would make the chipmunks leave. And the geese leave. Never mind all the oak and walnut trees in the neighborhood.
Oh, he has a unit along the front row that overlooks the big pond. Next, he's going to tell us the fish in the pond are too noisy. The kids with the poles should stop feeding them worms.
After a lot of discussion, the prez cut it off, and had the board vote.
It was a look of utter exasperation on all of them as they voted to approve the new measures.
I would have voted no, but they need closure on it. They're trapped between Chris and a few others that say the rules don't go far enough. And a now vocal majority that say they're biting off too much, and we need some more freedom, or at least standards.
I've got a problem with some of the language in the articles. The grandfather clause for stuff that might have been approved on accident - like I've got a new 2-light window that used to be 3-light. Our plan was approved by the appropriates. But I'm going to have to submit a form so they know it's an issue and it was approved. New language approved said it can remain as is until major rennovations to the exterior of our unit.
Like redoing the concrete patio that we want to do in five years or so.
Or, slightly more than half the buildings are still scheduled for siding replacement. Ooops... sorry, your grandfathered stuff is no longer grandfathered. Shell out for new (whatever).
While I'd love to not have an HOA, we're three years away from paying this place off. And the housing market is inflated right now. I don't want to take a 3 year pay-off window, and turn it into a 15 year payoff. Wife doesn't want to pull from our retirement funds to make a move like that. And she likes the walking trails and no maintenance.
So, moving isn't an option. Especially with her arthritis onset, she doesn't want a yard to look after.
That means, I'll probably run for the board, and hope to keep Chis and his anti-chipmunk buddies off.
