To HOAs everywhere

 Every month we get the newsletter and there's always good info in it, so we're glad of that. But every month there are always notes asking for volunteers. And I'm just writing to tell why we're not volunteering. We knew when we bought our condo that there were rules, but it seems every month there are more rules. And I know we are on the far fringe, but I figure maybe as time goes by, more people will write in that are adverse to rules, too.

First thing is this over 55 rule. This would be a great place for young families pushing strollers and kids riding bicycles. And maybe there'd be less people driving cars as it gets pretty dangerous around here with people going over 20-25 mph. And maybe younger people wouldn't want so many rules.

And here at our condo, there's this idea that the exteriors should all be the same color. Is this a military base??

And then this business of keeping the grass green in the Summer? Of course, you can put in rock gardens or AstroTurf, but why spend thousands of dollars just to keep the Architectural Review Committee happy? After 6 weeks the grass will turn green again with the Fall rains, so just wear green sunglasses until then.

Also, we are in a food and retail desert here. There's the big parking lot at the clubhouse, but no food trucks. It'd be nice to have a place to get a cup of coffee, pastry or produce without driving or taking a bus. Why are residential areas so adverse to having retail?

 Then the latest, no estate sales on Friday. Who comes up with these rules?

I know you do it theoretically to keep property values up. But isn't that kind of greedy? There's a condo here now that is the same floor plan as ours selling for 20 grand less than what we paid. It's nice to have things increase in value, but it's also nice for the people trying to buy real estate to get a good price, also.

My wife is wondering when this change of thinking happens. One day, you are a free-spirit American, the next you are an old, conformity seeking high-property value seeker. Who knows?

We enjoy the library and the pool and appreciate you keeping it up. But we are hoping someday there will be more non-conformity people. Thanks for listening.