I'm Done Pouting About My Camera

August-September-October.

Enough of a break.

I have been reading other blogs that don't have pictures. I can save up $$$ for a new camera.

In case you don't know, we do have a new front door now. It's really beautiful with a half glass panel that's beveled. Kinda art-deco, my favorite era. It allows in lots of light in the afternoon, and sparkly rainbows! I was obligated to petition the Homeowner's Board for permission to deviate from the solid wood of the other homeowner's doors. The doors need to be relatively consistent with each other, like everything else, but lately Mom has had trouble seeing who's at the door because of her cataracts/eyesight, especially in the afternoon when the sun shines right through the peep hole.

We got the OK providing we submitted a Dr.'s note as to the diagnoses.

John J. (who hung the door) was encouraging me to 'resist compliance' and pick any door, but I choose to live in a condo for the benefits of consistency. I like things to be tidy, and yes, I like to control my neighbor's tidiness. I don't like living next to a dump. There are drawbacks, I can't just choose any old door, leave my garage door open all day, work on my carburetor in the drive for weeks on end, or hang my laundry on my fence.

Oh well.

What I do have is a beautifully, and fully landscaped community, free of litter, derelict cars, motor homes, weeds. A few rules for the sake of respect and privacy aren't hard to live with. I run across neighbors who'd like to park their cars any which way, or party at the pool until dawn then leave their trash for someone else to pick up, or wall-in their front yard, (ok, as long as you don't wall-in my 33%-- see, we all own the common areas equally) or let their lawn collect trash/over-grow/die. The negatives are outweighed by the positives.

I planted dwarf cypress' and calico lantana in two big matching pots for either side of the entry and now we are oh-so-very English.

I'm serving on the HOA board now and, let me tell you-it's quite the eye opener. It's a monthly commitment to a board meeting where we discuss plans, problems, finances, deadbeats, petitions, non-compliance. There is a surprising amount of 'work' to be done; billing, repairs, improvements, and new things to be voted on, like my front door. Since it's entirely owner/volunteer, I am amazed at the devotion of some who have served for years. I am also amazed at the entitlement of others who think that being a board member is licence to skate around the rules. I am enjoying it so far, and yes, probably somewhat because of the inside track and the power. I get to know what's on the to-do-list. But mostly because of the intelligence, the awareness of the Board's intent, and that I get to participate in the direction we go. We'll see.

P.S. I stripped wallpaper for three days and John J. painted the kitchen/dining lemon yellow.