Like yeah, this stuff might be irritating. Maybe you wanted pinker shutters. But who really cares? Imagine getting bent out of shape about the color of your shutters or having to put up curtains.
Ive had my car towed multiple times when I was parked in my designated spot with my parking tag in my window. They didn't care, they just towed it and claimed they coudln't see the tag. Every time it cost me > $300.
I've had the HOA manager show up when I had friends over because it was technically over the allotted "2 guest maximum" for the area. I was just having a game night, it wasn't even an outdoor party.
I've had them literally show up with a measuring tape to check the distance from the curb one of my guests was parked and then come knock on the door to inform me that they were illegally parked and would be towed in the next hour if they didn't move.
yeah, all of that? That's a horror story. Basically every HOA I've ever interacted with or lived under has been nothing but a thinly veiled legally-backed racket to kick back money to towing and lawn care companies.
How is it even possible that something like that exists...
And yes, you can say that he has to because he's signed the papers, but you'd still be missing the point.
No, I don't think they are. The key thing is that you sign the papers and so does everyone else.
If you think that that is trivial, imagine how much more trivial and petty it is to get bent out of shape about the color of someone elses shutters.
He's not complaining about not being allowed pink shutters, he's complaining that his neighbours are far too petty because they're getting bent out of shape about the color of someone elses shutters.
I sure would. Where I live, you do you, I do me, they do them.
It is great!
Sometimes we have a chat. Berry vines out of control, or maybe someone needs something. Whatever. That gets done and people are pretty happy.
Want to pick the shutter and trim colors? Several people here would be happy to entertain that so long as the ones wanting to pick are paying.
Me? Nope. And the bonus is nobody will hear from me about the colors, unless it is complementary. Who doesn't like that sort of thing?
Crazy cat lady down the street has a whole garden growing in the easement in front of her house. Passersby will pick and eat some of it. Pretty sure that makes her happy.
I could go on, but the place is very human, at times vibrant and has soul.
Yeah, bent right out of shape. There is just not enough time and energy to deal with all the meta associated with the more strongly regulated neighborhoods.
I basically have every other possible thing to do before worrying about what the other people are doing and so forth. Mutual respect and consideration are lean, easy, human, and definitely the way I want to play it.
All that said, yeah! Some people seem to need all that meta mess. Great! We have places for them to get it, thankfully.
No need to imagine, as that seems to be exactly what their HOA does.