SAY NOA TO HOA: Sanity depends on keeping a sense of humor

Problems in HOAs can get so bad that only a sense of humor can save one from wanting to move to Antarctica. Hey, that might be a good idea. Thanks to global warming, it’s not so cold there anymore. Yes, what with the heat and dust abuilding here, the south pole definitely could have its advantages.
Check out www.ahrc.com if you think you’ve got problems. One of their links will lead you to a Comedy Central video called “Not in Your Front Yard.” The comedians compare HOAs to Levitt Town in New York; Celebration, Florida; and Jonestown in Guyana. If you don’t already know the Jonestown story, you don’t want to.
Or check out Jack Flanigan’s true story about his condo in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He calls his problem description: “Poop runs downhill.” His condo is on the ground floor of a multistory unit. You can guess what the problem is, but probably not the full magnitude of it until you read it for yourself. Flanigan writes about his HOA problems the way he does because it helps him “… deal with the stupidity of it all…”
There is no humor in Michael Doyle’s report on his law suit in San Clemente, California. He was sued by his HOA for grading his lot with a permit from the city of San Clemente. The lot had to be graded because of instability caused by “…underground organic materials…” that had been left by a previous developer. The association sued him because apparently Doyle didn’t first ask for the requisite mother may I permission from the association.
Doyle’s HOA was awarded $400,000. by the lower court. Doyle appealed. The appeals court tacked on another $50,068.66. In addition Doyle had to pay his own legal fees of $200,000.
Stories like this make one want to cry, but once the crying starts, it never ends. I’ve written a book: Under Mushroom Clouds: Homeowners vs. Homeowner Associations which is basically a case study of a Green Valley HOA. The sequel, if I ever get around to writing it, will be a theater of the absurd production. But I haven’t seen Godot lately and am looking for an assistant writer on this one.
Hopefully, all is well in your planned community. If not, a sense of humor really does help.