With apologies to Barb Taub, who would make this tale a really funny story.
A lot of my friends have been asking me what it’s like to live in an over-55 community. We moved here about a year and a half ago and were the first people to move in. The houses are very close together and look pretty much the same, which is standard for such communities. 
Reminded us of Pete Seegar’s song about Little Boxes:
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
Little boxes, little boxes
Little boxes all the same
We chose our lot next to a patch of trees (not on our property) so we would have some greenery around us for the birds. And the first lot coming in so we have neighbors on only one side. Keeps us from being claustrophobic. The rest of the community, like us, has no trees in the yards. And thus no shade! 
too many rules for me Noelle,but I understand why.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wish we understood why some of them! But overall we are content and looking forward to changing a lot when the time comes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We live in a 55+ community also. Just 52 townhomes, though, and ours is an end unit with big yard and woods on side and back of us, so helps us feel like we’re in a standalone. But. Yes, lots of rules. All the flowers planted are supposed to be YELLOW (go figure). But. We sneakily planted some hydrangea bushes (blue! purple!) and tulip bulbs (red!) and soon our Iris bulbs will bloom (purple and white!) Ha. Since we’re on the corner, many can’t see, so we’re getting away with it. We hung a birdfeeder on the wooded property and have tons of birds and no one dare complain. They all love the (Yellow!) finch, but also black and white woodpecker, blue birds, red cardinals, etc. I’m smiling, but you go with using your landscape to show individuality. Your home sounds perfect for you and your guy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So we are both being sly and doing things not quite allowed. Only yellow flowers – now that’s really extreme!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eek! You go as wild as you can once the rules lift.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Planning on doing dances in the street, Rosie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish you joy. In the case of rules and close community, it has similarities to the place I lived in Norfolk. It wasn’t for over-55s, but the prices made it effectively so. But we did have young people living with parents until they moved into their own places, and so on.
But once the original buyers moved out, it was moved into by people who thought it even more desirable, but decided they wanted to change the rules… I had to move out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I suspect this will always be an over 55 place, although we do have one younger couple living here. I love having people of different ages around and miss that, but the grandchildren help – plus ALL the dogs!
LikeLike
Go break those rules! What’s the worst that can happen? They take your bin away?
LikeLiked by 2 people
No, you get fined! 😦
LikeLike
Really? For planting the wrong plants? Land of the Free, huh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous shrubs and flowers! I couldn’t cope with the restrictions. Here (in our current rented house) we have the joy of the landlord and wife over the moon enthusiastic when we do anything to make life lovelier!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Our neighbors like what we’ve done and haven’t snitched! Hubs is the head of the architectural review board (which reviews plans for plantings to make sure they fit the rules – and he is very, very liberal with interpretation)!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Both my sisters live in a 55+ community and they love it. They don’t always love the rules, but they love the safety and security of the community.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’ve had some security problems, mainly during the construction phase. Now we have a Community Wach established.
LikeLike
I always expect rules whenever an HOA is involved, but some of those are really stringent. When DH and I eventually sell our home after retirement, out goal is a 55+ community. I’m glad to hear that most everyone broke the Christmas decoration rule!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup, we can be sly but with Christmas decorations we kinda gave them the finger!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hang in there Noelle. That’s such a drastic difference from your previous not-so-humble abode. It will definitely be an adjustment for you all. And it sounds like your builder/developer isn’t the best to try to work with.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup. The company has a 1.5-star rating. Not surprising.
LikeLike
My husband and I have been contemplating a 55+ for our next move, Noelle. There are drawbacks, but the social activities and lack of ongoing yard work are appealing. Your post makes me think about how important it is to ask the right questions before making a decision. And how lovely that you’re near some mature trees! And your plantings look beautiful. Thanks for sharing your experience!
LikeLiked by 2 people
We didn’t have the full 52-page booklet of rules until AFTER we moved in (go figure). But we probably would have moved in anyway. Right now the negatives and positives balance out and hopefully whenever we can take over the HOA for ourselves, things will be a LOT better. Be very careful, Diana, but such a community can be a good choice.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’re not going anywhere for a while, but we have been thinking about it as an option for when we’re unable to take care of our potholes and fences and fields. 🙂 Thanks for the caution though. It’s a big decision.
LikeLiked by 2 people
‘the houses are very close together’ made me laugh – all houses apart from the very old or those owned by the very rich are like this in England – apart from all those that are terraced!
This is most interesting, Noelle. I’d probably be ostracised by the whole community within the first week 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup, I can see you breaking rules every day! I forget that houses are cheek by jowl in many parts of Europe – we are so used to space here. But that is changing quickly.
LikeLike
This is a bit like me moving to a flat with windows looking in at our place on two sides and a small overlooked balcony, after living in my parents house with a secluded front and back garden. Your lovely bungalow looks a good size although I know you are used to a much bigger, roomier place look on the bright side less housekeeping.
I’ve still got favourite clothes I love from my teens and I’ve asked my Mum to store them for me and swap them out in the different seasons, the good thing is that when I travel home to my parents I don’t need a suitcase lol. If they ever downsize I’d struggle 😂. They’ve got all my big performance dresses too I’ve just got two under my bed.
George is a very outdoorsy person and would love a little farm holding I think, like his grandparents have out in Romania with small animals and fruit trees, so he loves his little balcony trees, our neighbours bought us a little tree for doing our balcony concerts and his little lemon tree is his pride and joy – perhaps a good small grower for your sunny back garden. When we moved in the balcony had fake grass I love it because it looks good from inside and is easy to clean and obviously doesn’t need much maintenance. We put up a vertical planter with about 8 plant pots that we put plants in to give us some privacy in the spring and summer.
I do dislike it when over 55’s anything want to act like the health and safety police as though you’re going to drown yourself or burn yourself on a bbq. My Mum used to take my Old Nan (sorry that sounds disrespectful but that’s what we used to call her when we had four Nana’s alive) out from her nursing home and she loved having a hot cup of tea and a hot meal because all she got was lukewarm tea and food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful memories and plans for the future, Charlotte. I’m glad to hear you have your little plot of greenery on your balcony. I feel certain that when you and George are more established there will be a house and a garden in your future. I forgot when I wrote this that the houses in England are usually side by side and/or sharing walls, and it’s difficult to find single homes with yards, except out in the country. But I have no doubt you’ll find something. Does George grow herbs? They’re easy to do in a box on the balcony – even a tomato plant! I would love a Meyer lemon tree but I think our sun here is too hot. Thanks for sharing your world with me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does grow herbs 🪴 and tomatoes 🍅 but not right now as its too cold. Oh goodness too hot for a lemon tree outdoors 😊 I forget where you are, we have to bring our tree indoors occasionally or wrap it in a protection hehe. To be honest we are quite content although he would also love a room big enough for a grand piano. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You absolutely need a room for a grand piano!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos Noelle and you have made inside a home and outside a haven for birds and passersby…We lived part time in a community in the south of Spain during the winter when Madrid could get to – 10 at night… and they had a whole list of rules including the width of the blue (had to be blue) stripe in your awnings on the patios.. But at least you get a reprieve in a couple of years and by that time you will have expanded your circle of like minded friends and create something even more special.. With your daughter around the corner a great incentive to stay. ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting to hear that there are community rules worldwide! We are also regulated as to the color and stripes of our awnings! I am gradually getting to know some of the women in the community – through get-togethers and water aerobics! I also joined the book club but have missed several meetings due to editing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds promising Noelle… looking forward to showcasing your next..♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhhhh so it’s not just teenagers who are little rebels…Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve always rebelled – teens of the 60s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t deal with all those rules. When my husband and I were house-hunting for our current house, we wouldn’t even look at a house with an HOA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We didn’t get the 52-page HOA rule book until after we’d signed on the dotted line and moved in (we were the first to move in.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must have been an unpleasant surprise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find these homeowner association communities rather humorous. When some of the rules are installed, everyone knows they will be violated. It’s like putting controls in place that don’t need legislation. While they may be well-intended, I wonder how many people want just stringent rules.
I look forward to reading what happens after the coup. 🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some of the rules are ridiculous – no one can walk on the areas designated as common areas (grassy patches), and you can’t have a second patio in your back yard (for example, for under a firepit, a seating area, or a hot tub). It’s going to be three to four years before the coup – they won’t hand over the HOA to us until the second community is completely built. But I’ll warn you so you can duck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy smokes Noelle, that’s a lot of rules for actual homeowners who have purchased. I’m glad you guys have found a way to dance around the silly rules, and thank goodness they allow you visitors! Yes to change with HOA! 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband and I are great at finding ways around the rules (all 52 pages of them.) He took on the chairmanship of the architectural review board, which means he and his committee review everyone’s plans for their yards – I will say that almost everything that comes to the committee gets approved. It’s then up to the construction company to deny it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As Terry mentioned, things are different in other parts of the world. I live in Barcelona, now, and most people live in an apartment, and a small one at that, so the place sounds huge, although the rules are very limiting. But here you have many people living in the same building, so it’s complicated no matter what. Oh, and we have a bar/restaurant downstairs… I hope things get better once you take over. Keep us posted, Noelle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had forgotten what it was like when I was living the Prague – same thing, a big building with many apartments. No hot water in the summer (the man in charge went on vacation), so I got used to cold showers.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike