HOAs: Yay or Nay?

When I bought my home, I didn't want to be in an HOA community.  There are fees associated with having an HOA and more importantly, rules.

I first saw my home for sale in October, 2009.  It's a small but cute house in an HOA community of about 140 homes.  And when I first walked through, eh, it was OK.  The inside was painted one bland color - more brown than off-white - and being completely empty, it didn't have much character.  But I could see that the previous owner was in the midst of many updates, including double pane windows and french doors to the backyard patio.  After I thought about it - an hour later I decided that it could be the perfect home for me!   Except it was an HOA. 

The monthly price of the HOA dues was a little steep, more than I had been looking to pay, but it includes front yard landscaping maintenance.  For a single, working woman that's ideal!  Someone else trims the trees and bushes, and blows the leaves and such from the rest of the yard every week. 

As the years have worn on, yes, totally worth the price, considering the alternatives!  However, it's the little rules that can wear a person down.  For the first couple of years, on and off I was given a "warning" because I didn't pull my trash can off the street before the end of the day.  Most of the time, I'm the type who likes to keep up with things such as paint, but it can get away from a person.  Today I got a notice that I am required to paint my garage door within fourteen days!  Being deluged with rain the past few mornings, it had been a while since I picked up my mail, so I only have 7 days left on this time crunch! 

At my age, it feels like a punch in the gut when someone else has to remind me that I need to do some maintenance.  I also realize that being here 9 years already means I am probably due for a new roof or something as well.  *sigh*

The joys of home ownership.  And their HOAs.

Guess who's heading to Home Depot?????

Aging Preparations

Being 59 years old means a lot of different things.  Thoughts turn to somehow finding a way to retirement, and working toward that goal.  But in everything, there are limitations or blocked pathways that seem impossible in the moment.  However, we should always maintain our sight not only on our short term goals, but also the bigger, longer term goals as well.

Yes, I would love to retire at 62, or even 65.  But let's face it, in these troubling times and economies, the real fact remains that I will most likely work until I can't any longer.  Mostly because of my fears of health insurance costs.  Yes, Medicare will kick in at age 65, but what will it truly cover?  Probably not nearly enough, which means purchasing a secondary coverage.  Continuing in the work force will alleviate that issue, to a point. 

But in the meantime, the other side of me wonders, and yes, sometimes worries, about what my children will have to endure when it comes to wrapping up "my estate".  I look around my home and see all the things that mean something to me, and realize that it won't mean a thing to my kids.  Or they won't know or remember how a particular item came to have a place in my home.  To help with that issue, I have written a note with some items, I have taken photos and written about the items in my blog.  Sometimes if either one happens to come by, I might have something out and talk to them about it, see if they recall anything about it.

And now with the digital age upon us, what will happen then??   The data we keep on computers and on our phones as a convenience, someone will have to "close down" these items?  Cancel accounts, and subscriptions?  What will become of what's left?

Because I live alone, and my kids are far enough away that I don't see them on a weekly basis, I've tried to keep records of the cyberspace accounts I have, and how to access them.  It's a very weird feeling to write things down, knowing that I'm writing them because there will come a time.... and I'm hoping it's going to be later, rather than sooner!

But at my age, I just don't know any more.

Being sick at my age brings all these thoughts up, along with maybe I should do my own "This is my life" story using photos with logos, put it on a DVD with some background music of some of my fav tunes.   Seems a little bit premature; then again, maybe it isn't? 

It doesn't seem too odd to have these thoughts in mind, even though I'm not ill or in any way thinking my days on earth are limited.  A young person might find it a little odd, but dying is a fact of life.  I've always been a logical person, and like having my ducks all lined up, so to speak.  My kids shouldn't have to go through a whole bunch of hoops and misery taking care of my estate.  So I'm trying to be practical and thoughtful, making decisions so they won't have to.

My parents have done the same for me.  I know what they want, where the files are kept, and what to do when the unthinkable happens.  I want the same for my own kids.