Beach house, Bee-otch house
Summer is moving right along. I'm trying to make the most of every day and NOT kick myself for not accomplishing what I hope to each day. Doesn't matter WHAT I think I'm going to do, something else always comes along... Car trouble, a coffee date, unexpected phone calls, life.
Last I wrote, I was working on plan B for a beach getaway. Plan B fell through, as did Plan C! BUT, Plan D worked out just great! I found a little beach house in Santa Barbara...What a great little place and it was walking distance to everything! This is the first time the whole family has gone away together. I wondered how it would all work out. Our kids are all SO different. Their ages - 14, 19, 22. Different interests and different personalities. Don and his daughter have their own little way of communicating completely unlike me and my kids. There were moments, sometimes a lot of moments, where we were 2 separate families. Other times, we were all together enjoying ourselves...laughing and talking and eating and playing. It was all good...and so very relaxing. I only wish we could have stayed longer. Maybe next year! As a matter of fact, now that I've done the research, next year's trip should be lots easier.
I've become a bit of an armchair traveler. I'm a member of Tripadvisor. I use that site to help plan most of our vacations. I trust the reviews, because they're written by travelers. (Just like you and me!) I look forward to writing my reviews and posting my photos whenever I return from a trip.
(uhhh....except this time since we stayed in a private rental) :D
~~~~~~~~~
We've had a series of events that have really gotten us down. Now, I really don't sweat the small stuff. I have plenty of important things to worry and stress about, thankyouverymuch. This seems like small stuff, but recently, it's weighing on us heavily. We live in a community with a Homeowners Association. THE BOARD arbitrarily concocted some outrageous parking enforcements that never existed before. The fees apply to us because we have more than 2 drivers in our home. We live in a 3 bedroom townhome. Married couple, 2 adult children. Helloooo?? Is that excessive?? The whole idea is entirely unnecessary, as our complex does NOT have a parking problem! Don's car was towed off the property last week! OUR car. OUR property! It's so... I dunno, hurtful? insulting? to walk out and find your car GONE. (Add insult to injury--it cost $315.00 to bail out the car!!!)
The center of the problem is a woman who lives here. She is a member of THE BOARD and thinks she owns the place. Really! She is a certifiable BEE-OTCH! Ask anybody - she really is!She and I recently had a conversation that led to the subject of the new enforcements. Somehow, this conversation ended with her face 4 inches from my daughter's, wagging her finger in my daughter's face and accusing her of being irresponsible. It was COMPLETELY unfounded and I was flabbergasted! She followed up that act by having our car towed.
sigh...
Needless to say, we're feeling unhappy and unwelcome in our own neighborhood. It's such an icky feeling. We haven't resolved the issues and until we do it's just tense and uncomfortable. We'll be attending the Homeowners' meeting next week. (at long last...we've been WAITING for them to put one on the calendar!) We don't expect resolution, but we at least need to be heard.
We'll make the best of things.... we just need to find out where we stand before we can put it behind us.
~~~~~~~~~
Last I wrote, I was working on plan B for a beach getaway. Plan B fell through, as did Plan C! BUT, Plan D worked out just great! I found a little beach house in Santa Barbara...What a great little place and it was walking distance to everything! This is the first time the whole family has gone away together. I wondered how it would all work out. Our kids are all SO different. Their ages - 14, 19, 22. Different interests and different personalities. Don and his daughter have their own little way of communicating completely unlike me and my kids. There were moments, sometimes a lot of moments, where we were 2 separate families. Other times, we were all together enjoying ourselves...laughing and talking and eating and playing. It was all good...and so very relaxing. I only wish we could have stayed longer. Maybe next year! As a matter of fact, now that I've done the research, next year's trip should be lots easier.
I've become a bit of an armchair traveler. I'm a member of Tripadvisor. I use that site to help plan most of our vacations. I trust the reviews, because they're written by travelers. (Just like you and me!) I look forward to writing my reviews and posting my photos whenever I return from a trip.
(uhhh....except this time since we stayed in a private rental) :D
~~~~~~~~~
We've had a series of events that have really gotten us down. Now, I really don't sweat the small stuff. I have plenty of important things to worry and stress about, thankyouverymuch. This seems like small stuff, but recently, it's weighing on us heavily. We live in a community with a Homeowners Association. THE BOARD arbitrarily concocted some outrageous parking enforcements that never existed before. The fees apply to us because we have more than 2 drivers in our home. We live in a 3 bedroom townhome. Married couple, 2 adult children. Helloooo?? Is that excessive?? The whole idea is entirely unnecessary, as our complex does NOT have a parking problem! Don's car was towed off the property last week! OUR car. OUR property! It's so... I dunno, hurtful? insulting? to walk out and find your car GONE. (Add insult to injury--it cost $315.00 to bail out the car!!!)
The center of the problem is a woman who lives here. She is a member of THE BOARD and thinks she owns the place. Really! She is a certifiable BEE-OTCH! Ask anybody - she really is!She and I recently had a conversation that led to the subject of the new enforcements. Somehow, this conversation ended with her face 4 inches from my daughter's, wagging her finger in my daughter's face and accusing her of being irresponsible. It was COMPLETELY unfounded and I was flabbergasted! She followed up that act by having our car towed.
sigh...
Needless to say, we're feeling unhappy and unwelcome in our own neighborhood. It's such an icky feeling. We haven't resolved the issues and until we do it's just tense and uncomfortable. We'll be attending the Homeowners' meeting next week. (at long last...we've been WAITING for them to put one on the calendar!) We don't expect resolution, but we at least need to be heard.
We'll make the best of things.... we just need to find out where we stand before we can put it behind us.
~~~~~~~~~
You know I can't end without some photos.
Here's a link. Hope it works. I may take it down after a bit.
Enjoy!
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/559893422nslFeC?vhost=good-times
*hugs to all*
posted by Anonymous G | 11:31 PM
4 Comments:
What great pictures!!! We've been having some neighborhood issues of our own which have been driving me a little nutty. It's so frustrating to know that even though you own your property there's always going to be someone breathing down your back about what you do with it. And TripAdvisor--oh how I love it! It really makes trip planning soooo much easier!
Before living with BJ, I was in a neighborhood with a woman like that. She made my life a living HELL. Towed cars and the like, as well.
I can't tell you how many tears of frustration were shed over that woman's antics.
People like that need a good dose of Karma. So do people like you (in the opposite way, of course!)
xoxoxo
*happy sigh*
What a bunch of treasures you all are......
And what a moment in time with The Board! Ack!
If this keeps up--MORE reasons for MORE beach time!
It's CA for g-d sakes, don't they know everyone over driving age owns their own car? :) Therefore, you should AT LEAST have 4 spots for your cars. I hope you get something done at your meeting - unfortunately sometimes you just have to go and even more unfortunately, sometimes you have to sit on the board to get YOUR change in place. it sucks!
now what didn't suck are those lovely photos of your family. your kiddies are really gorgeous and of course, they come from good stock! it sounds like you had a great time and it looks like a wonderful area that you stayed!
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