So, I think this is a love it or hate it kind of thing. I’m talkin’ ’bout homeowner’s associations. Seems like it could be a blues song. Or perhaps a blessing? Depends on your opinion, and lord knows, when it comes to H.O.A.s, it’s all a matter of something for everyone. One thing I’ll say, just like at every communal apartment pool, there’s always a Nazi within diving distance, micro-managing how many friends people have brought and who may have slipped some vodka into their lemonade.

I got thinking about this subject thanks to one of my very favorite websites in the whole wide world, Passive-Aggressive Notes:

This made me laugh so hard that I’d think about painting my fence like this even if there was no Bob! I also love that you can see the photog in the rearview mirror!

I started poking around and found that Gawker has assembled an awesomely horrific collection of Homeowners’ Association nightmare stories. They include fines imposed for hanging a very “divisive” Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace sign, servicemen having their homes taken away while they are off fighting wars, being told they are not allowed to be greener and hang their clothes on a clothesline or (shudder) install solar panels, insisting that everyone buy and install the same mailbox, and banning subversive activities like playing outside or putting up a frog statue.

Do you live with an HOA? How do you feel about it? Have you ever had any run-ins with a president with a bad case of OCD who is drunk on power? Or do you prefer the uniform aesthetics the organization promotes? Tell us about it in the comments section!