Homeowners Associations Forget 
that People Knew How to Enjoy their Lives Before  "Rules"  Came 
Along
Within the past few days,  a resident as worked tirelessly with a number of others to bring residents of Sun City Anthem 
together, not in a political manner, but is a social setting to allow people to 
be themselves, enjoying themselves...in the way they want to enjoy 
themselves....
...by starting 
a new social club whose mission statement...before it 
went before a "committee" 
was....
And then...the RULES and COMMITTEES stepped in !
Dan Roberts, publisher of 
The Vegas Voice, added a comment on the Anthem Today 
forum that, when combined with the efforts of various residents to start a new 
social club, were met with objection after 
objection.
And both have been met with what I will refer to as 
CHILDISH behavior on the part of those who frankly, 
HAVEN'T A CLUE as to what is, and what is not, a GOOD TIME...in the minds of a 
lot of people.
...yet...wish to "legislate" 
how that is to be defined by those whose lives have been structured and 
controlled every step of the way by others who, in the opinion of fun-loving and 
easy going people, are as BORING and CONTROLLING as 
them.
"Why don't you do this ?" 
"Why can't you do that?"  
"They do that, so you can't do 
this"
This is what you have to go through 
TO HAVE FUN ????
Why do you often disagree with others who set community 
policy ?
We get those types of questions all the 
time.
So...I thought I would address those questions 
once and for all. 
First and foremost, we somehow got to this point in our 
lives because we MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT --- we are INDIVIDUALS defined by our successful careers, where 
friendships were defined by a handshake or by associating with those who had 
similar interests...
...we met our friends by saying 
"hello" and being neighborly toward others, 
and have cultivated those relationships because WE LIKED 
PEOPLE...
...not by a "club" who had a defined set of rules, whose actions over 
time in many cases, have evolved into creating some form of social circle that 
does little other than BACK BITE one another time after 
time. 
We "did our own thing"...and made a flock of friends in the 
process---real friends, those who can be counted on under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, and 
who are always there for you in an hour of 
need. 
We watch their homes and pick up their mail for them when 
they are out of town; we try to help them when something breaks; we get them to 
the airport when they don't have a ride; and often call them to join us for a 
casual meal or ice cold beer.
...and to others who define 
"fun" differently than we 
do, we merely say...
"Fine, no problem, we won't tell you 
how to lead your life, just allow us to live ours the way we choose to...as long 
as it doesn't violate any legal and moral 
boundary."
We don't have to be told where we want to eat, or where we 
should go for entertainment.
We pay for this place just like all the 
rest of you do, and we just want to use 
it...like the rest of the "clubs" do....FREE of CHARGE...because IT'S OURS TOO 
!
And RIDICULOUS as this might 
sound...
...to do that...we have to start a CLUB  
!!!! 
Other than the "game" that has to be played in order to use 
OUR OWN PROPERTY, we couldn't care less about the 
word "club". 
We've never needed one to have 
FUN...
...yet there is a certain element, normally associated with 
"social outcasts" who have been unable to mingle with "normal" people in their 
lives....
...some distorted psychological belief that it is now 
"their turn" to make up for their being alienated by "normal" 
people...
...and that "their code" is the "only code",..to live 
by.
Want an example ? 
Go to some committee or board meetings and view most of the 
audience.
Gaze at the audience and look 
carefully.  Most are the same ones over and over 
again, about 35-40 of them, who define a 
"good time" as going to a meeting 
on a bright sunshiny day...
...watching others making up "rules" for 
others...
...others who JUST WANT TO play cards, shoot pool, play mah 
jongg, enjoy tennis or bocce, take a swim, go to the fitness areas, casinos, 
afternoon shows, the Strip....whatever !
And to those individuals....good for you.  Different 
strokes for different folks !
If that's what you enjoy, enjoy it...and if you really crave making "rules" as a form of  "entertainment", why don't you start your own 
club?
I'm sure you'll find at least 35 of you with similar 
interests that can congregate at a social 
function to make "rules", talk about "rules", and even complain about those who don't follow "rules"....
..perhaps even calling yourselves, the "I need rules to have fun Club".
..perhaps even calling yourselves, the "I need rules to have fun Club".
But...GIVE THE REST OF US A 
BREAK....and...GIVE IT A REST ALREADY 
!
Let people have FUN the way 
they choose to do so, and look for reasons to ALLOW THEM TO 
HAVE THAT FUN, not reasons to outlaw it.
Treat them like FELLOW OWNERS, 
not your humble servants.
So...try our rules....
...you might actually be able to have more fun !
Dick Arendt
...you might actually be able to have more fun !
Dick Arendt
 

 
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