File this under " Reason #432 I need to cast off the dock lines before I lose my ever loving mind." Out here in the suburbs the Home Owners Association has deemed it despicable to hang laundry out to dry as it might offend the sensibilities of the neighbors. Never mind that no one can see this unless they are peering over the fence, or that we live in the freaking subtropics where the one thing we are assured of is sunshine or even that the community likes to brag about how environmentally conscientious they are. Hanging laundry out is verboten.
These are the same brainiacs who sent out a notice telling us to restrict watering of our lawns due to the drought then followed it up with a letter 2 weeks later letting me know my grass was not green enough. I sent them a response letter with several green paint chips from Home Depot asking what color green I should paint my lawn.
Since I am a Devil May Care Ne'er Do Well and since I think sleeping on cotton sheets dried in the sun is something bordering on sinful luxury I did it anyway. Mark has an aerial laundry thingee that he loves so much he brought it with him from Scotland. We have a secret support tube installed in the garden with a little screw cap to keep water out. I can sneak out the aerial, get it set up and hang laundry on it dry it and take it down again faster than Mrs. Kravitz can call the HOA stormtroopers.
Cruising and seeing beautiful locations, meeting new people, trying new things and just sailing will be a wonderful experience, but do not discount the joy I will feel in living in a less oppressive, though less exquisitely manicured environment. I am all for rules when it benefits society but stupid rules- well I could do without them. I create enough stupid all on my own thanks very much.
Tonight we sleep on illicitly dried sheets. Sometimes being bad just feels really good...
You crack me up! Your secret is safe with me :)
ReplyDeleteYou rebel! And the paint chips - CLASSIC!
ReplyDeleteOk, I heard of this being a rule in the states, but I did not believe it until now. That is amazing and really, I'd be hanging my laundry out right beside yours. In fact, we should be neighbours some day. Think of all the laundry that would "litter" our yards.
ReplyDeleteThe sun-kissed sheets *and* the photo -- sinful luxury!
ReplyDeleteI think the first place I lived that had a no-line-drying rule was our marina. I just made sure to make friends with the dock guys! I love line dried clothes and even though it takes a few minutes more effort I always did it when I could. A tip for when you start cruising: make sure all of your undies are pretty enough for everyone to see. One of my friends once called one of my old Bravado bras, "absorbent" and I immediately went and bought new pretty bras (that last few months of nursing sure was a pain though).
ReplyDeleteThis laundry post really has me thinking. When I was pregnant with Ruby we were filmed in a short documentary called, "Bad Neighbors." I was featured washing and hanging the laundry. http://vimeo.com/11192361
ReplyDeleteBuy cute underwear- check!
ReplyDeleteThanks Victoria for a tip that no one will tell you about! :)
Vic, that video is hysterical. "We're liberals.." I snorted my Ethiopian dark roast outta my nose.
ReplyDeleteI have to add my endorsement for both the paint chips and saying screw you to the man.
ReplyDeleteThat my friend is exactly why Kim and I chose to pay more money to live in town. So far, we have never lived where an HOA exists. My plan is that I never have to!
ReplyDelete@Jason I feel ya but putting up with an HOA means more funds to throw onto the boat hole...
ReplyDeleteRules are everywhere where people live together. Being an architect we learn about zoning laws which describe what you can and can't build on your property and some times this even includes the color of your house and the style.
ReplyDeleteIt's all pretty insane, but I suppose there was some sanity there once.
Same applies to marinas, mooring fields, and so forth... cast off and you free yourself from most of the nonsense.
No barking dogs allows in this Harbor! Violators will be prosecuted.
Oh that is TOO funny on the lawn watering/green requirement!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, coincidentally, I just told the story of Noah's Ark at school today and I included in the story how the homeowner's association told Noah he wasn't allowed to build an ark in his lawn and Noah told the HOA to bring it up with God. :-) Of course, in my version swimming suits hadn't been invented yet, but he looked on the internet for instructions on how to build an ark.
Enjoy the sheets!!!!