Law at Draconian Palms

Sometimes board meetings can turn out interesting. One of the ongoing processes in learning to be a full-time Florida resident is getting to know the people pulling the ropes and directing policy at the condominium I am a part of. Today’s board meeting brought me a few steps closer in that process.

For several years we have had what most consider a good, active and economy-minded board. My impression about the present board’s efforts is a positive feeling. For a long time I was out of the country and away from my investment, but then as well, from that distance I always felt confident about the board’s arrangements and decisions.

The central topic of today’s board meeting was a discussion of rule infractions around the pool area. Most gathered for the meeting admitted that condominium owners shared equal blame for the infractions. A good part of the back-and-forth was focused on people eating, snacking, drinking and setting up meals at the poolside tables.

MY THOUGHT: It’s traditional, expected holiday behavior around condo pools everywhere. Tables and chairs are there…people are going to eat. Might be more effective trying to ban Coca Cola.

Ants swarming for scraps and leftovers sounded like the big concern. I wondered why many of my neighbors thought it so difficult to pick up the scraps and give the ants an intro to Black Flag. The pool area has never looked dirty and unsanitary with food leftovers. It’s a once in a blue moon thing. Don’t worry about it.

Have a look at the rules posted on two sides of the pool area. (My comments in parentheses.)

1. No GLASS allowed in the pool area. (Reasonable. Plastic works.)

2. No food, frisbees, balls, surfboards, floats, or ANY DEVICE allowed in the pool or pool area. (Do they imagine that no one under the age of 75 comes on holiday? Surfboards, yeah. The other? Forget about it.

3. No running, diving, or rough play in the pool or pool area. (This must be a joke when everyone there is a young person on summer vacation.)

4. Everyone must shower before entering pool. No oil please! (Fine for those coming up from the beach, but people coming from inside won’t do it.)

5. All children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. (This is reasonable.)

6. Do not reserve or remove pool furniture. (Laying a towel across the adjacent chair or lounger until the second or third person gets there? The pool area is really never so crowded.)

7. No radios permitted in the pool area without earphones. (I'll sign my name to this one.)

8. No cut-offs allowed in the pool. (Why ever not?)

9. Trespassers will be prosecuted. (That just doesn’t happen.)

I drew the title of today’s post from the idea that most of the rules shown above are a bit too severe. Chances are, some of the rules are there because of a clause in the insurance policy. 95% of the people using the pool and pool area disregard the majority of posted rules, and that certainly includes owners and board members. First of all, there is nobody to enforce the rules. There is no security guard and the manager can’t be on patrol all the time, so these things slide. But that won’t stop the boardroom debates on pool rules.

Pool Sheriff

If nothing else, the experience of living in Japan taught me the value of remaining as much as possible non-confrontational in social situations. You quickly learn that the Japanese are people who avoid confrontation at all costs, and when you do encounter it, it’s a rare sight. Most of the time, during my years in Japan, it was more often I who stepped over the line and ‘confronted’ someone about a problem. I like to think that little by little I learned that a less aggressive approach works best. Hopefully I brought some of that understanding back to Florida with me.

Yesterday during one of my pelican watches, I sat on the stairs leading down to the beach, noticing from time to time a group of people playing on the beach. It didn't occur to me that they were guests of someone in the building, but then two of them broke away heading for the stairs I was sitting on. In time, all eleven members of the group began a slow drift toward me and the stairs leading up to the pool, straggling and lagging in groups of two or three. I realized then that they were very likely strangers having a look around.

It occurred to me that some of my neighbors might expect me to rise up and confront these visitors, reminding them it was private property for the use of residents and their guests. That is the rule around here, determined by people who determine things. At one time I might have acted, but this time put aside that thought and kept my mouth shut. You know, like in, “Mind your business, buddy.”

Our eleven temporary guests ranged in age from seven to about twenty-seven. Their purpose was simple: “It’s Sunday afternoon at the beach and let’s have fun.” From a distance I saw them infringe on one rule after another, but each one extremely hard for teenagers to respect. No diving! Oh, really? Take that float out of the pool! Really? Actually it was a quiet time and their good time antics didn't appear to be inconveniencing others. I heard today that one of the owners had advised them to find another place to swim. Apparently no ill-feelings about that, as they all picked up and returned to the beach.

Perhaps an optimistic view of such situations is the healthier approach. Perhaps recognizing the need for rules, but then not allowing oneself to get bent out of shape when those rules are tested, especially if the occasion seems harmless and unthreatening. In the above kind of situation, most of those who wander up from the beach and take a splash in the pool are not people who instill fear or alarm. I’ve never witnessed any dangerous or scary situations in the years I’ve been coming here. And so, no, I won’t act as sheriff in the management of uninvited guests.