Home owner's associations are very scary indeed.  Here in Vegas, you can't 
buy a new home without joining one.  The problem is that depending on who 
gets on the board, you can get some very restricted rules.  My sister in 
law lives in Denver, and even though her neighborhood isn't what it was 
when she bought the house, rules are in place that even prevent her from 
putting up a satellite dish, and she can't even put in a window air 
conditioner.  The board can raise fees and do whatever they want.  Sadly, 
there are many people who have nothing better to these days than squawk 
about someone else.  There was a case here in Vegas where a family put up 
a basket ball goal.  All the neighborhood kids played there, but someone 
complained, and it had to come down.  Rules are rules, you know.
73s
Butch Bussen
wa0vjr