milee
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Post by milee on Aug 3, 2016 11:40:29 GMT -5
No idea. I'd like to visit Australia, but worry a little that I'd be the dummy that picks up the pretty seashell and then dies (coneshell.)
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Aug 3, 2016 12:19:42 GMT -5
Even the seashells are deadly?!?!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 3, 2016 12:21:22 GMT -5
In Borneo there is a tree that if you brush up against it's spines and get poked it kills you in less than 5 minutes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 12:28:41 GMT -5
milee, you and I are picturing this scenario differently. The average HOAs around here don't provide security unless you count the board members who patrol the neighborhood looking for violations as some sort of security force. Security implies a gated community or something similar. However, the security guy is hardly "fighting crime." He's a deterrent at best. I would think of the security guy as part of the HOA's infrastructure. If I needed help fighting a snake, I wouldn't hesitate to ask. As another poster said, they can tell me that they aren't allowed to do that. But I suspect that just as described in the original post, they are encouraged to be "helpful" when possible. I also disagree that it is reasonable to expect most people to know at a glance which snakes are poisonous and which aren't. I have lived in a rural area most of my adult life, and I have seen one snake. They don't exactly sit and wait for you to try to recall which snake it is. Most people can't be expected to know, which is why "the only good snake is a dead snake" is a popular mantra. However, I do agree that you don't call 911. Animal control would be more appropriate.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Aug 3, 2016 12:32:52 GMT -5
In Borneo there is a tree that if you brush up against it's spines and get poked it kills you in less than 5 minutes. Are the trees really under that much duress that they need to be able to kill stuff that touches it?
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 3, 2016 12:39:59 GMT -5
And this is why our taxes and fees are crazy. Seriously, peeps. The OP referred to her "house", so this is not a condo which might have rules about who owns what and which types of services can be used. These are houses. Most houses have yards, even if the yards are small. It's silly to not know about the few poisonous things that live in your area so you know what's a matter of life and death and what's a matter of "ick". Heck, pretty sure Florida has a longer list of poisonous snakes and spiders than most places and even in Florida, it's not that many to know. And you don't need to know in general what's poisonous because you would be expected to touch it, it's just a personal responsibility thing. You don't live in a bubble - even at Disney World - and it's possible you could stumble on something. Basic common sense and personal responsibility dictate that you understand the basics of what's around you. They're not going to put a fence around the Grand Canyon, you're expected to know that a mile deep hole in the ground is dangerous. Just like wildlife can and does pop up anywhere, so it's on you to have a little bit of a clue what's possible. If you don't want to have even a little clue about hazards, please never, ever travel... and especially to Australia where every living thing is trying to kill you. If you own a home, there are going to be all sorts of icky things you'll have to deal with. Just because something is yucky doesn't mean it's the responsibility of the police or the HOA to deal with unless that's the specific agreement. If you don't want to deal with the nasty problem that's totally fine, but call an exterminator or wildlife service, not the people who should be out dealing with crime. I so would have loved your response to my AZ tenant who wanted me to "snake proof" our 1.7 acre lot. I anticipate a
This is someone who lived in AZ for 10 years, longer than we did.
It was all I could do from blurting out are f*cking kidding me and stated through gritted teeth that she was free to explore that option on her own.
There was a reason that woman wasn't a homeowner. Why she needed a 3,000 sq.ft. home in a rural desert community is question no one can answer.
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quince
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Post by quince on Aug 3, 2016 13:09:09 GMT -5
I didn't grow up here, and I worry sometimes that there's local "common knowledge" that I'm missing that will put me in a dangerous situation where a local would have no issues.
Like-- shake your shoes out before putting them on? Make sure all beds are raised off of the floor? Seek medical attention if any spider bites you, ever?
I grew up in Hawaii. Very, very little is dangerous there outside of the ocean. Boars. I think that might be it.
I figure it will be like tourists who die because of rip tides, except it will be a snake, tick, or spider.
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Aug 3, 2016 13:10:16 GMT -5
Knock on wood but we've never had an issue with the HOA. They meet once a month and anyone can attend the meeting. They encourage other people to run for board spots but it's the same 5 people as when we moved in 4 years ago because no one else runs. If there's a roof leak, you need to rent the clubhouse, etc. you know who to call because it's on the monthly newsletter. If you have a wild animal in your house or backyard I think most people would call animal control but to be fair we don't have security and I couldn't imagine calling one of the 60+ year old board members to do something about it. Our HOA has been great as they've fixed all issues in a reasonable amount of time and the monthly fee increased 4.5% once in the last 15 years.
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imawino
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Post by imawino on Aug 3, 2016 13:12:14 GMT -5
Isn't the appropriate response to seeing a snake outside to just leave it alone? They generally just slither away on their own. I can see calling pest control (but for pete's sake, people - not 911. And it would never have occurred to me to call an HOA) if you know the snake is poisonous and you have small children or animals unattended in the yard. But the majority of snakes I've seen are garden-variety non-poisonous snakes that have zero interest in people or other mammals.
The out of control pythons destroying the Everglades are a whole different ball of wax caused by stupid people who temporarily thought it was a good idea to have one as a pet, then decided to release them into the wild. idiots. Same with some of the massive iguana populations in S. Florida. I used to rollerblade in a park on Key Biscayne that had so many enormous iguanas that it was like dodging small alligators.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:29:01 GMT -5
No one is calling the HOA for help with the snake. Someone called the HOA's security person for help with the snake. Not the same thing.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Aug 3, 2016 13:29:41 GMT -5
I have yet to go to an HOA meeting, but I've discovered that some of the people in my neighborhood are seriously uptight, all from the FB page. I'm really thinking of moving in a couple of years. Do you live in EC with me?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:36:01 GMT -5
Isn't the appropriate response to seeing a snake outside to just leave it alone? They generally just slither away on their own. I can see calling pest control (but for pete's sake, people - not 911. And it would never have occurred to me to call an HOA) if you know the snake is poisonous and you have small children or animals unattended in the yard. But the majority of snakes I've seen are garden-variety non-poisonous snakes that have zero interest in people or other mammals.
The out of control pythons destroying the Everglades are a whole different ball of wax caused by stupid people who temporarily thought it was a good idea to have one as a pet, then decided to release them into the wild. idiots. Same with some of the massive iguana populations in S. Florida. I used to rollerblade in a park on Key Biscayne that had so many enormous iguanas that it was like dodging small alligators. Nope. It's to go running and screaming in the other direction! At least it was for me when I stepped on one with my bare feet when I was a kid. <<shudder>> No likey snakeys, human or otherwise.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Aug 3, 2016 13:36:38 GMT -5
Ah, HOA stuff. I'll try to keep this short, but it probably won't be. DH and I have a single family house in a community around a small lake. I joined the HOA Board because they were good people and I like this neighborhood and the natural beauty. I'm also retired and have some Board experience. What an eye-opener. The Annual meeting was a zoo; people who liked the sound of their own voices just ranted for as long as they wanted. The people running the meeting did not get it under control and some major issues were not voted on. We elected a new Board (including me) with 2 write-in candidates who did not get elected. One of them, whom I'll call Joe, got an attorney who claimed that the election was invalid for a variety of nitpicky reasons. Example: it wasn't a secret ballot (required by the By-laws) because each ballot had to be signed and the people who counted the ballots (but not anyone else) know who voted for whom. We spend too much money going back and forth with Joe's lawyer and finally decided to just put Joe on the Board. Joe said he'd call off the lawyer and support the revised Restrictions we're trying to get voted in. (Current ones are an outdated patchwork.) Joe is on the Board now and has gone back on his promise to support the restrictions and says we have no legal standing as a Board anyway because there's no document from the now-defunct developer saying we have it. (A friend who's an attorney and an HOA president gave me a free opinion that the By-laws DO give us authority.) Joe apparently sues people for a hobby and has the bottomless wallet to do it. He came in one day moaning that it was going to cost $12K to get his Mercedes transmission repaired. And the neighbors. One got a permit to addle the eggs of the prolific Canada geese. Another, a wildlife lover, called her a murderer. My next-door neighbor, a lovely man who mows his lawn twice a week, thinks there should be NO algae on the lake. (You can do that but it takes chemicals and this time of year it would kill all the fish.) One guy just does what he wants with his house even if it's against the restrictions so we have all kind of actions against him. Fortunately, the Board members other than Joe are wonderful people and we work well together. I will have plans for keeping the next meeting under control. If I lose too much sleep over all of this I'll quit, but so far it's been OK. OMG. Is Joe a doctor, by chance? Because I think I know where you live, lol! There's one sue-happy guy out there that I've been dealing with for years in my job. Oh the stories I could tell on him....
In my next life, I am moving to your side of the state line, Athena. Apparently life is so good there that people have to invent crap to fuss about.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:53:01 GMT -5
OMG. Is Joe a doctor, by chance? Because I think I know where you live, lol! No- he owns a good-sized business. Maybe the doctor is his brother!
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 3, 2016 17:24:39 GMT -5
I didn't grow up here, and I worry sometimes that there's local "common knowledge" that I'm missing that will put me in a dangerous situation where a local would have no issues. Like-- shake your shoes out before putting them on? Make sure all beds are raised off of the floor? Seek medical attention if any spider bites you, ever? I grew up in Hawaii. Very, very little is dangerous there outside of the ocean. Boars. I think that might be it. I figure it will be like tourists who die because of rip tides, except it will be a snake, tick, or spider. Meh, mostly fleas if you have a pet.
The occasional black widow. Just don't try to move or kill one with your bare hands. I generally take a paper towel and move all spiders outside of "my" home out to "theirs". I don't turn them upside down to look for the hour glass sign.
I'd be far more afraid of speeding Google buses!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 18:23:10 GMT -5
The snake, a female ball python, was humanely euthanized today at my expense and through the efforts of a local herpetologist I contacted whose vet determined that her injuries were not compatible with a good quality of life. I cried last night and again today because her death was due to ignorance. She was probably abandoned by her original owner, just like many dogs, cats, and children in our communities, when ownership became inconvenient. Ball pythons have an average lifespan of 35 years.
FYI, we are a single-family home, voluntary dues HOA, the resident called our private security patrol after injuring the snake and after the local municipal animal control said they don't respond to snakes. Actually, they don't respond to dogs or cats either because they are flat-ass broke or don't give a damn, or both.
This type of snake is not illegal in our city.
The irony is that I met an amazing person (the rescue guy) and probably would have kept or at least fostered the snake even though I am not a reptile person and it would have been inconvenient. Her image is forever etched on my brain.
DH was really supportive throughout this which is a very positive revelation for me. I think he actually liked the snake a lot.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Aug 3, 2016 18:30:16 GMT -5
In my Mom's condo assoc the weirdest thing that caused an actual fight were flowers and the color of the curtains that showed from the outside. People put flowers in boxes and hung them or put them next to their front doors. Apparently that required permission and had a laundry list of hoops to jump through to get the ok. The way people were freaking out about it you would have thought they were boxes of shit instead of flowers. The curtains were supposed to be lined so only white showed from the outside. Well some curtains were lined better than others, because some had a kind of bleed through that gave it a light colored appearance. People took it on themselves to walk around and note what windows had a light pink look to the curtains or light blue ect. It would have been funny if people weren't getting threatening letters and "fines". I live in an apt. Not a condo and no HOA. But these are the rules in the apts where I live too, along with a boat load of other rules. The mgrs periodically walk around the property, making note of anyone not in compliance. Only outdoor furniture is allowed outside. No kitchen chairs, or folding chairs etc. Pool towels cannot be put over the railing of your balcony/patio, to dry. Once I got a notice to remove the box from my balcony, when there wasn't one. I used to keep a small garbage can out on my balcony, to empty the ashtray in to (so people wouldn't toss their butts on the ground below). I was told it had to be removed/kept inside. Quiet hours are strictly enforced. Lots of rules. But it does keep things under control and nicer looking, I suppose.
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swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Aug 3, 2016 19:40:24 GMT -5
I dint think there are HOA any where near me. Thank god. I'm free to hang up my ugly ass curtains, plant flowers, mow my lawn when I want, and park wherever I want.
And I leave snakes alone. Once in a while I try to pick them up to freak my DD out, but I put it back right away.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 3, 2016 19:51:37 GMT -5
So I've been looking at neighborhoods. Since it's a SFH I'm after, no HOA. But I remember DH saying the best thing about a HOA was that everyone got their lawn mowed on the same day so the yards all looked nice at the same time. I see his point. When you own your own home, you or your service nows whenever. So no ones lawn looks the same on the same day. It's kind of funny. Usually this works itself out. In our neighborhood we will have one person mow their lawn, pretty soon you have 4 more people out mowing their lawns, if you happen to be one of the slackers you will suddenly look around and say Crap! I'm the last one and rush out to mow. Peer pressure lawn style That is my current neighborhood... Going to miss that!!! Within the first couple of hours of 1 person doing their lawn you can count 5-6 other neighbors out doing their lawn. It was kinda funny actually! My wife and I would go when the first person start: guess today is lawn day!
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 3, 2016 20:08:32 GMT -5
I have always called neighbor kids to deal with snakes.
I had mice at one place where I lived in Colorado. Stupid kittens just played with it. Some how it found it's way in to my blue jeans. I'm walking to the car and the mouse starts running down my leg. I think everybody in town heard me screaming!
I have had two dead mice here. Both in the garage. Not surprising as there is a cornfield across the street. It is my BIL's job to come get rid of my dead mice.
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ginpin
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Post by ginpin on Aug 3, 2016 22:31:46 GMT -5
I have yet to go to an HOA meeting, but I've discovered that some of the people in my neighborhood are seriously uptight, all from the FB page. I'm really thinking of moving in a couple of years. Do you live in EC with me? I must! Sheesh! We have a neighbor that doesn't take great care of their yard. Well, someone actually took a photo of the yard and posted it on the FB page! Public shaming at its finest. Anyway, one of the people that lived there saw the post, and blasted the guy for doing it. Apparently they have a disabled child living there, so the yard isn't always a priority. Just crazy what people do in this age of social media.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Aug 4, 2016 2:28:41 GMT -5
Do you live in EC with me? I must! Sheesh! We have a neighbor that doesn't take great care of their yard. Well, someone actually took a photo of the yard and posted it on the FB page! Public shaming at its finest. Anyway, one of the people that lived there saw the post, and blasted the guy for doing it. Apparently they have a disabled child living there, so the yard isn't always a priority. Just crazy what people do in this age of social media. Holy crap! Disabled kid, or not, I'd want to die of embarrassment.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 4, 2016 4:13:18 GMT -5
Is it just lawn mowing or is it a mess as well? I don't understand why people move to a house and never figure on taking care of it. That includes the lawn and the yard. Get a condo or an apartment if you're not into yard work.
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ginpin
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Post by ginpin on Aug 4, 2016 7:52:08 GMT -5
I must! Sheesh! We have a neighbor that doesn't take great care of their yard. Well, someone actually took a photo of the yard and posted it on the FB page! Public shaming at its finest. Anyway, one of the people that lived there saw the post, and blasted the guy for doing it. Apparently they have a disabled child living there, so the yard isn't always a priority. Just crazy what people do in this age of social media. Holy crap! Disabled kid, or not, I'd want to die of embarrassment. Yeah, me too. I've gotten nasty grams in the mail, just warnings, about my grass being too long, so I hired a lawn service. It's a little expensive, but so worth it.
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ginpin
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Post by ginpin on Aug 4, 2016 7:53:55 GMT -5
Is it just lawn mowing or is it a mess as well? I don't understand why people move to a house and never figure on taking care of it. That includes the lawn and the yard. Get a condo or an apartment if you're not into yard work. Mowing and weeding. Even oblivious me has noticed it, but I don't make it a point to publicly shame someone. I think my next house might be a condo.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Aug 4, 2016 7:59:50 GMT -5
Is it just lawn mowing or is it a mess as well? I don't understand why people move to a house and never figure on taking care of it. That includes the lawn and the yard. Get a condo or an apartment if you're not into yard work. Yup. X wanted a house but wanted nothing to do with the upkeep, so the lawn was a hot mess for like 1.5 years. You couldn't go into the back yard without wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt because you would get destroyed by the bugs in literally 5-10 mins. So he finally agreed to start working on the lawn after I nagged him about a million times. We were definitely the next to worst lawn on the block. The next place I own will be a townhouse... Hopefully an end unit.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 4, 2016 8:17:29 GMT -5
Honestly if I knew someone had their hands full I'd do it for them or hire it done. It's one thing if they're just lazy but having a family member with health issues, I feel for them.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 4, 2016 8:17:52 GMT -5
Even if it's just the front yard.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 4, 2016 8:18:46 GMT -5
I've driven by houses and crossed them off because the yards of the others looked bad. I don't want to live in an area where people don't keep up their property.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 4, 2016 8:30:02 GMT -5
Seriously, if you want to live like that, fine, but move to an area where it's fine to live that way.
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