Winter and Winter Complaints Recede

Winter has officially passed and with it the cold and snow. Yes, it is possible to get a snowfall in the next few weeks. In fact, several years ago we got a 12 inch snowfall on April 1st. However, it is unlikely and currently the temperature is about 68F. Looking at the 10 day forecast over at Weatherunderground, this is the prediction:

As snow recedes so have some of the complaints of residents. These complaints will morph into problems about mosquitoes and other things related to warmer weather. If 2015 is typical, I'll soon get complaints related to the warmer weather. Standing water, mosquitoes, flying ants, critters (simply follow the sunflower seeds or trail of crackers to see who is feeding them) and so on.

Lest we forget the reality of living in Northern Illinois and what that means, I'm posting a few winter photos taken in recent years. Yes, we do get ice, snow and sleet. This is normal and it does make life difficult and unpleasant. However, I would like to remind everyone that living in this climate is a choice. No one is forcing anyone to live in Northern Illinois and to my knowledge everyone either purchased in my HOA voluntarily, or has avoided the opportunity to sell. So this is the decision made of free will. With that decision, as with all decisions, there are consequences.

Of course, there are other opportunities. A home can be wherever we choose it to be. It could be in the place depicted in the following photo, in which case there might be rain in the winter and heat in the summer. That could be preferable to dealing with snow and ice in the winter:

To deal with winter this HOA spends $tens of thousands dealing with the snow and the ice. Residents get to share in the joy of winter and are provided with large buckets of snow melt (calcium chloride) to use as a supplement on "their" driveways and building entrances. They are also provided with "winter tips." Yes, living in Northern Illinois can have challenges. Nothing new here; it's been this way since the end of the last ice age about 12,000 years ago. Winters haven't changed in recent years, and not at all since 1974 when construction of BLMH began.

This is not news. How this HOA deals with winter has been constant for decades. The only change I am aware of is that the HOA no longer passes the hat to collect money when financial shortfalls in winter occur. Yes, there was a time this HOA lacked the funds to plow the snow. That's what happens when fees are kept "as low as possible."

Some residents are pragmatic. "Ho Hum, another winter; bear up and it may get ugly but thing will improve by April 1." Some residents play dumb or stupid and pretend this is the first year they have ever experienced winter. Some residents follow the winter tips and successfully deal with the weather. Some don't. Some then complain because there is ice, snow, heaving driveways or concrete and their garage doors freeze to the concrete. Ah, the joys of winter climates. Here at BLMH, winter is not all that difficult, unless one demands the amenities of warmer weather and concierge service. We don't and never did have a concierge. But who knows? This may now be one of the expectations of some residents. For those who now say this HOA is primarily a "retirement community" I must wonder what their expectations are.

As I am fond of saying, we can have anything, we simply have to pay for it. Most don't want to pay for such service, most don't want it, but a few do and will complain unceasingly to get it. The following photos were taken in recent years, some to document complaints by residents.

Gee, how is it my garage door froze shut last night?

Yep, it does look like winter out there!

Ice May Sometimes Come Inside

It's Everywhere!

How Will I Drive?

My View is Lousy!

No kidding!

Ice heaves the driveway

There remains some snow at the entry walk

They Plowed the Streets

I drove out of BLMH, but how am I supposed to get into that parking lot?