Snobbish RV resorts with ownerships

et2 wrote:
So we are about 5 years or so away from retirement. We have discussed possible buying a RV lot eventually, probably down in Florida. We have camped here in Michigan at a RV (ownership) resort that rents unsold or not used lots.

Now the place is gorgeous and kept clean. The mostly older owners ( probably mostly retired folk ) who are full-timers which many seem very snobby. They watch you like a hawk. Now we have two dogs and we fully abide by the rules for pets. On a 6 foot leash, picked up after, don't bark, kept off others properties. They funny thing is these owners don't follow the rules they expect you to and let their dogs on those expanding leashes run all over everyone's property taking a leak. Seems like a double standard. But I get it - I'm not a owner and have no foot to stand on, as they pay a condo fee and taxes, etc.

All that being said, the one that that got me laughing was this couple across the pond in front of our RV. Now the grass must have been cut on our site after it was a bit high and wet as there were clumps of dried grass all over out site. Our dogs kept picking them up and eating them getting sick. So after about a day or so I was sitting outside watching TV under the awning. I see out of the corner of my eye that my wife finally had it with pulling the grass out of our dogs mouths and was throwing the clumps downhill trying to get somewhat of a clump free spot.

I hear someone yelling at her and she asked me to come over. This couple was sitting in the site across the big pond on their lounge chairs yelling at her to pick it up. I yell back its grass, do you really think my wife would pick up dog dung with her bare hands? No apology, nothing. These two sat out there every evening watching all that went on around them.

My wife went to the office to inquire about something. While there she overheard a couple older men ( owners) complaining about the free candy at the desk to the woman working. Something about for all they pay you would think they would have better candy.

Really? Is this what we have to look forward to? Are all these ownership parks the same?

If you buy a lot you can't ignore those idiots as they are very likely the only ones willing to be on the board of directors and they are going to determine everything that you can and cannot do. I made this mistake at The Great Outdoors in Titusville, FL back in 1997 and one of the greatest days of my life was selling that lot in 2001 or 2002. The folks that bought our lot became good friends and they sold the lot a few years later. I hate home owners associations in general but RV HOA's tend to be run by folks that actually never leave the property (RVer? 'cause you live in an RV?) and feel like they are the only ones who know anything about anything. When it comes to The Great Outdoors in Titusville it was all about who had the most money and they told the rest of us peons how they thought we should spend our money. Running short of cash? Assess all the owners to make up the difference. NO THANKS!
If you plan to full time in one spot (you know, NOT RVing) buy and sit and take what comes. If you plan to move, I would suggest that you look at some of the options such as Thousand Trails so you don't have to park in only one place. It still does limit where you can go, so you have to like the locations where the TT parks are located, but it surely gives you a lot more flexibility and a whole lot less BS to deal with.