The above--a
little bit of Eden in my corner of the walkway--may soon be gone. Let me
explain.

I live in the
Gateway apartment residence in the middle of Fort Lauderdale over looking Karen Bay.
There are about 260 people living in about 21 buildings consisting of
efficiencies, small and large one bedroom apartments. The land, some of
the richest in the area, is owned by the Westminster Ministries and the
apartments are subsidized by HUD. Most of the people are poor, having
only their Social Security checks to live on, and certainly qualify well
below the poverty level. Some have a cat or a dog for company while
others tend to, and grow, flowers.

We are not condo
owners, we do not pay fees, consequently we have no say regarding the
rules and regulations set by both HUD and Westminster. Two years ago
they instituted a No Smoking in apartment rule and only in designated
areas away from apartments to take place starting January 1, 2009. Many
people have/ are having a hard time with this rule. Other new rules were
instituted such as only one dog or cat per apartment though those that
had more were grandfathered in with the understanding that if one of the
two pets died they could not be replaced. Still another rule was that
all dogs must be on a leash at all times when outdoors plus--ready for
this?--as so must cats!

As our rent is subsidized we have no recourse
except to either follow the rules or leave. Don't get me wrong--as many
of you know I love living here and it would take a heck of a lot to get
me to move not even if I could afford to. This is a piece of Paradise
and even if it may be referred to as the gateway to death it is a lovely
place to finish life's trip.

Now the rest is just conjuncture as I was not
at the monthly meeting nor have I seen any written directives. It is
just what I have heard since the meeting but it seems our new
administrator has decided no more flower pots outside of apartments,
that all plants must be planted in the ground. It seems he wants
everything uniform and all buildings conforming to each other.

Now I can understand the concern of flying
objects during a hurricane but I have been here 11 years, during a few
hurricanes including Wilma, and people always brought their potted
plants into their apartments at the first warning of a storm
approaching. With this rule means no color on the second and/or third
floors.

Where does 'uniform' begin and end? Does that
mean an American flag can't be flown/shown unless all apartments
display them?  Does it mean that the Florida symbol, the pink Flamingo
has to be banished as a lawn ornament? Do orchids have to be taken down?
Does a memorial for a recently deceased nephew of a resident have to be
removed?

Does conformity mean that holiday decorations
will no longer be allowed?  Will balconies and walkways, like mine,
have to be bare? Does conformity, uniform mean dull, boring? Does it
mean that people can no longer have a chair and/or umbrella to sit
outside and enjoy their senior years?

What do I do with my plants on the walkway? I
don't have any more room in the apartment already having 14 plants plus
the birds would tear them apart when I let them out of their cages.
Will they be able to be planted in front of our building though they
might not conform with the plants in front of other buildings?

Why would someone want to take away
something that gives so many people pleasure? That makes the grounds,
the buildings, look more festive? 

Hopefully this is much ado about nothing  and
I will keep you abreast as to where this all leads--and, keeping my
fingers crossed, nowhere!

PS I am
starting a rumor that as of July 1, 2010, sex will not be allowed in
apartments--the responses I am getting are really funny--not half way as
serious as to taking their flower pots away!