'Three cats over the line'--and other condo rules.(THE LAST LAUGH)

Our little association of 21 condo units meets each September, and this year we welcomed four new owners.

Our leaders were thoughtful enough to distribute copies of the condo rules to all attending, to remind us of what we signed on for. It sets a tone of civility for communal living.

But let me tell you, it's a long way from owning a home to owning a condo. What you give up in labor and hassle by moving to a condo, you trade in for your independence. While I no longer have to mow the lawn, rake up 17 huge bags of oak leaves, shovel snow or worry about my roof or siding, now I have to worry about where to store my toys.

The captain and her fleet

OK, I'll admit to going a little crazy over water toys when I first moved here. I bought a powerboat before I even closed on the condo, and tied it to the pier.

And I have a couple of small kayaks hanging from the pier all summer. The problem is storing them in winter. Condo rules expressly forbid leaving it on your deck--in fact, I got a letter informing me of that rule. Never mind that a long-term resident here who happens to be an elected state official has kept his canoe on his deck for years. After three summers here, I still haven't found the box containing the pulley system I'd rigged up at the old house to hang the kayaks on the garage wall.

My first year here, my Xmas card showed me in a Santa hat, paddling my kayak in the ice right off my pier. Last year I left both of them on the pier all winter.