Right to Dry-Are we living in a "hypocracy?"

I posted something to the Project Laundry List email group last week. I had just started a new job, so I was in a hurry. The next day, I got an email--rather embarrassing, I have to say--from someone, pointing out I had misspelled "hypocrisy," but that it may have been an appropriate application, after all. Between my boyfriend and I, I came up with the following definition and example of the word, "hypocracy," in use:

Definition courtesy of Urban Dictionary.

Example of usage.

I read my local papers every week when they come out. While I am not an "out in the community" type, I do like to know what is going on around me. I like to know about new laws or changes to local rules or upcoming events that might be fun for us to attend.

Last week, the local paper for my town (we get one for our town and one for the county) featured letters from our two top leaders for our community about their plans for greening the community--they are looking at adding solar to community buildings, for instance, and encouraging the residents to "go green," as well. Folks, I found this quite laughable: When I bought my house back in 2006, the first thing I did was to sit down with my HOA rules and read them carefully through. Start to finish. I had made mistakes living in my previous home, and I wanted to be a better neighbor this time around.

I would like you all to know, my good readers, that the rules for my HOA prohibit just about ALL green practices that a suburbanite might manage: We are NOT allowed to hang our clothes out to dry. We are NOT allowed to compost. We are NOT allowed to catch rainwater--all practices that contribute to a healthier planet while also reducing a household's dependence on fossil fuels.

When I read these newspaper letters, I got very annoyed, and I prepared myself to write a letter to this organization, stating that they really need to talk to their HOAs and have them revamp their covenants if they want us to go green: How can we do that, if we are not ALLOWED to? The problem was I wanted to write anonymously. Why? These organizations often don't like to be questioned. Anyone who lives under one knows that if you question them, you draw attention to yourself.

I sat down and thought out my letter carefully, and then I consulted their Letters to the Editor guidelines: They do not accept anonymous letters. Not only that, but they say right in the guidelines that if you ask to have your name witheld, they will not even consider your letter for publication! (Outrageous! I wonder how many other community organizations behave in this manner?)

Needless to say, when I was invited to post to this blog, I was thrilled: I can express myself here, somewhat anonymously, and not have to worry about being "targeted."

The point of my whole post is this: How can HOAs , condo associations, etc. preach green, while at the same time not allowing people to do the things we need to do in order to be greener?

My boyfriend and I are not waiting for them to catch up. We line dry our clothes, we catch rain water, and we have even started a small vegetable garden. We are Stealth Greens. Meanwhile, the state of Maryland, it appears, is starting to consider legislation that will limit the power of HOAs when it comes to folks trying to be greener. My fingers are firmly crossed that this legislation will pass in my state, especially legislation concerning Right to Dry.

Will I still write to my community organization? Yes. I probably will write them a letter, though not for publication in the paper. Will they start to harass us once I do write? I'm not sure, but I don't feel like we can stay quiet about this: They either need to allow us to be greener, or they need to keep their mouths shut!