We Get Letters: The Spirit of Thanksgiving, Reston style

It must be the time of the year. We innocently post a heartwarming story about a $1500 HOA violation involving a door, and all of a sudden, people start getting all philosophical in the comments. Like this heartfelt missive:

it sucks, i have been living in Reston for about 10 years. The RA is the NAZI of Reston. They are in everybodys business. if you have a single family home they are all into what you have around your house. i hate it. my next move is out of Reston.
they love their trees so much, then why not take care of them.
most of the trees are in bad shape. trees falling all over in a strong wind storm. i also tell everybody i know not to purchase in Reston.

It's always nice to have a Realtor(tm) weigh in! Seriously, though, this comment prompted another response. Together, they neatly sum up, in a shiny mauve-colored bow, the different mindsets with which people approach the Reston way of life (consult pp. iv-401 of Reston covenant and disclosure documents):

After living here for over 25 years, I have raised a family, worked with and for our community, volunteered in our schools, and I too have had to deal with RA and the planned community governance of Reston, and I couldn't disagree with you more. I have watched Reston grow from a fledgling town, to a national leader in what a long term, planned community can offer. I too, at one time, battled with RA over the color of the trim on our townhouse. It seemed so petty, so insignificant, and the color I wanted wasn't but a few shades off of what was already offered in our cluster. However, after going through the process of requesting a color modification with RA, I had a much better understanding of the reasons behind the strict controls that are set in our community. I will never have to worry about my property value going down the tubes because some, shall we say, creative neighbor decided to paint their home purple with lime green trim (And I have seen a home like this in Great Falls). I will never have to worry about my neighbor deciding to park three junk cars in his driveway to try and piecemeal them into a fourth car. I would also like to mention, the color change that we had requested was granted, so I didn't find the process Naziesque, but democratic.

Yes, I agree, Reston has some strict, and sometimes rather petty guidelines by which it governs itself. However, the last time I checked, we in America live in a republic. Which by definition, affords and ensures a certain equality within and among its community. So, I guess if you would rather live in a place where there are no guidelines to protect you from that purple and lime green house going up next to yours, by all means, put your house on the market, and don't let the door hit you on the bum on your way out.

Forgive us for getting a bit choked up. Happy Thanksgiving, one and all.