Lox,

I certainly have strong reservations, but those reservations are based on assumptions, not experience. I have been known to assume wrongly. I'd really like to hear from people who do or have lived in that environment to get a better idea of what it might be like.

Issues of space and gardening aside, I'm wondering what it is like to have a neighbor living on the other side of the wall. How can I get an idea in advance of what the culture of a particular complex is like? I'm sure that must vary. What do you do when you have a crappy, hard to get along with neighbor? How regimented are these places, really? How do teenagers fare in that environment? What actual recourse do you have if the neighbor next door is loud, or unreasonable?

For those of you who do live in such places, what do you like about it? What are the advantages to you?

I will be moving from a 100 year old wood house in a historic district that I dearly love but which is falling down around me. When hubby and I were together, we struggled, only partially successfully, to afford the tremendous cost of maintenance and repairs for such a place. On my own, it is out of the question for me to stay here. My biggest concern about buying another house is the upkeep. Maybe brick or vinyl would be more manageable, but I don't know. My experience with this house has got me a little spooked. I don't want to buy another place that I can't afford to maintain, and do not know what a newer house constructed with more modern materials might require in terms of maintenance.

I also do not have much available time anymore to maintain the extensive gardens I love. A small yard all in garden is doable and an attractive idea. I know I can not continue to mow a big yard. The vibrations of the mower handle are wreaking absolute havoc with my deteriorating hands, which still have not recovered fully from the first mowing of the season 2 weeks ago. I'm concerned that in a few years, even a small garden and yard will be more than I can physically manage. These are some very good reasons to consider a condo, and I would be remiss to not seriously explore the idea.