I found an apartment today.  In finding an apartment today, I also realized my love of rules. You see, the apartment for which I signed a lease is a complex of condominiums with an owner's association.  That means they've got more rules and regulations than a human being is actually be capable of comprehending (in my professional opinion).  So with my signature on the lease came a 54 page book of rules and regulations which need to learn, follow, and pass a test verifying my understanding.

In reading the copious reviews for the complex online I realized that most people get pretty annoyed with this process.  Not only that, but they get even more annoyed with having to follow the rules (and so many of them-- no backing your car in, nothing on balconies but plants and patio furniture, no hanging anything, you must carry your ID card at all times, only do laundry and throw out trash within a certain period of time etc.).  The thing is, hearing all of these rules and regulations, unlike most people, makes me a little excited.

I see the rules and regulations as somewhat of a challenge.  Knowing them, following them, being the best tenant ever, feels like a bit of a game to me.  Like I can defeat the regime enforcing the rules by being really good at following them.  Maybe knowing them so well that I can be the one person who gets away with something because it's not in the rules.

Regardless, I'm choosing to look at the rules as an opportunity to make myself a classier person without loud music and trash on my balcony, to make myself a better neighbor, to exhibit some self-restraint.  It would be easy to look at the rules and regulations as limitations.  Instead I choose to look at them as a challenge.

Keep on thinking,
Josie