She had represented private property as a community resource.
And she had done it without permission.
Chapter 9 — What Happened to the Pool
For several weeks afterward, I kept the backyard closed to everyone except people I personally invited.
I changed the gate code.
I upgraded the cameras.
I added clearer signs.
And I made one important decision.
The pool would remain private.
Not because I hated my neighbors.
Quite the opposite.
I eventually invited a few of them over for a small barbecue.
This time, there was no HOA announcement.
No committee.
No neighborhood-wide invitation.
Just people I actually knew.
It was peaceful.
Which made me realize how ridiculous the original party had been.
The problem had never been sharing.
The problem had been someone else deciding that I had no right to say no.
Chapter 10 — Karen Tries One Last Time
Months later, I received a letter from the HOA.
For a moment, I wondered whether Karen had somehow managed to start another fight.
She had.
She had filed a complaint claiming that my refusal to provide access to the pool was "creating division within the community."