Let’s talk about rules. There are rules in life, rules in business, and rules in mobile home parks. Some rules make sense — like the whole “trick or treat” thing on Halloween. You knock on the door, you’re dressed in a costume, you say “trick or treat,” and you get candy. That’s the deal, right? That’s the contract.
But here’s where it all falls apart. What happens when people don’t follow the rules? Let’s say kids come knocking on your door on Halloween night with no costumes. No “trick,” no “treat” — just kids in street clothes, demanding candy. Do you give them candy? I say no. Why should you reward someone for not playing by the rules? It’s not mean. It’s just common sense. You don’t show up to Halloween unprepared and expect to get candy.
Well, guess what? Being a mobile home park owner is *exactly* like that Halloween situation. You set up rules, you make it clear what’s expected, and people still come knocking, ignoring the whole setup. And yet, somehow, *you’re* the bad guy when you don’t give them what they want.
The Rules Are the Rules, People!
Picture this: you’ve got a great mobile home park. The community is clean, the tenants are happy, and everything is running smoothly — because, hey, you’ve got rules. Maybe it’s something simple, like no junk cars left on the property. Easy enough, right? But then here comes a tenant who decides that the front yard is the perfect place to park a rusted-out truck from 1972. It’s an eyesore, it’s breaking the rules, but they just expect you to let it slide.
So you go over there, maybe give them a friendly reminder, and suddenly, you’re the Larry David of the mobile home park world — the unreasonable one, the “mean” one, because you don’t want your park looking like a salvage yard. But here’s the thing: the rules exist for a reason! Just like trick-or-treating, if you want the candy (or in this case, a well-maintained park), you’ve got to follow the rules.
No Candy for Non-Costumed Trick-or-Treaters, No Exceptions for Rule-Breakers
Look, it’s not personal. I have no problem with kids who don’t want to wear a costume, just like I have no problem with tenants who want to live their lives. But there’s a system here! You wear a costume, you get the candy. You follow the park rules, you get to live in a clean, safe community. It’s a win-win! So why is it that when you’re the one enforcing the rules — the ones that keep the whole operation from spiraling into chaos — *you* end up looking like the villain?
We, as mobile home park owners, are just trying to keep things running smoothly. I don’t want a neighborhood that looks like an unregulated tailgate party, just like I don’t want freeloaders showing up on Halloween without putting in any effort.
The Larry David Approach to Mobile Home Parks
Here’s the truth: mobile home parks are delicate ecosystems. One person parks a junk car on the lawn, and suddenly, everyone thinks it’s a free-for-all. You have to stop it early. If Larry David were running a park, he’d do the same thing. He’d see the rusting truck, march over, and say, “What’s going on here? We have rules! You’re making me the bad guy because you don’t want to follow the basic guidelines?” And guess what? He’d be right.
Sure, there’d be complaints. People might think you’re being unreasonable, just like those kids thought Larry was a jerk for denying them candy without costumes. But deep down, you know you’re doing the right thing. It’s not about being “mean” or “strict” — it’s about protecting the integrity of the community. Just like Halloween has unspoken rules, so do mobile home parks. You follow them, things go smoothly. You don’t? Well, don’t be surprised when there’s no candy at the door.
Consistency is Key
So what’s the moral of this story? Whether it’s trick-or-treating or mobile home park management, consistency is key. You can’t hand out candy to every kid who shows up with no costume, just like you can’t let tenants slide on the rules. Once you do, it’s over. The floodgates are open. People think they can park their clunker anywhere, skip rent payments, and leave junk lying around because, hey, what’s the worst that can happen?
But not with you. You, like Larry David, know that order must be maintained. The rules exist for a reason. So, the next time you feel like you’re the “bad guy” for enforcing the rules, just remember: Larry didn’t give those kids candy, and he was absolutely right.
Conclusion: Stand Your Ground
Being a mobile home park owner is a lot like Halloween trick-or-treating. There are rules. There’s an understanding. And when people don’t follow those rules, you’re not obligated to play along. You’re not the bad guy for protecting your community. You’re just doing what’s right.
So, stand your ground. If someone wants candy, they’ve got to wear the costume. If someone wants to live in a well-maintained mobile home park, they’ve got to follow the rules. It’s that simple.
