My best friend is president of her homeowners association in northern Orange County. I never miss the opportunity to tease her about HOAs and their reputations for telling you what color to paint your house and when to trim your trees. To many of us, these rules feel like an infringement of our property rights.  However, I now have a new perspective on what an association can provide, particularly in a beach community. In the case of my friend, the HOA maintains the slopes in her area.     Read the article………………………..