ABSTRACT
When I enter the neighborhood where I stay in East Hampton, I drive by a gray wood sign that reads, “Oak Hollow, A Private Community.” For a long time I could not make out what this meant. A private community without gates or guards-why advertise it? Is it to make it seem more prestigious or just to keep strangers out? One of the first things I did was to call the president of the property-owners association to ask if they could take the signs down. They seemed so unnecessary, way out in the woods. But I quickly learned that these signs are important for a sense of identity and security. The “privateness” refers to its development as a common interest development with rules, regulations, and fees for maintaining the collectively owned bay beach, hiking trail, and reserve areas.
