John Locke wrote that in 1690, but his inspired thoughts are as applicable today as then. Living in a community entails both rights and responsibilities, a curtailing of personal freedoms for the greater comfort of all.

In a neighbourhood, it might mean not firing up the lawn mower at dawn, or turning down the outdoor stereo after dusk. Good fences make for good neighbours; they're a way to balance privacy and civility.

In a condominium highrise, the only fences are the walls between units. But whether it's a tiny row of townhouses or a vertical community larger than many towns, co-operation is key.

Living in such close proximity isn't for everyone. You should think long and hard about buying a condo if you're not prepared to co-exist. Renters, too, should know that living in a condo is different from apartment dwelling. They are also bound by the corporation's rules. Ignorance is no excuse.

Herewith, our version of the Ten Commandments of Condominium Living.

1. Honour thy neighbour.

Keep the noise down - or invite them to the party - the same way you would wind down a backyard barbecue before the wee hours. Saying hello as you pass in the hall, holding the door for someone with packages in hand, not pushing the CLOSE button on the elevator when you can hear footsteps approach - all are measures of common courtesy.

2. Respect thy property manager.

You employ this person to ensure the quiet enjoyment of your home. If someone three floors away is drilling holes or laying a parquet floor outside the approved hours, let the property manager handle it.

3. Respect all of thy property.

You own it all, from the lounge to the common areas, the garage (if you have one), the sauna, the pool. Any deterioration or damage to the building will bring down your property values. So, champagne glasses in the hot tub? Cigarette burns on the hall carpet? Gouged hallways from moving? Peeing in the pool? Just say no. (I once saw a woman spray-painting a wooden stool in the hallway!) If you see it, report it to your property manager or security personnel, if you have them. Otherwise, contact your board of directors - or police if it's serious enough.

4. Push thine own garbage all the way down the chute.

Not halfway, not unbagged or untied and, if it's too big (such as a box from a large appliance), take it to the garbage room. It's your garbage, your responsibility. Preventing the infestation of pests is everybody's concern. Enough said.

5. Thou shalt control thy pets.

To avoid a cat fight, we'll leave aside the issue of people who bring pets into a no-pets building - out of ignorance or wilfulness. If you have a pet, you should be in control of it at all times: in a crowded elevator, where inappropriate sniffing, licking or jumping occurs; in the hallways, where it is not suitable to let the animal out for a walk; on common-area balconies or roof decks, where Skippy might opt for a constitutional.

When taking your pet outside for his daily walk, remember your manners and city bylaws: Stoop and scoop.

6. Thou shalt control thy children.

Little darlings running amok in hallways, pressing all the elevator buttons or leaving footprints on walls do not endear themselves to their parents or their neighbours.

Worse, children left alone or unsupervised around pools, saunas, balconies or exercise machinery can be injured or killed. Whether they're your kids or they are in your temporary care, keep a watchful eye. Please.