Living in the great Mid West of these United States offers a variety to the swimming season. It can start as early as May and last as late as September. Or, it can rain throughout the month of June and the pool will be untouched until sometime in July.
The latter has been the option for this year.
Swimming pools can be lots of fun. They can also be lots of work. As I stand and look at ours, a series of questions came to mind about what you might want to consider, if you're considering having a swimming pool.
First and foremost is safety. That should be the top concern. It only takes a second for a child to leave your line of sight. So, can you provide a safe environment?
The next question anyone contemplating the summer funiness of pool time should ask is, do you really want something else that needs to have the vacuum sweeper run in it? Oh yes, there are lots of automatic vacuums on the market that tout you will never have to manually sweep your pool but so far, we have yet to find one that really works. I have talked to other people who get along just fine with theirs but ours always seemed to suck itself on the side of the pool, much like a giant plastic leech. This was always followed by my husband talking to it in a not-so-kind way and then having to guide it with a long pole....followed by more not-so-kind words.
As you are deciding which pool you want, ask yourself this: Do you envision yourself relaxing, floating gently on the water, taking in the sun on a lovey summer day? Now ask, do you have children? Your vision has just been swamped by an 80 pound cannon ball, that literally came out of nowhere.
Have you considered the cost? Not just the start up cost of getting the pool, then getting the ground ready, then filling it with water, then attaching all manner of pumps, filters and other gadgets, but the long term cost. Pool water does not stay sparkling clear on its own. There is a whole herd of products to keep the water clean and if you're buying from a pool dealer, they will be more than happy to put you on their endless supply of products. Some will even offer to come and maintain the pool for you. By all means, if you can afford that, do so, it could save you a lot of grief. I've always taken care of ours by myself. I feel like a mad scientist as I measure and add products, praying for the best result. So far, I think I have done well, no one has emerged from the pool missing a limb or growing a new one.
Now that you have your pool, what kind of floaty toys do you want? None? If you have children you will end up with every inflatable raft, ball, tube, noodle and any other item that looks like so much fun on the packaging. Not long after that, you will need a place to store these wonderful purchases because trying to deflate them isn't an option. A few words of advice, DO NOT buy the giant inflatable orca. I don't care how big your pool is, it won't be big enough and there is nothing more enjoyable than to have said beast banging into your head while your children think this is the funniest thing ever. Another thing about the giant inflatable orca, it takes up a lot of space when it's not in the water. If it isn't moored to something stable and a strong wind comes through, you will look like you are trying to recreate a scene from Free Willy as you retrieve it from four blocks down the street.
How much closet space do you have? What does closet space have to do with having a pool? First, you will need some more towels. You will lose some of these over the season, but usually you will gain a few too. If you entertain the youth in your area, you will end up with an assortment of summer clothing that will range from swimming trunks, underwear, tee shirts, an occasional dress and numerous socks. None of these items will ever be missed by the wearer. I've often wondered if they thought they arrived naked.
Do you have boys? I don't know what it is about boys and water but it instantly adds mega forms of creativity to their imaginations. One former pool owner shared the story of a time when their sons were younger and used the long aluminum pole, needed for numerous skimming attachments, to pole vault into the pool. Long aluminum poles make for nice round holes in a vinyl liner. Yes, boys should come with a label that reads, 'just add water' for endless forms of entertainment. Water also makes them lose part of their hearing because getting wet makes them loud, really loud.
There are probably more questions to ask before getting a swimming pool, but these were just a few I thought of, while gazing at my empty pool. It's full of water, the water is clear....well, sort of, but there are no loud voices. No squealing girls and equally squealing boys. Our children are grown and even though they live close, their children are getting to the age where they are busy themselves.
We've reached the stage in our lives where we can truly enjoy the vision of lounging quietly in the pool, taking in the sun on a lovely summer day. Sigh...... As I flip through the pages of the recent pool catalog, I see the giant inflatable orca is on sale!
No comments:
Post a Comment