On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 13:30:17 -0400, Paul Giroux
This always amazes me. The highest my water's ever been is 77
degrees, I swim when it's 68, the wife likes it at 77.

************ You are braver then me... Pool has to be 80 degrees
before I jump in... Local YMCA requires 75 degree water temp for
competition... so you can bet I do not swim in competition...

Most of the people here open their pools in early June, mine's opened
mid-April (water's at 50). The city outdoor pools are opened for the
last weekend in June and close mid-August. The weather this year is
exceptional though, we may swim until the end of August, but no later
than that I don't think. First swim was mid-May for me.

Balto-Washington area here... I open the pool in early April... BEFORE
it turns a nice green color... just easier then waiting until you can
not see the bottom.. First swim is normally in late May however..(80
degrees remember)
..
I close the pool down in October.

I close the pool down the absolute last day before it snows....only
because I like looking at my pool...its relaxing and when I cover it
over for the winter it has to be winter....I HATE WINTER !

All this effort and maintenance for about 3 months of swimming. Pool
maintenance for me then has become a hobby (my wife says it's more a
symptom), hence the automation idea. I just like to tinker.

I see my neighbour washing his car every second day and I'm thinking
"c'mon, you don't need it, get over your car, it's just a car" while
he's probably looking at me and saying "c'mon, you don't need to
vacuum it every second day and test it every day, it's just a pool".

Its now July and I have had to vaccum my pool once so far this year ..
(day after I uncovered it in April).... I do run my Polaris cleaner
for an hour ever morning...as I drink my coffee and read the morning
paper...SUCH WORK..... LOL

I have 5 Corvettes in my garage and I normally have at least one of
them entered in a car show every week during the summer and all of
them leave the garage at least once a week for a 20-30 miles warm up
drive.... I HAVE NOT washed any of them in the last couple of
years....NOT ONCE.... they do not see rain...I "dust" them off with a
California duster before I leave the garage....and I wipe them down
with A detailer (Finish Fast in a spray bottle) when I return home...

I do not like washing a car..... I do not like cleaning the pool
either...

I do like to sit in the pool (on the steps) and drink a Bloddy Mary
and I do like driving my cars on the local twisties...
and I really like being retired and having the time to enjoy myself...


Bob Griffiths.


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