It was fun while it lasted, but...
This spring when we found our house, I kept saying to Brian, "Oh, I just wish it didn't have a pool!" The above-ground swimming area was nicely designed and complete with a deck, but there were just too many down sides. Even when Eli's swim lessons finally pay off, I don't know that kids have good judgement to be safe around over-their-heads water for quite a few more years. That made our backyard perpetually off limits unless a grownup was there and we had to go get a key every time we wanted to get through a gate.
Worrying about our child's safety was the biggest pool headache, but there were others. Making sure neighbor kids and animals couldn't gain access. Almost every play date became a pool party whether we wanted it to or not plus being responsible for visitors' safety. Skimming leaves out of it was a daily chore because of all the trees in our yard. Chemicals run about $600 in the summer and the pump really cranked up our electric bill. All this and we didn't find ourselves using it enough to justify the work and expense. As winter approached and we knew we had to either keep maintaining it or devise a pricy cover system, it was the last straw. Bye bye pool!
We hired a pool company to come and remove it since they had experience as well as proper tools. We preserved two pieces of the deck since they are in great shape and make a good place to hang out in the back yard. We have plenty of lawn for soccer practice and such, so the former pool space will most likely become an oval garden with raised beds for herbs, flowers, and seasonal vegetables.
Next step? Finding fill dirt!
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