Why Are Pools So Popular?
Whether you live in a warm sub-tropical climate, the suburbs of a major metropolis, flat midwestern farmlands, or a heavily wooded mountain region, owning a swimming pool can greatly enhance both your property and overall lifestyle. Most swimming pool owners design a backyard oasis, but some people choose to build their pool indoors. Whether it is located on a back deck and simply screened in, or in a home’s main living area, an indoor pool can provide extra privacy and create opportunities for year-round swimming. There are many advantages to owning an outdoor or indoor pool, and many pool owners consider their pool to be an essential lifestyle item.
The Advantages of Owning Pool
Having a swimming pool provides you with many unique opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, stay fit and spend quality time with family and friends. If you were to calculate the amount of money you save by exercising, entertaining and destressing in your own backyard, your pool would likely pay for itself over time.
- Exercise: Swimming is one of the most effective muscle toning, calorie burning workouts you can undertake. Additionally, swimming is a low impact exercise that can be considered appropriate for most people of any age or fitness level. Water provides a natural buoyancy that makes moving easier and many pool exercises can even help with physical rehabilitation and the process of strength building.
While exercise pools are available at many gyms, fitness facilities and community centers, having your own pool increases the likelihood that you will maintain a regular swimming exercise program. It is much more convenient to walk into the backyard for your daily workout, than to drive to the local gym, fitness facility or community center. A swimsuit is really the only equipment you need for a pool workout to be effective, and you can exercise in your pool at any time of day. If your pool is heated, or located indoors, you may even be able to work out through the winter months.
- Entertaining: Whether you are planning a child’s birthday party, company get-together, Fourth of July bash or themed pool party, having a pool makes entertaining friends and family very easy. Adult guests can lounge by the pool to enjoy grilled foods and mixed drinks, or a volleyball net can be set up in the pool area for a vigorous match. Guests who enjoy swimming can float around the deep end of pool on inflatable loungers, while children splash and play in the shallow areas.
When you plan a pool party, you can use a tropical or tiki theme to decorate the area around the pool. Or, choose tradiitonal party music and balloons. If filled with waterproof treats, you can even string some pinatas up over the water. Plastic lily pads, rubber ducks or corked plastic bottles with fun messages inside can serve as floating pool decorations. Or, you could use colored bulbs inside the pool lights to ‘dye’ the water green, blue, red or yellow, and place floating votive candles on the surface of the water.
Be prepared for potential water emergencies. Maintaining an easily accessible supply of lifesaving flotation devices, and knowing how to use them, is an important part of entertaining family and friends in your pool. It is important that you are able and ready to respond to a swimmer in distress, so seek out CPR training and practice your own swimming skills regularly. Keep a phone near the pool area when swimmers are in the water, and never let unsupervised children spend time in or near the water.
- Relaxation and stress reduction: After a long week at the office, or a few hectic days spent traveling, you can save money by unwinding in your backyard pool instead of the spa. Lounging in the water, with the heater and pool lights on, you can gaze up at the stars and shift into relaxation mode. Or, slather on some sunscreen, blow up an enormous float with cupholders, grab your favorite hat and sunglasses, snatch up a copy of your favorite magazine and spend an afternoon distressing in the water.
Backyard pools can also make ‘staycation’ vacation alternatives. If your family needs a summer vacation but you can’t afford to book a cruise, fly to a tropical destination or take the kids to an expensive waterpark, consider planning a ‘staycation’ in your own pool. You can create fun themes for each day, and plan meals and activities around the theme.
A Hawaii themed day might include wearing flowery leis in the pool, listening to hula music outdoors and ordering a pineapple and ham pizza for dinner. Or, a summer Olympic themed day could feature water sports contests like relay races, water volleyball and diving from the diving board. Ribbons or small cash prizes could be awarded for each event, with the overall winner getting to choose where the family goes out to eat for dinner that night. Simply be creative and come up with themes and events that will be appropriate for the ages and interests of your family.
