Floating Away
I never wanted to own a pool.
I love to swim, but I preferred to do it in a pond or swim club, or someone else's pool. I assumed it would be way too much trouble to keep up.
But when we bought this house it had a pool. Built in, enclosed by an ugly, graying wooden fence almost six feet high.
Well, I thought, I guess I'll learn to deal with a pool.
It's turned out to be the best thing. When the kids were younger, they were in and out of it all day long. Even after a day at the beach, we still like to jump in the pool.
But it's only the last few years that I've learned to indulge in my favorite backyard pool activity: floating.
Yes, that's right. Floating.
There's nothing like coming home from a long day at work, putting on my suit, and climbing onto my floating lounge, complete with backrest and drink holder.
Sometimes I read or write, but mainly I lean back, trailing my hands and feet in the cool water. I shut my eyes, losing all track of time as the raft is pushed about by the breeze, bobbing off the sides of the pool, the sun warm on my skin.
Occasionally I load up my drink holder with a cold beer (what? you thought I was more sophisticated? that maybe I'd be sipping a fine wine as I drifted about the pool?). I'm not usually a beer dinker, but there's something about an icy cold Coors Light on a hot summer day that is extremely satisfying.
Perhaps it has something to do with the whole return-to-the-womb phenomenon. The floating, I mean, not the beer. I'm nearly 100 percent sure there was no beer involved in my prenatal experience.
I'm always grateful for the shelter of the ugly weathered fence. You see, I like to float in private.
Maybe I don't want anyone to see me indulging in such decadence. Or maybe I just don't like to share.
I love to swim, but I preferred to do it in a pond or swim club, or someone else's pool. I assumed it would be way too much trouble to keep up.
But when we bought this house it had a pool. Built in, enclosed by an ugly, graying wooden fence almost six feet high.
Well, I thought, I guess I'll learn to deal with a pool.
It's turned out to be the best thing. When the kids were younger, they were in and out of it all day long. Even after a day at the beach, we still like to jump in the pool.
But it's only the last few years that I've learned to indulge in my favorite backyard pool activity: floating.
Yes, that's right. Floating.
There's nothing like coming home from a long day at work, putting on my suit, and climbing onto my floating lounge, complete with backrest and drink holder.
Sometimes I read or write, but mainly I lean back, trailing my hands and feet in the cool water. I shut my eyes, losing all track of time as the raft is pushed about by the breeze, bobbing off the sides of the pool, the sun warm on my skin.
Occasionally I load up my drink holder with a cold beer (what? you thought I was more sophisticated? that maybe I'd be sipping a fine wine as I drifted about the pool?). I'm not usually a beer dinker, but there's something about an icy cold Coors Light on a hot summer day that is extremely satisfying.
Perhaps it has something to do with the whole return-to-the-womb phenomenon. The floating, I mean, not the beer. I'm nearly 100 percent sure there was no beer involved in my prenatal experience.
I'm always grateful for the shelter of the ugly weathered fence. You see, I like to float in private.
Maybe I don't want anyone to see me indulging in such decadence. Or maybe I just don't like to share.
The pool guy didn't clean the pool yesterday morning. He said the gate was locked...but it wasn't. Yesterday afternoon the husband and I were in the pool drinking Tuaca (don't ask)...things were getting a little frisky...I looked up...there was the pool guy! He turned around so fast and practically ran out of the backyard dragging his pool equipment behind!
Posted by: Jill | August 21, 2009 at 08:40 AM
*breaks into hysterical sobs* I miss my pool! I miss weather hot enough to justify having a pool!
Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!
*sniff* Okay, I feel better now. Not really, but that's what I tell myself.
Posted by: Jan | August 21, 2009 at 08:52 AM
I wish I had a pool. I'd be in it all the time. When I win the lottery, I'll be sure to have a pool and a hot tub.
Posted by: Joanie M | August 21, 2009 at 09:35 AM
I love floating. On boats, on inflated things, even just myself bobbing up and down in the water. Thanks for the moment of peace this morning.
Posted by: LPC | August 21, 2009 at 09:54 AM
I would very much like to have this decadence, minus the beer. Floating seems like an excellent way to relieve stress.
Posted by: Erin | August 21, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Oh, how wonderful. My husband has long wanted to put a pool into our back garden but I too didn't want the bother and so, not long ago it was completely tiled over. Your post made me long to tear up the ceramics and share in your experience. Is it too late? We'll see!! Great post.
Posted by: Gloria Carrington-Ferrira | August 21, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Sounds delightful.
Erin (aka Kingsmom)
Posted by: Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt | August 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Well, it sounds like absolute heaven to me. The last house, we had a pool....the only time the boys went in was when they had friends over. They didn't seem to enjoy each other's company enough to bother if it was just them. But I LOVED floating....the trailing of hands and feet in the cool, gently moving water....heaven, I tell ya.
No pool in this house. JUST the alcohol...martini, beer, whatever. Takes away some of the pain and reminds me of those days...floating in the pool.....
Posted by: Kathryn Lukaske | August 21, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Being from Arizona, I have long known the joys of a nice backyard pool. Now that I live in Canada...well...it's just not the same. (Must have something to do with sub-freezing weather...)
Happy floating!
Posted by: Camille | August 21, 2009 at 05:23 PM
*snort* Hooo boy. I can tell I've been on Second Life too long. When I first saw that float with the beach balls in it, I thought to myself, "Oh cool! Poseballs." *shaking my head." And if you're not on SL? You'd never get that reference.
Sooo....
Let me giggle about that all by my lonesome and say that I abso lutely love love love floating around in a pool like that. Total heaven!! :)
Posted by: Midlife Mama | August 21, 2009 at 07:30 PM
I'm pretty sure beer was involved in my prenatal experience. Both of my parents are from Wisconsin,, after all.
Posted by: class factotum | August 21, 2009 at 11:07 PM
I love floating. And I would love to have a pool. And a jacuzzi.
Posted by: Pseudo | August 21, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Used to live in a house with a inground pool and hot tub. Miss it terribly. Never could understand people who have pools and never use them.
BTW, I hope Bill isn't treating you guys too badly. And your famous visitor is arriving this week, isn't he? Good luck getting around.
Posted by: Jersey Girl | August 22, 2009 at 08:59 PM
That sounds divine. Good for you!
We had a pool in our last house and it was the bane of my existence! Now we have a community pool, and I don't miss having our own at all.
But....when I went to a friends' house a few weeks ago who had a very private pool with 90 degree water, and when I was out there by myself and went skinny dipping? Now THAT was awesome. Is that TMI? Sorry if it is.
Posted by: Jason | August 23, 2009 at 11:33 PM
PS-We had a jacuzzi in our last house, too. That was an even bigger pain than the pool!
Posted by: Jason | August 23, 2009 at 11:33 PM
In my next home I'll have a pool for sure. I love to swim..., floating, I can definitely see myself doing that too.
Posted by: Maya | August 24, 2009 at 11:40 PM