![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Somehow, nothing is ever that simple
Jun. 2nd, 2008 08:15 pmSo shopping at Smiths on Saturday, I see a cute doughboy pool for $100. I called Bill, and he said "sure, let's get one" . It's cheap, almost disposable. Why not? If it lasts a season it'll be fine.
Then we have to decide on location. The patio at the bottom of the terraced area is very private, with a back door from the living room on that level opening out into the space - and yes, the 15 foot diameter pool will fit. Then I look at the instructions, which start with "Danger Will Robinson!". It seems doughboys are easily collapsed. What, I wonder, would 3500 gallons of water look like in the downstairs living area?
OK - second option. It would be great behind the garage - but that area is covered in lava rock, which is sharp and treacherous. A vinyl pool isn't going to last long there. The third spot is a charm - admittedly under a giant cottonwood, which sheds sticks and leaves all through the season - but a flood wouldn't be disastrous, and the area is paved and reasonably level.
Sunday is spent trying to get the darned thing deployed. First, I have to get some 6mm polythene to go under the pool, and a tarp to cover it up - off to Homo Depot, for another $60 of material. Oh well. While Bill was off teaching other people to be callers, I tackled the pool. I cleaned the area, used some old fiberglass insulation to level out a few rough areas, and then started filling the pool. The instructions said to add two inches of water, then straighten out the base. I tried that - off with the shoes, wading in the two inches of chilly tap water. The rough spots were still there. I imagine the weight of three feet of water pressing on those rough spots - and called Bill to pick up some sand on his way home. A few more dollars.
With Bill's help, I finally covered all the rough spots, then started filling the pool. It took around 8 hours - I dread to think what the water bill will be like - add another $100 for that.
Today, I set about adding the pool filter. The instructions in the box say 'go to your pool center and get the appropriate chemicals for your pool". I need chemicals? I figured I'd just let it warm up and then dive in. Oh well. Off to the pool shop, with a sample of our water for analysis. A charming woman ran through seven different tests, then handed me four large containers of chemicals - chlorine tablets (I expected those - they were even mentioned in the manual) Conditioner - stops the chlorine from evaporating in the desert heat - acidity regulator - adjusts the pH and prevents algae formation - and finally, Hard Water conditioner - to stop the pump clogging up. Total $119.
Well a pool isn't much use without polystyrene noodles and a couple of floats, and a couple of floating beds; and you HAVE to have a leaf skimmer... $40.
So this impulse buy has now cost around $400 !!! I really should know better.
It takes five days to condition the water - the woman at the store tells me I have enough chemicals for 'the season'... So hopefully, on Saturday, we should finally be able to relax on our floating beds, and enjoy the pool (dodging the sticks falling from the cottonwood). And there shouldn't be any more expense.... Of course, we still have the small problem of getting in and out of the pool. The instructions are quite clear - don't climb on the sides, the pool will collapse. The picture shows a ladder that goes over the side ... an optional extra of course. We're thinking step ladder... we'll see how that works out.
Oh yes, and it sprung a leak - but THAT's a different story!
Then we have to decide on location. The patio at the bottom of the terraced area is very private, with a back door from the living room on that level opening out into the space - and yes, the 15 foot diameter pool will fit. Then I look at the instructions, which start with "Danger Will Robinson!". It seems doughboys are easily collapsed. What, I wonder, would 3500 gallons of water look like in the downstairs living area?
OK - second option. It would be great behind the garage - but that area is covered in lava rock, which is sharp and treacherous. A vinyl pool isn't going to last long there. The third spot is a charm - admittedly under a giant cottonwood, which sheds sticks and leaves all through the season - but a flood wouldn't be disastrous, and the area is paved and reasonably level.
Sunday is spent trying to get the darned thing deployed. First, I have to get some 6mm polythene to go under the pool, and a tarp to cover it up - off to Homo Depot, for another $60 of material. Oh well. While Bill was off teaching other people to be callers, I tackled the pool. I cleaned the area, used some old fiberglass insulation to level out a few rough areas, and then started filling the pool. The instructions said to add two inches of water, then straighten out the base. I tried that - off with the shoes, wading in the two inches of chilly tap water. The rough spots were still there. I imagine the weight of three feet of water pressing on those rough spots - and called Bill to pick up some sand on his way home. A few more dollars.
With Bill's help, I finally covered all the rough spots, then started filling the pool. It took around 8 hours - I dread to think what the water bill will be like - add another $100 for that.
Today, I set about adding the pool filter. The instructions in the box say 'go to your pool center and get the appropriate chemicals for your pool". I need chemicals? I figured I'd just let it warm up and then dive in. Oh well. Off to the pool shop, with a sample of our water for analysis. A charming woman ran through seven different tests, then handed me four large containers of chemicals - chlorine tablets (I expected those - they were even mentioned in the manual) Conditioner - stops the chlorine from evaporating in the desert heat - acidity regulator - adjusts the pH and prevents algae formation - and finally, Hard Water conditioner - to stop the pump clogging up. Total $119.
Well a pool isn't much use without polystyrene noodles and a couple of floats, and a couple of floating beds; and you HAVE to have a leaf skimmer... $40.
So this impulse buy has now cost around $400 !!! I really should know better.
It takes five days to condition the water - the woman at the store tells me I have enough chemicals for 'the season'... So hopefully, on Saturday, we should finally be able to relax on our floating beds, and enjoy the pool (dodging the sticks falling from the cottonwood). And there shouldn't be any more expense.... Of course, we still have the small problem of getting in and out of the pool. The instructions are quite clear - don't climb on the sides, the pool will collapse. The picture shows a ladder that goes over the side ... an optional extra of course. We're thinking step ladder... we'll see how that works out.
Oh yes, and it sprung a leak - but THAT's a different story!
