Our Money's Worth

Every year since we moved into our house (5 years ago!!!), we question whether or not the pool was a "wise investment."  Between the cost of chemicals, running the pumps, replacing equipment, me messing up the chemicals, getting algae and having to spend more money on chemicals, we haven't really been very sure.  We are now staring in the face of having to have the pool resurfaced in the next year.  We've already put it off one year.  And, now, instead of me being in charge of the chemicals, we pay someone else to do that for us weekly.  It is an expense that I wasn't really happy about to begin with but it is so nice now to know that I'm not going to turn the pool green or yellow and then have to worry about fixing it.  In the long run, I think the service has saved us money, many trips to the pool supply store and me trying to save face about why there is stuff growing on the walls of the pool.  However, it still adds up and in the back of my mind, I still wonder sometimes if the pool was a "wise investment" even though I was the one who insisted that we needed a pool when we bought this house. 

But, when my boys come home and immediately ask if they can go swimming, I remember why this is a good and wise investment.  I remember that I was thinking long term.  I remember what happened when we lived in a house with a pool when I was growing up.  I remember that my parents always knew where we were and what we were doing because it was happening under their noses in their own backyard.  Although my boys are only three and two, they already love the pool and have already been swimming in it no less than 7 times this year and it is only April 10th.  Then I see these faces and realize that yes, it is all worth it because we will get our money's worth and more in return!