Anonymous wrote:So many darn kill-joys here. If you can afford it, get a pool, make sure it's fenced, teach your kids to swim and supervise the hell out of them. But then I'm one of those strange eccentric moms who believe that trampolines are cool (we have one), the odd dose of fast food will not going to turn baby into a fatty, and, once a week, teaching to jelly snakes to swim in the bath before being eaten is good for a laugh. We grew up in a lovely place with a pool and it didn't draw kids there. What did draw kids there was that my mom was always welcoming and inclusive (in a slightly matriarchal way), always had extra food for dinner for hangers-on (when we were older), listened without judging, stuck to her rules and was wonderfully empathetic. And she never tried to be our age or our friend - I mean that in the nicest possible way. Lots of my friends still visit her and my dad when they are around because my parents were so much part of the fabric of their adolescent lives.
I guess what I'm saying is that the pool is unlikely to be the attraction. It's your family that will define whether people want to be in your space. You cannot buy or create the spirit of inclusion - it's you that matter.
And to the complete COW who would never let her child go on a play-date to a place with a pool. I hope she is saving for therapy as we speak.
Since this is "DC" Urban Moms, not Tampa or Anchorage, I thought I'd throw this data point out there. A 6-month season is probably correct in DC.
"Until" October, or "through" October? "Until" October would be 4.5 months. "Through" October would be 5.5 months, meaning they are still swimming on Halloween. Really?
Anonymous wrote:I live in Forest Hills. I do not have a pool but my next-door neighbors do. They absolutely use their pool from mid-May until October, so about six months.
Since this is "DC" Urban Moms, not Tampa or Anchorage, I thought I'd throw this data point out there. A 6-month season is probably correct in DC.

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP...go for it!!! We just got an estimate for a pool and it was out of our range, unfortunately. My kids are all swim age now, so I was looking forward to the fun. I grew up with a pool as well and have fond memories of summer fun.
I say go for it!!!
PP how much was the estimate for? I've always wondered how much it would cost to put a pool in - I have no idea.
My parents are having one put in right now... I overheard them mention a figure around 40k, which was pretty shocking to me. I don't think they're even going that fancy with the pool (as far as tons of stonework, etc).
Yup. $40k is the going basic pool rate around here. We were quoted $120k for a pool/full patio/stonework/landscaping in our backyard...we laughed at the guy.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP...go for it!!! We just got an estimate for a pool and it was out of our range, unfortunately. My kids are all swim age now, so I was looking forward to the fun. I grew up with a pool as well and have fond memories of summer fun.
I say go for it!!!
PP how much was the estimate for? I've always wondered how much it would cost to put a pool in - I have no idea.
My parents are having one put in right now... I overheard them mention a figure around 40k, which was pretty shocking to me. I don't think they're even going that fancy with the pool (as far as tons of stonework, etc).
I'm in Leesburg. We got an estimate from NVblue for a gunite pool:
Dimensions of Pool: Width 20’-0” and Length 42’-0”
Area: 840 sq. ft.
Shape of Pool: Rectangle
Depth: 3’-6” to 8’-6”
The estimate included fencing around the pool, an automatic cover, salt water system.....it was just over $100K, which I thought was a bit excessive.
Anonymous wrote:Only 3 months use? Really? I grew up in an area where the summers were shorter than around here, and we'd go swimming May 15 to September 15, easy (4 months). With some extra days in April and September if it was sunny and in the 80s. Here, I've always wondered why community/apartment pool season was so short (Memorial Day to Labor Day), when it seems like that shuts out two dozen or more "pool days" on either side -- I always figured it was because of limited lifeguard availability and liability rules, not because people were afraid of a little cold water.