Searching for a home will make you think “do I really need a pool?“

Maths isn’t my strong suit but the answer is a simple equation:

Fun > Maintenance + Money = Happiness.

You need to balance the time and expense of a pool with the amount of use you’re going to get from it. The maintenance and money required to have a pool won’t really change much but the amount you use your pool is different for everyone and is what makes it worth it. 

On a scale of 1 to 10 my need for a pool is 110 (also the current temperature outside) however when I lived in Virginia, I probably used our pool once in 12 months. And that wasn’t even to swim; it was to tan. 

I think the best balance is a community pool shared by a small HOA that’s within walking distance of your house. 

Let’s break down the reasons why this is a winning configuration:

Less Work

A hole filled with water should not be so hard to look after but keeping it algae free is harder than you’d think. I have enough housework already so leaving the specifics to the HOA is worth it for me. 

Less Stress

Pools are silent killers. You will not hear your child drown. Even with every safety measures implemented accidents can still happen. I sleep better at night without a potential disaster in my backyard. 

New Views

I don’t know if it’s because I’m Australian or it’s just my personality, but I hate driving. I’ll walk places most people think are an insane distance. So I enjoy the change of view and don’t see the distance as a disadvantage. On the flipside, our Virginia pool was in the centre of the apartment complex and was the ‘view’ from every interior window and balcony. It was horrible. 

Community Feeling

Sometimes I love having the pool to myself, but having a community has its benefits. Neighbours bring toys, music, drinks. We all end up sharing, chatting, our kids playing. It’s a nice, no effort, get together if you just happen to be enjoying the weather at the same time. 

Extra Amenities

Most typical family pools don’t have attached showers, large shallow benches for toddlers and tanning. The Virginia pool had tanning chairs that sit in shallow water, and they were incredible. Community pools usually have a few extras to cater to everyone. 

Sold? Just Remember to Avoid This One Thing…

HOA pools are fun to use but not fun to live next to. If you love peace and quiet, work from home or do shift work do not move into a home next to, or above, the community pool. You will hear shrieking kids and other people’s playlists all Summer long. What’s worse is some pools, such as the one we currently use, don’t have a curfew so people make noise at crazy hours of the night or even during Winter.