Tolstoy was probably wrong.
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
I wouldn't know about the second part of that principle.
But I certainly know about the first part. It simply is not true.
Those of you who have been reading my blog before I moved south (a month ago), know that I had one great pleasure in my life: my hot tub.
I read in it. I ate in it. I (now and then) slept in it.
For 16 years, I spent almost every evening and quite a few afternoons in its womb serenity.
Leaving it behind was more difficult than saying adieu to my library. It was the faithful spouse I otherwise never found.
But I may have found a new romance. We are just getting to know one another, so, I do not want to jinx he relationship. But I may have a substitute love.
The owner of the house where I am staying purchased an above-ground pool. When I heard the news, I was not overly-impressed.
Our family had an above-ground pool when I was growing up. As the designated pool boy, I now have mixed Jungian feelings about pools. I spent many a sybaritic moment in that pool. But it was a lot of work to keep it in shape as a dream-maker.
I gave the new pool a spin on Saturday afternoon. And, as Goldilocks would say: "This one is just right."
There will be no meals eaten in this pool. But it is a great place to cool off -- and to read.
So, Mr. Tolstoy. I was a happy family with my hot tub. But I am now a new happy family with the pool.
And we are each happy in our own way.
22 comments:
I have had a lot of hot tubs - I never met one I didn't like ;-)
The pool setting looks nice.
Life looks good there - more inside photos - please.
Well that is one bit of information I missed in reading through this many months - your great attachment. Too funny.
Glad to hear you have happily moved on to another ....
So many years in a hot tub, no wonder you´re so pink.
Fret not. Hot tubs are available. Friends here in Pátzcuaro have one. When you finally come to your senses and settle permanently in San Miguel, you can get one.
And invite me. And my lovely wife. And Babs.
What a great view from your pool. I could see spending a lot of time sitting in the pool just looking a the ocean.
AMM -- And to think, I so quickly found comfort in the arms of a stranger. My hot tub may never forgive me.
Felipe -- I like to think of it as being par-boiled.
Jackie -- The angle of the ocean from the pool is not the best. From the second floor deck, it is perfect. That is now where I do most of my dining.
"It's a Great Place to Read",
whatcha reading?
Charley
Ah, yes. We'd wanted one for years, and when we settled in Salem we got one. Most people, if the issue came up, said they had one but never used it once the first few weeks excitement wore off. Some outright urged us not to; "A waste of money."
I doubted it then, and now after two happy years of hot tub cohabitation with nearly daily use (and many times multiple uses per day)... I simply can't trust those people at all because their interaction with this world is so widely divergent from mine, everything about them and their perceptions is now suspect!
One combo that does NOT go well: reading and subsequently falling asleep. Very bad for the books, I've found.
Pool??? You've got a lovely ocean just a hop, skip, and a leap from your house.
Last summer, a colleague who does triathlons inspired me to buy a wetsuit and take up swimming in the bay here. Best thing I ever did. By September, I was in fantastic shape, and swimming a few miles a week helped me get through the stress of the financial meltdown.
I'd say start swimming; you'll lose weight, get in shape, and have a lot of fun. Use a face-mask, snorkel, and flippers, and you'll be safer and have a longer range. And you'll likely see some interesting sea creatures.
Far better than simply soaking in a small pool.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where we are impatiently waiting for the bay to warm up
Ain't life great? Something new every day....I LOVE hot tubs and have now thought for 8 years that I should have one out in the garden, but instead I go to the hot baths outside of town where I don't have to maintain anything other then my senses - which doesn't always happen.
I DO miss having a hot tub though.
The pool looks good to me! I say practice your espanol right there.
Calypso -- Life is good here. As soon as I can build up enough project-mindedness, I will take some interior photographs. But, for now, a nap sounds good.
Charley -- Catching up on the news and political magazines I brought down with me.
Lavachickie -- I heard the same thing from a number of friends. My hot tub was installed even before I could officially move into the house -- due to remodeling. But I used it more often than I used my family room -- hours at a time. The best buy I ever made.
Kim -- As beautiful as the ocean is at the house, it is not a wading beach. The waves come in with more force than a Boston mugger. The pool is far more forgiving to those of us who take our aquatic pleasures on the hedonistic end of the spectrum.
There is a great snorkeling spot on the other end of the bay -- as soon as I find someone who wants to head out into the water. Perhaps the same person who will teach me Spanish.
Babs -- If I ever get settled in somewhere, a hot tub will be a must.
Cynthia -- I could probably start simply by reading the back of the chlorine tub.
Sweet!! I hope you are sharing the pool with Jiggs too.
I didn't think a hot tub would be quite as inviting where you live now. A little pool is much more appropriate.
So many years in a hot tub, no wonder you´re so pink.Señor Felipe is one funny hombre - but he left out inviting my esposa and me ;-(
I am inclined to agree with his SMA opinion, It couldn't be all bad - mi Amiga Bille is there. ;-(
I do avoid "Gangs of San Miguel de Allende " - can't figure why anyone is so entertained over making fun of others and little else - must be a SMA thing? - but the rest of it is nuevos fondos ;-)
BoBo's Mom -- Jiggs would not like the pool. But I am going to buy him a kiddy pool -- for cool downs as the heat increases.
First Mate -- The pool is almost perfect. But it is a difficult place to read. And eating is out of the question.
Calypso -- The big down side of SMA is cost. It may not fit into my down-scaled budget. But it would have the advantage of being the home of several interesting bloggers.
There is a SMA for every budget. You will have no problem at all. I promise.
Mr. Calypso, the Gangs blog is specifically a humor website. That is why it does not deal with other things. And there are folks in SMA who are so outlandish, it's amazing there are not even more websites having their way with them. Definitely a SMA thing. I enjoy it.
Felipe - I will give it another shot based on your assessment. Although I never was much of a Don Rickles fan either ;-)
As to SMA cost of living, I agree with Felipe - Billie says there are areas that are affordable (but then that word has so many meanings).
Good morning Steve:
My husband and I own a pool company. If you have any questions about operation or maintaining the pool feel free to ask. Enjoy. I spend a July in San Patricio 2 years ago. I know how oppresive the heat can be between storms.
Geez guys I live there on my social security - it IS affordable!
Chrissy -- I may take you up on that offer. Pools in the tropics are a challenge to keep everything balanced for more than an hour.
Babs -- We do need to talk about these budgets -- especially, housing.
As to the question of how affordable is SMA, you can also check out www.fallinginlovewithsanmiguel.com, which is the blog of two women who live there solely on their social security cheques. They seem to do OK.
Cheers,
Kim G
Boston, MA
P.S. Once you swim out beyond the waves, they can't hurt you. Just dive under them.
Kim -- I have been receiving several email along the same line as yours. Apparently, quite a few people are living only on social security in SMA. I need to look into this conundrum further.
As for diving under the waves. stay tuned (as our friend Calypso would say) for further details on the beach where I live.
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