I moved into my Salem house in 1993. But not immediately after purchasing it.
The house was built in 1925. And, even though it was well-maintained, the entire upstairs required work. New plaster. Paint. Wallpaper. Carpet.
While my brother, a friend, and I were busy gouging, tearing, and steaming inside, I decided to make the first major buy for the house outside. A hot tub. A really nice hot tub.
I knew the history of hot tubs for most families. Used daily for a week. Then once a week. And once a month.
Eventually, the hot tub turns into the crazy aunt in the attic. Something to be tolerated rather than enjoyed.
That was not the relationship I developed with my hot tub. We met every night for dinner and reading. I would spend almost two hours every evening in its watery embrace.
Put "hot tub" in the search function at the top of the blog. At least fifteen posts -- starting in 2007 -- feature my adventures in my inland sea.
All relations come to an end at some point. Even though it was a regular part of my life, the hot tub began falling apart bit by bit before I left for Mexico. On subsequent visits, the inevitable erosion continued.
First the control door -- then the skirting -- succumbed to dry rot. When I was in Salem in November, the gardener managed to cut the power cable. Flat-lining the hot tub.
And I was glad of it. I would have eventually needed to get rid of the hot tub. Selling it, if it was working.
In death there was but one option. Put it on craigslist. Free for the taking.
After four false starts, a family showed up with a trailer. And off went my deceased lost love.
My house sitter took care of the details while I was in Mexico earlier this month. When I showed up at the house early on the morning of 27 December, this is what I found.
In a month, I will be on my way back to Mexico -- where I have no hot tub.
But that is a failing that can be remedied.
And yet you won't stick a toe into the sea.
ReplyDeleteNot quite the same thing. But, you are correct. I have a rather large hot tub a few blocks from the house.
ReplyDeleteI have heard you comment often on the excessive heat of Melaque, isn't a hot tub rather superfluous?
ReplyDeleteI do understand though, your love a hot tub in a colder climate. Although we didn't have an actual hot tub in Patzcuaro, we did have a large 2 person jetted tub in our master bath. During Patzcuaro's coldest times Todd and I spend most of our waking hours in there. I miss it sorely now!
The nice thing about hot tubs is that you can turn off the heat and have a nice cooling pool to fight the heat. I have friends in Melaque who just had one built.
ReplyDeleteWell, that makes more sense!
ReplyDeleteIn any climate I LOVE A HOT TUB!
ReplyDeleteI think I had that same tub in Colorado - we buried it - literally ;-)
Perhaps one day you will settle down (say in Puerto) and get a tub. I will visit ;-)
I need to work out the details.
ReplyDeleteWe have just the place in our backyard for a hot tub, surrounded by high brick walls. There's a nice, round patch of cement for the base. However, I doubt that we will ever put in a hot tub.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking instead of a wood burning oven and accessory furniture. However, it's a long walk around from the kitchen, the mixer and the kneading/work table. Could come to pass, though.
Saludos,
Don Cuevas