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I now can jump into one of those pretty South Florida swimming pools anytime I want. You know, the kind you see in brochures. My new condo building has a large L-shaped pool, but during my first month here I had been too busy settling in, working and traveling to even try it out. This past weekend, though, the weather was just beautiful. Sunny. Light breeze, reasonable humidity. So on Saturday, I decided it finally was a perfect day for a swim in that pool. I enjoyed it immensely.
In my first few years after moving to greater Fort Lauderdale, my apartment complex had two pools and I went swimming in them fairly often. But since then, I’ve only had the chance to swim in pools when on vacation, whether in Florida or elsewhere. I mean, I don’t even have friends around here with a pool. Early Saturday afternoon, I gobbed sunscreen nearly everywhere on my body. Well, everywhere I could reach, including my back. That’s what I thought anyway. I sat in a deck chair for a while, soaking up the sun and baking myself to what I hoped would be a light tan. After 20 minutes, I laid down on my stomach to catch rays on my back. Let’s just say I learned later that I’d missed more than a couple of spots with the sunscreen. I had a large hot red patch on my back that night. Ouch. It was the worst sunburn I’ve had in years.
But this morning, I jumped into that pool again. I went early and paid attention to how much sun I was getting. It was a wonderful way to start my day. Of course, I still love going to the ocean whenever I can – there’s nothing like the sound of the surf and the vista of that wide sea. But my move into this condo has helped me to appreciate all over again how much South Florida is just made for swimming pools. Surrounded by graceful palm trees, the crystal blue water shimmering in the sunlight, the suggestion of pina coladas and pure relaxation in the sun. A pool carries a certain image in our minds, which is why everyone who buys a house in South Florida wants a pool – whether they’ll use it or not. And it’s why tourists want a pool at their hotel, even if they spend a lot of time at the beach. Pools really are a part of this area as much as all those palm trees and all that sunshine and that wide expanse of ocean. I’m glad I can enjoy the poolside lifestyle once more whenever the mood strikes me. Even if it does cost me a fortune in sunscreen.
In my first few years after moving to greater Fort Lauderdale, my apartment complex had two pools and I went swimming in them fairly often. But since then, I’ve only had the chance to swim in pools when on vacation, whether in Florida or elsewhere. I mean, I don’t even have friends around here with a pool. Early Saturday afternoon, I gobbed sunscreen nearly everywhere on my body. Well, everywhere I could reach, including my back. That’s what I thought anyway. I sat in a deck chair for a while, soaking up the sun and baking myself to what I hoped would be a light tan. After 20 minutes, I laid down on my stomach to catch rays on my back. Let’s just say I learned later that I’d missed more than a couple of spots with the sunscreen. I had a large hot red patch on my back that night. Ouch. It was the worst sunburn I’ve had in years.
But this morning, I jumped into that pool again. I went early and paid attention to how much sun I was getting. It was a wonderful way to start my day. Of course, I still love going to the ocean whenever I can – there’s nothing like the sound of the surf and the vista of that wide sea. But my move into this condo has helped me to appreciate all over again how much South Florida is just made for swimming pools. Surrounded by graceful palm trees, the crystal blue water shimmering in the sunlight, the suggestion of pina coladas and pure relaxation in the sun. A pool carries a certain image in our minds, which is why everyone who buys a house in South Florida wants a pool – whether they’ll use it or not. And it’s why tourists want a pool at their hotel, even if they spend a lot of time at the beach. Pools really are a part of this area as much as all those palm trees and all that sunshine and that wide expanse of ocean. I’m glad I can enjoy the poolside lifestyle once more whenever the mood strikes me. Even if it does cost me a fortune in sunscreen.
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