It/pps is/bez a/at good/jj eight/cd years/nns now/rb since/cs each/dt of/in us/ppo acquired/vbd a/at swimming/vbg pool/nn --/-- eight/cd enlightening/jj ,/, vigorous/jj ,/, rigorous/jj ,/, not/* wholly/ql unrewarding/jj years/nns ./. We/ppss have/hv learned/vbn a/at lot/nn --/-- a/at dash/nn of/in hydrochemistry/nn here/rb ,/, a/at bit/nn about/in plumbing/nn and/cc pump-priming/nn there/rb ./. We/ppss have/hv had/hvn sound/jj grounding/nn in/in the/at principles/nns of/in the/at mailed-fist-in-velvet-glove/jj school/nn of/in diplomacy/nn ./. We/ppss have/hv become/vbn amateur/jj insurance/nn experts/nns and/cc fine-feathered/jj yard/nn birds/nns ./. True/rb ,/, our/pp$ problems/nns have/hv lessened/vbn a/at bit/nn as/cs more/ap and/cc more/ap of/in our/pp$ neighbors/nns have/hv built/vbn their/pp$ own/jj pools/nns ,/, thereby/rb diluting/vbg our/pp$ spectacular/jj attractions/nns ./. But/cc problems/nns cling/vb to/in pools/nns ,/, as/cs any/dti pool/nn owner/nn knows/vbz ./. So/rb our/pp$ innate/jj generosity/nn of/in spirit/nn prompts/vbz us/ppo to/to share/vb our/pp$ trials/nns ,/, errors/nns and/cc solutions/nns with/in any/dti who/wps are/ber taking/vbg the/at pool/nn plunge/nn for/in the/at first/od time/nn --/-- in/in the/at pious/jj hope/nn that/cs some/dti may/md profit/vb from/in our/pp$ experience/nn ./. Where/wrb-hl to/to-hl put/vb-hl it/ppo-hl Position/nn may/md not/* be/be everything/pn ,/, but/cc in/in the/at case/nn of/in a/at pool/nn it/pps can/md certainly/rb contribute/vb difficulties/nns ,/, social/jj and/or/cc physical/jj ./. We/ppss speak/vb from/in varying/vbg viewpoints/nns ./. One/cd of/in us/ppo has/hvz a/at pool/nn set/vbn in/in a/at wooded/jj area/nn very/ql near/in the/at house/nn ./. The/at other/ap has/hvz his/pp$ pool/nn far/ql away/rb from/in the/at house/nn in/in a/at field/nn high/rb on/in a/at hill/nn ./. If/cs you/ppss are/ber dreaming/vbg of/in a/at blue/jj ,/, shimmering/vbg pool/nn right/ql outside/in your/pp$ living/vbg room/nn windows/nns ,/, close/vb your/pp$ eyes/nns firmly/rb and/cc fill/vb in/in the/at picture/nn with/in lots/nns and/cc lots/nns of/in children/nns ,/, damp/jj towels/nns ,/, squashed/vbn tubes/nns of/in suntan/nn oil/nn and/cc semi-inflated/jj plastic/nn toys/nns ./. You/ppss are/ber likely/jj to/to be/be nearer/rbr the/at truth/nn ./. You/ppss can/md also/rb see/vb that/cs the/at greater/jjr the/at proximity/nn of/in the/at pool/nn to/in your/pp$ main/jjs living/vbg quarters/nns ,/, the/at greater/jjr the/at chance/nn for/in violation/nn of/in family/nn privacy/nn ,/, annoying/jj noise/nn and/cc the/at let's-make-your-house-our-club/jj attitude/nn ./. On/in the/at other/ap hand/nn ,/, out-of-sight/nn does/doz not/* lead/vb to/in out-of-mind/nn when/wrb children/nns cannot/md* be/be easily/rb observed/vbn and/cc you/ppss have/hv to/to make/vb a/at long/jj trek/nn to/to reach/vb the/at pool/nn ./. Another/dt dilemma/nn :/: As/ql picturesque/jj as/cs a/at sylvan/jj pond/nn in/in the/at forest/nn may/md be/be ,/, trees/nns offer/vb a/at leaf/nn and/cc root/nn hazard/nn to/in the/at well-being/nn of/in a/at pool/nn ./. Yet/cc a/at grassy/jj approach/nn can/md turn/vb a/at pool/nn into/in a/at floating/vbg lawn/nn every/at time/nn the/at grass/nn is/bez mowed/vbn ./. As/cs in/in choosing/vbg a/at wife/nn ,/, it/pps is/bez only/rb sensible/jj to/to consider/vb also/rb how/wql appealing/jj a/at pool/nn is/bez likely/jj to/to be/be in/in bad/jj weather/nn as/ql well/rb as/cs in/in good/jj ./. In/in the/at colder/jjr climes/nns ,/, for/in instance/nn ,/, you/ppss will/md have/hv to/to live/vb through/in the/at many/ap unglamorous/jj winter/nn months/nns when/wrb your/pp$ pool/nn will/md hardly/rb look/vb its/pp$ best/jjt ./. It/pps may/md be/be a/at big/jj hole/nn in/in the/at ground/nn filled/vbn with/in salt/nn hay/nn ,/, or/cc an/at ice/nn floe/nn studded/vbn with/in logs/nns ./. Even/rb a/at neat/jj ,/, plastic-covered/jj plunge/nn is/bez not/* exactly/rb a/at joy/nn to/to behold/vb ./. (/( We/ppss do/do ,/, however/rb ,/, recommend/vb those/dts patented/vbn covers/nns to/to prevent/vb both/abx people/nns and/cc junk/nn --/-- flora/nns and/cc fauna/nns generally/rb --/-- from/in accidentally/rb wintering/vbg in/in the/at pool/nn ./. )/) Probably/rb no/at location/nn for/in a/at pool/nn is/bez perfect/jj on/in all/abn counts/nns ./. Naturally/rb it/pps will/md be/be dictated/vbn to/in a/at large/jj extent/nn by/in the/at shape/nn and/cc size/nn of/in your/pp$ land/nn ./. But/cc if/cs space/nn and/cc money/nn are/ber no/at problem/nn and/cc small/jj children/nns are/ber not/* on/in hand/nn every/at day/nn ,/, it/pps is/bez certainly/rb more/ql restful/jj to/to have/hv your/pp$ pool/nn and/cc entertainment/nn area/nn removed/vbn from/in the/at immediate/jj environs/nns of/in the/at house/nn ./. And/cc a/at good/jj several/ap feet/nns around/in the/at pool/nn should/md be/be neither/cc greensward/nn nor/cc woods/nns ,/, but/cc good/jj hard/jj pavement/nn ./. The/at placement/nn of/in your/pp$ pool/nn ,/, however/rb ,/, will/md not/* of/in itself/ppl solve/vb the/at two/cd major/jj problems/nns of/in pool/nn owning/nn --/-- those/dts that/wps involve/vb your/pp$ social/jj life/nn and/cc those/dts pertaining/vbg to/in safety/nn ./. Coping/vbg with/in them/ppo demands/vbz stern/jj discipline/nn --/-- of/in yourself/ppl as/ql well/rb as/cs of/in your/pp$ family/nn ,/, neighbors/nns ,/, friends/nns and/cc anyone/pn you/ppss ever/rb talked/vbd to/in on/in a/at transoceanic/jj jet/nn ./. Eight/cd years/nns ago/rb while/cs we/ppss were/bed going/vbg through/in the/at mud-sweat-and-tears/jj construction/nn period/nn ,/, we/ppss were/bed each/dt solaced/vbn by/in the/at vision/nn of/in early/jj morning/nn dips/nns and/cc evening/nn home-comings/nns to/in a/at cool/jj family/nn collected/vbn around/in the/at pool/nn with/in a/at buffet/nn table/nn laid/vbn out/rp nearby/rb for/in the/at lord/nn and/cc master's/nn$ delectation/nn ./. But/cc not/* even/rb our/pp$ first/od pool-side/nn gatherings/nns came/vbd anywhere/rb near/in those/dts rosy/jj fantasies/nns ./. We/ppss seemed/vbd to/to be/be witnessing/vbg the/at population/nn explosion/nn right/ql in/in our/pp$ own/jj backyards/nns ./. Our/pp$ respective/jj families/nns looked/vbd as/cs if/cs they/ppss had/hvd quadrupled/vbn ./. Had/hvd we/ppss taken/vbn a/at lien/nn on/in a/at state/nn park/nn ?/. ?/. Not/* at/in all/abn ./. We/ppss had/hvd merely/rb been/ben discovered/vbn by/in the/at pool/nn sharks/nns ./. We/ppss were/bed in/in business/nn !/. !/. From/in proud/jj pool-owners/nns to/in perpetual/jj hosts/nns and/cc handymen/nns was/bedz a/at short/jj step/nn --/-- no/at more/ap than/cs the/at change/nn from/in city/nn clothes/nns to/in trunks/nns ./. Naive/jj of/in us/ppo ,/, maybe/rb ,/, but/cc the/at results/nns of/in our/pp$ impulsive/jj invitations/nns to/to ``/`` come/vb over/rp next/ap summer/nn and/cc swim/vb in/in our/pp$ new/jj pool/nn ''/'' were/bed both/abx unexpected/jj and/cc unsettling/vbg ./. Our/pp$-hl book/nn-hl of/in-hl etiquette/nn-hl After/in the/at first/od few/ap weeks/nns ,/, it/pps was/bedz obvious/jj that/cs rules/nns had/hvd to/to be/be made/vbn ,/, laid/vbn down/rp and/cc obeyed/vbn --/-- even/rb if/cs our/pp$ popularity/nn ratings/nns became/vbd subnormal/jj as/cs a/at result/nn ./. So/rb rules/nns we/ppss made/vbd ,/, in/in unabashed/jj collusion/nn ./. Since/cs our/pp$ viewpoints/nns in/in this/dt respect/nn coincided/vbd precisely/rb ,/, we/ppss present/vb the/at fruits/nns of/in our/pp$ efforts/nns herewith/rb as/cs a/at single/jj social/jj code/nn for/in pool/nn owners/nns ./. First/od and/cc foremost/rb :/: No/at one/pn --/-- no/rb ,/, not/* anyone/pn --/-- in/in the/at family/nn is/bez allowed/vbn to/to issue/vb blanket/nn invitations/nns to/in his/pp$ or/cc her/pp$ own/jj circle/nn ./. Just/ql short/jj of/in forty/cd lashes/nns we/ppss finally/rb managed/vbd to/to coerce/vb our/pp$ children/nns to/in this/dt view/nn ./. Their/pp$ friends/nns and/cc ours/pp$$ are/ber welcome/jj to/to share/vb the/at pool/nn ,/, but/cc on/in our/pp$ terms/nns and/cc at/in our/pp$ times/nns ./. No/at friends/nns are/ber to/to arrive/vb without/in an/at invitation/nn or/cc without/in at/in least/ap telephoning/vbg beforehand/rb ./. No/at ringers/nns ,/, either/rb --/-- even/rb if/cs they/ppss are/ber trailing/vbg legitimate/jj invitees/nns ./. We/ppss want/vb to/to know/vb when/wrb the/at Potlatches/nps telephone/vb exactly/rb how/wql many/ap they/ppss are/ber planning/vbg to/to bring/vb ,/, so/cs that/cs we/ppss won't/md* end/vb up/rp with/in a/at splashing/vbg mob/nn that/wps looks/vbz like/cs Coney/np-tl Island/nn-tl in/in August/np ./. No/at young/jj children/nns may/md come/vb without/in adults/nns except/in for/in a/at specific/jj ,/, organized/vbn ,/, chaperoned/vbn party/nn ./. And/cc accompanying/vbg adults/nns are/ber urged/vbn to/to keep/vb an/at alert/jj and/cc sensible/jj eye/nn on/in their/pp$ responsibilities/nns ./. A/at gaggle/nn of/in gabbling/vbg mothers/nns ,/, backs/nns to/in the/at pool/nn ,/, is/bez no/at safeguard/nn ./. No/at bottle/nn pool/nn is/bez tolerated/vbn --/-- bottle/nn pool/nn being/beg our/pp$ lingo/nn for/in those/dts who/wps come/vb to/to swim/vb and/cc sink/vb into/in our/pp$ bar/nn while/cs protesting/vbg that/cs they/ppss can/md only/rb dunk/vb and/cc run/vb ./. (/( Sanity/nn ,/, solvency/nn and/cc relations/nns with/in our/pp$ wine/nn merchant/nn took/vbd a/at beating/nn that/dt first/od summer/nn as/cs we/ppss inadvertently/rb became/vbd the/at neighborhood/nn free-drink/nn stop/nn ./. )/) We/ppss designated/vbd one/cd day/nn a/at week/nn as/cs the/at time/nn when/wrb neighborhood/nn teen-agers/nns might/md swim/vb at/in definite/jj hours/nns ./. This/dt has/hvz saved/vbn us/ppo from/in constant/jj requests/nns seven/cd days/nns a/at week/nn and/cc made/vbn us/ppo feel/vb less/ql brutal/jj to/in the/at young/jj ``/`` less/ql fortunate/jj ''/'' than/cs ours/pp$$ ./. We/ppss also/rb worked/vbd out/rp logistics/nn for/in Sunday/nr afternoon/nn swimmers/nns who/wps arrive/vb two/cd hours/nns early/rb with/in their/pp$ weekend/nn guests/nns while/cs we/ppss are/ber still/rb enjoying/vbg an/at alfresco/nn lunch/nn en/fw-in famille/fw-nn ./. We/ppss gently/rb usher/vb them/ppo to/in an/at island/nn of/in tables/nns and/cc chairs/nns strategically/rb placed/vbn on/in the/at far/jj side/nn of/in the/at pool/nn where/wrb they/ppss can/md amuse/vb each/dt other/ap until/cs we/ppss get/vb ready/jj to/to merge/vb sides/nns ./. All/abn dressing/vbg (/( undressing/vbg to/to be/be more/ql exact/jj )/) must/md be/be done/vbn in/in our/pp$ small/jj bath/nn house/nn or/cc at/in the/at swimmers'/nns$ homes/nns ./. (/( To/to avoid/vb any/dti possible/jj excuse/nn for/in a/at dripping/vbg parade/nn through/in your/pp$ house/nn ,/, it/pps is/bez a/at good/jj idea/nn to/to have/hv a/at telephone/nn extension/nn near/in the/at pool/nn as/ql well/rb as/cs a/at direct/jj outdoor/jj route/nn between/in the/at pool/nn ,/, and/cc the/at parking/vbg area/nn ./. )/) We/ppss do/do ,/, however/rb ,/, provide/vb a/at limited/vbn number/nn of/in extra/jj suits/nns ,/, mainly/rb for/in children/nns ,/, and/cc we/ppss stock/vb extra/jj towels/nns and/cc a/at few/ap inexpensive/jj bathing/vbg conveniences/nns ./. Life-preservers/nns ,/, the/at buckle-on/jj kapok-filled/jj kind/nn ,/, are/ber held/vbn in/in readiness/nn ,/, too/rb ,/, for/in the/at very/ql young/jj ./. Preserving/vbg-hl life/nn-hl and/cc-hl limb/nn-hl Safety/nn rules/nns ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, are/ber more/ql important/jj than/cs all/abn the/at others/nns put/vbn together/rb ./. In/in many/ap localities/nns ,/, now/rb ,/, the/at law/nn requires/vbz all/abn pools/nns to/to be/be fenced/vbn ,/, usually/rb to/in a/at minimum/jj height/nn of/in 5/cd feet/nns ./. But/cc fenced/vbn or/cc unfenced/jj ,/, no/at pool-side/nn is/bez the/at place/nn for/in running/vbg or/cc horseplay/nn ./. We/ppss allow/vb no/at underwater/jj endurance/nn contests/nns ,/, either/rb ,/, or/cc inexpert/jj versions/nns of/in water/nn polo/nn ./. Diving/vbg boards/nns must/md have/hv non-skid/nn surfaces/nns (/( coco/nn matting/nn takes/vbz an/at awful/jj beating/nn from/in chlorine/nn and/cc rots/vbz quickly/rb ,/, but/cc grit-impregnated/jj paints/nns are/ber excellent/jj )/) ./. And/cc divers/nns must/md be/be enjoined/vbn to/to look/vb before/cs they/ppss leap/vb ,/, either/cc on/in top/nn of/in someone/pn else/rb or/cc onto/in a/at pool/nn edge/nn ./. Our/pp$ pools/nns also/rb have/hv wide/jj ,/, shallow/jj steps/nns --/-- for/in the/at benefit/nn of/in the/at littlest/jjt swimmers/nns who/wps can/md thus/rb be/be introduced/vbn to/in the/at water/nn with/in far/ql greater/jjr safety/nn than/cs a/at ladder/nn affords/vbz ./. All/abn bottles/nns must/md be/be kept/vbn a/at safe/jj distance/nn away/rb from/in the/at pool/nn and/cc drinking/vbg glasses/nns are/ber banned/vbn in/in favor/nn of/in plastic/nn or/cc metal/nn cups/nns ./. When/wrb you/ppss first/rb acquire/vb a/at pool/nn ,/, we/ppss earnestly/rb recommend/vb --/-- for/in your/pp$ own/jj mental/jj health/nn --/-- a/at good/jj long/jj chat/nn with/in your/pp$ insurance/nn agent/nn ./. You/ppss should/md be/be prepared/vbn to/to cope/vb with/in any/dti pitfall/nn such/jj as/cs plunges/nns into/in empty/jj pools/nns or/cc shallow/jj ends/nns and/cc all/abn manner/nn of/in winter/nn as/ql well/rb as/cs summer/nn lawsuits/nns ./. Soignee/jj pools/nns ,/, alas/uh ,/, do/do not/* just/rb happen/vb ./. They/ppss are/ber the/at result/nn of/in a/at constant/jj and/cc careful/jj contest/nn with/in the/at elements/nns ./. Unless/cs you/ppss want/vb to/to make/vb your/pp$ wife/nn a/at pool/nn widow/nn and/cc to/to spend/vb a/at great/ql many/ap of/in your/pp$ leisure/nn hours/nns nursing/vbg your/pp$ pool's/nn$ pristine/jj purity/nn ,/, its/pp$ care/nn and/cc feeding/vbg --/-- from/in pH/nn content/nn to/in filtering/vbg and/cc vacuuming/vbg --/-- is/bez best/rbt left/vbn to/in a/at weekly/jj or/cc bi-monthly/jj professional/jj service/nn ./. Of/in course/nn ,/, if/cs your/pp$ pool/nn is/bez close/rb to/in the/at house/nn ,/, your/pp$ wife/nn can/md always/rb add/vb it/ppo to/in her/pp$ housekeeping/nn chores/nns (/( you/ppss hope/vb )/) ./. Or/cc you/ppss can/md make/vb pool/nn care/nn the/at price/nn of/in swimming/vbg for/in teen-agers/nns ./. Even/ql so/rb ,/, every/at pool/nn owner/nn ,/, in/in case/nn of/in emergency/nn ,/, should/md have/hv some/dti idea/nn of/in what/wdt makes/vbz things/nns work/vb ./. A/at brief/jj course/nn in/in hydraulics/nn from/in the/at pool/nn builders/nns may/md well/rb be/be appreciated/vbn in/in a/at future/jj crisis/nn ./. Preserving/vbg-hl the/at-hl pool/nn-hl A/at sudden/jj high/jj rise/nn in/in temperature/nn will/md turn/vb your/pp$ pool/nn poison/nn green/jj overnight/rb ./. You/ppss need/vb more/ap chlorine/nn ./. The/at walls/nns feel/vb slippery/jj ./. You/ppss need/vb algaecide/nn ./. With/in or/cc without/in professional/jj help/nn ,/, you/ppss will/md have/hv to/to be/be able/jj to/to do/do some/dti of/in these/dts jobs/nns yourself/ppl unless/cs you/ppss have/hv a/at full-time/jj pool/nn nurse/nn ./. You/ppss should/md see/vb to/in it/ppo that/cs the/at trap/nn ,/, the/at dirt-catcher/nn in/in front/nn of/in the/at filter/nn ,/, is/bez always/rb clean/jj ./. A/at pool/nn is/bez no/at place/nn for/in a/at shut/vbn trap/nn ./. You/ppss should/md firmly/rb insist/vb that/cs no/at bobby/nn pins/nns or/cc hair/nn pins/nns be/be worn/vbn in/in the/at water/nn ./. When/wrb shed/vbn ,/, they/ppss leave/vb rust/nn marks/nns ./. You/ppss can/md hope/vb against/in hope/nn that/cs come/vbn spring/nn cleaning/nn ,/, your/pp$ fair-weather/nn friends/nns will/md lend/vb a/at hand/nn at/in scrubbing/vbg and/cc furbishing/vbg ./. It/pps has/hvz happened/vbn ./. Many/ap hours/nns of/in spring/nn cleaning/nn will/md be/be saved/vbn ,/, however/rb ,/, if/cs you/ppss remove/vb the/at main/jjs drain/nn grate/nn when/wrb you/ppss close/vb the/at pool/nn season/nn in/in the/at fall/nn ./. As/cs the/at pool/nn is/bez emptied/vbn ,/, stand/vb by/rb to/to brush/vb down/rp the/at walls/nns and/cc bottom/nn while/cs they/ppss are/ber still/rb wet/jj ./. Much/ap of/in the/at dirt/nn and/cc leaf/nn stain/nn is/bez easily/rb removed/vbn when/wrb damp/jj ,/, but/cc requires/vbz dynamite/nn if/cs allowed/vbn to/to dry/vb ./. If/cs you/ppss have/hv a/at 6-/cd to/in 8-inch/jj drain/nn pipe/nn ,/, you/ppss may/md easily/rb wash/vb out/rp all/abn the/at debris/nn when/wrb the/at grate/nn is/bez out/rp ./. Of/in course/nn ,/, when/wrb your/pp$ 6-inch/jj torrent/nn of/in water/nn is/bez released/vbn ,/, it/pps may/md cause/vb a/at lot/nn of/in comment/nn as/cs it/pps passes/vbz through/in or/cc by/in neighboring/vbg properties/nns ./. Do/do not/* forget/vb this/dt possibility/nn ./. If/cs your/pp$ pool/nn is/bez located/vbn on/in or/cc near/in sloping/vbg ground/nn ,/, it/pps may/md have/hv natural/jj drainage/nn which/wdt is/bez certainly/rb more/ql desirable/jj than/cs to/to be/be faced/vbn with/in the/at annual/jj expense/nn and/cc labor/nn of/in first/rb pumping/vbg out/rp the/at water/nn and/cc then/rb scooping/vbg out/rp all/abn the/at debris/nn ./. It/pps may/md be/be true/jj that/cs pool/nn lighting/nn dramatizes/vbz an/at evening/nn scene/nn ,/, but/cc lights/nns also/rb attract/vb all/abn the/at insect/nn life/nn for/in miles/nns around/rb ./. Once/cs on/in the/at water/nn ,/, these/dts little/jj visitors/nns seldom/rb leave/vb ,/, and/cc this/dt adds/vbz to/in your/pp$ filtering/vbg and/cc vacuuming/vbg problems/nns as/ql well/rb as/cs providing/vbg a/at slapping/vbg good/jj time/nn for/in all/abn those/dts present/rb ./. Often/rb one/cd floodlight/nn high/rb in/in a/at tree/nn will/md provide/vb all/abn the/at light/nn you/ppss need/vb at/in much/ql less/ap expense/nn ./. Our/pp$ experience/nn has/hvz taught/vbn us/ppo that/cs it/pps pays/vbz to/to buy/vb the/at best/jjt equipment/nn possible/jj ,/, from/in pipes/nns to/in brushes/nns ./. Follow/vb pool-care/nn instructions/nns to/in the/at letter/nn ,/, and/cc be/be sure/jj that/cs one/cd person/nn (/( in/in the/at family/nn or/cc not/* )/) is/bez regularly/rb responsible/jj for/in each/dt aspect/nn of/in the/at job/nn ,/, with/in no/at chance/nn for/in claiming/vbg ,/, ``/`` It/pps wasn't/bedz* my/pp$ turn/nn ''/'' ./. Never/rb let/vb anyone/pn not/* in/in the/at know/nn take/vb a/at turn/nn at/in the/at valves/nns --/-- even/rb if/cs the/at little/jj boys/nns do/do want/vb to/to play/vb space/nn ship/nn ./. You/ppss may/md find/vb yourself/ppl hitting/vbg bottom/nn ,/, literally/rb ,/, as/cs you/ppss discover/vb that/dt water/nn is/bez running/vbg out/rp even/rb while/cs you/ppss are/ber putting/vbg it/ppo in/rp ./.