<p>We don’t heat our pool at all and we’re in MI… if it gets sun exposure it feels like bath water without needing to be heated, the water warms up quick. Lately our trees have been getting overgrown and are causing too much shade, and my dad refuses to cut htem, so a solar cover has taken care of it. My dad handles all the covers himself without needing help and ours have a sort of rubber band built in which holds it firmly over the pool all winter without needing to be touched. It’s no problem.</p>
<p>To be frank, I’ve never seen an above ground pool that wasn’t tacky. I put it in the same category as chain link fence and houses painted a certain shade of blue. I can imagine, though, that if one side of it was built into a nice deck attached to the house, and the other side was screened with nice plantings, that it could be attractive.</p>
<p>And it is certainly great to have a pool come summertime. (I think that the maintenance and insurance considerations are usually overstated. Everyone I know maintains their pool themselves. It’s not a big deal most of the time.)</p>
<p>Consolation…really, my sister’s above ground pool is gorgeous…it’s the decking and landscaping that make it so…and the beautiful patio adjacent to the pool. If she just had a pool plunked in her yard it WOULD look tacky. BUT with the landscaping, etc…it is pretty.</p>
<p>“Tacky” is starting to sound like “lower class” which is starting to sound like “I’m better than you.”</p>
<p>Certain shades of blue???</p>
<p>there’s a house around the corner from me painted in pink and green horizontal stripes. it makes me happy every time I see it.</p>
<p>Oh, and it’s grass is too long, too.</p>
<p>Now I’ve got to head outside and put up a few pink flamingos and a mirror ball or two.</p>
<p>We have a very nice semi above-ground pool with deck, plantings. I wouldn’t want an inground pool because as soon as my son is no longer interested, the thing is going and I want it to be as easy as possible so that we will not be able to procrastinate its departure.</p>
<p>
My house is probably that shade of blue. But we all know exactly what I am, so that’s ok!</p>
<p>Oh, mine too. And I live in the Jersey equivalent of where you are.</p>
<p>garland, I have a weeping cherry tree named Ashley and my rose bushes are spectacular this year. What more could I possibly want in landscaping? I like my tacky blue Victorian. In fact, I think she would be a little sad if she wasn’t a little flamboyant.</p>
<p>
That makes you better than me anyway. I’m a total wannabe. Do all my shopping in your lovely state.</p>
<p>When I was growing up in suburban Phila in the 60s we had a gorgeous above-ground pool. I still remember it as one of the nicest pools I’ve ever seen. I suspect it was very state of the art at the time. It actually was partially in-ground, since the deep end was dug into the ground and was deep enough for a slide and diving board. It had steps up to the deck which fully surrounded the pool and was fenced. It was really, really nice and attractive.</p>
<p>… So I have to ask, which shade of blue would this be that we’re talking about?</p>
<p>garland, well yes, some things do tend to be class markers, at least regionally. Sorry, but it is true. </p>
<p>It is not a question of being “better than you.” Good people have all sorts of backgrounds and tastes.</p>
<p>BTW, pink flamingos have major irony going for them. These days, a flock of pink flamingos is more of a post modern fashion statement than not. :)</p>
<p>The question was asked if above ground pools have to be tacky? So if a reply says yes, why would anyone be insulted? It is an answer to a question…sheez…</p>
<p>Ema–a lowwwww class shade of blue–if you were the right kind of people, you’d just know.</p>
<p>Consolation–there’s classes, and there’s classism. One is a fact, the other is an attitude.</p>
<p>So, can I put up a round pool in the middle of my backyard, if I do it ironically? :)</p>
<p>I have an above ground pool and have to admit that, in some places, they must be tacky or a sign of “lower class.”</p>
<p>In MY neighborhood they can sometimes be seen as a sign of a higher class… because in ground pools are practically unheard of, it’s above ground or nothing-- the few in ground pools I’ve seen are so out of place they’re ostentatious. It’s totally regional. If it sticks out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood and isn’t well landscaped I could see if being tacky in that situation. If you’re not planning on moving any time soon, though, I don’t think I’d care… it’s not like you’re putting it in your front yard, and you’ll enjoy it. I’ve known a lot of people who have gotten rid of their pools before putting their houses on the market and it wasn’t a terrible ordeal, either.</p>
<p>Can’t say I’ve ever seen a shade of blue on a house that I didn’t like, though, so what do I know! ;)</p>
<p>
Mine is a lightish blue gray with white and black trim. Painted ladies are allowed to be a little trashy.</p>
<p>Here’s a collection of pictures of Painted Ladies :</p>
<p>[Painted</a> Ladies~Victorians](<a href=“http://pinterest.com/foodnwine/painted-ladies-victorians/]Painted”>http://pinterest.com/foodnwine/painted-ladies-victorians/)</p>
<p>Lots of them in that trashy town, Cape May.</p>
<p>ain’t they a sight? Zoos–your lightish blue gray with white and black trim is downright demure!</p>
<p>Wildly painted Victorians are never tacky. :)</p>
<p>And I do think above ground pools are practical, and very easy to get rid of if you get tired of them. Also if you have a small yard you really can’t have an in-ground pool, or at least the expense truly wouldn’t be worth it.</p>
<p>What I’d really like to have is a lap pool.</p>
<p>I agree: painted ladies are never tacky. Even the wild ones. :)</p>
<p>Garland, as far as I’m concerned, you can put whatever you want in your yard. It’s your yard. One of my next-door neighbors has a windmill. Of course, he has positioned it so we can’t see it through the woods. And he has well over 20 acres, none of which qualifies as what most people would call a “lawn” or a “yard.” I have chickens in my “yard.” They look quite picturesque, roaming about. Their ramshackle pen, though, is behind the house where no but us has to look at it, unless they are bushwhacking through my neighbor’s and our woods. Same thing with the clothesline. Not visible from the street, or by the neighbors across the way, who are the only ones who would have to look at it on a regular basis. By design, I do not live in a location where people care to have control over what I do and do not put in my yard, and whether I do or do not mow the grass. </p>
<p>Noting the existence of classes does not make one a “classist,” anymore than noting the existence of races makes one a “racist.”</p>
<p>I realy want a lap pool, too, but I can’t afford it. Is there such a thing as an above ground lap pool?</p>
<p>Install whatever pool you like, within your budget, maintenance ability and your zoning or covenant restrictions. </p>
<p>It’s not about anybody else… or shouldn’t be. Good luck… and Enjoy!</p>
<p>Consolation–we agree that noting the existence of class does not make one classist.</p>
<p>Making judgments based on class, does. From your typical postings, I don’t expect that you would really want to do that, anymore than you would make judgments based on race.</p>