this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2023
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[–] [email protected] 73 points 11 months ago (5 children)

All you need is rich parents

[–] [email protected] 39 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Or the wherewithal for and availability of a public one

[–] 1371113 28 points 11 months ago

Or to live near a lake or beach.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] AGD4 16 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

~~Like your mom~~

^I^ ^had^ ^to^ ^sorry^

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That immediately increases the time investment required for use. The whole point of the post is that it's easy because it's in their back yard. Public pools aren't relevant here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Depends on your situation (the availability). I have one in my neighborhood, so it’s literally 8 minutes from my house to being showered off and in the pool. I’ve been to some people’s houses where it takes almost that long to navigate the backyard.

I don’t think my situation is just some happenstance, either. I think it’s not a huge investment for an incredible health and social return anywhere (desert climates possibly excepted? I’m not sure what the environmental impact is, especially compared with a potential reduction in personal pools built/maintained). Every neighborhood should have a pool reachable within 15 minutes and residents should petition for it if there isn’t one, imo. Petitioning obviously isn’t easy, but it’s easier than you’d think

[–] hangonasecond 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You might be underestimating the impact of mental illness, or of being incredibly obese, on actually getting anywhere. I agree with you, that pool is really close. But these issues make it feel impossibly far away. It's stupid, but it is what it is, and that's why we have therapy. If you can afford it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You’re right, obesity might play a larger role in making that difficult than I was factoring in. I think a significant hurdle is also wearing wet bathing clothes in public/finding public appropriate clothes. I do also think that increasing public pools can do a lot to prevent obesity, but in extant cases, it might not be that helpful.

[–] hangonasecond 3 points 11 months ago

Oh super true about aiding in prevention. A lot more accessible and fun than a gym.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Or you know, a body of water close to you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

A non polluted, publicly available body of water.

[–] Voyajer 0 points 11 months ago (2 children)

How expensive do you think an above ground pool is?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

That's unbelievably cheap. What the actual fuck? It was updated this year, too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well first you need to own a house with enough yard space so that immediately excludes a majority of the population

[–] Voyajer 3 points 11 months ago

The lowest percentage I could find for individuals with access to yards is 60%, which aligns with the the percentage of individuals who live in apartments at 35%. I wouldn't call 35% a vast majority, and even then some of that portion have community pools in their apartment complex.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Ehhh, rich isn't really applicable. Someone with good income and good debt management skills can have a pool. You don't have to be "rich", which is a pretty vague word that's very subjective.

I have friends that make very good money, and have the freedom to decide what their debt goes to. Nice house, nice cars, but if their income goes away, they're fucked because the debt doesn't magically disappear when the income does. To me, that's not rich. Rich is when you have enough resources that a change in income doesn't fuck you over.

Now, some people would say that the ability to choose what debt goes to is rich. I can see that usage being just as valid. I sure as hell can't decide what my debt goes to, it has to go only to survival needs. I can't take on debt for funsies like a pool, at least not in any amount that's significant (so, nothing big as a pool, but maybe enough for switching out an appliance that isn't dead, as an example).

For real, pools can be had with relatively low incomes. They cost about the same as a car for in-ground (a new car, not something lightly used lol). You don't have to be in six figure income brackets to have one. Do I think it's dumber than dammit to do so if you don't? Yes, but it's still possible as long as you want something basic

If an above ground is applicable, and it can be for light exercise, you can get by with as little as a grand. Which ain't cheap, bit it's a debt most people in the typical "middle class" income range can manage at some point, if it's a priority.

[–] beetus 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

They cost about the same as a car for in-ground (a new car, not something lightly used lol). You don't have to be in six figure income brackets to have one.

People with less than 6figure income aren't spending as much as a new car on a backyard in ground pool. Where do you think they have the cash for that? What bank is going to loan them the funds? Hilarious you think it's possible in this economy.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I know people that have done it. It is completely possible. It's dumber than dammit, as I said, but I know two people that have in ground pools right now that weren't there this time last year. Neither cost more than 30k finished. One did it via an equity loan (again, dumb), the other via whatever company that did the pool (again, dumb).

The ones with the equity loan have a household income right at 80k total. The other hovers right around 60k.

Both have prefect credit though. Both waited and planned.

Is either pool fancy? No. Pretty damn basic, but that's not important. What's important is that it doesn't require parents paying for it. We're talking people that are middle aged, and their parents are too old to give a damn about a pool anyway.

And, if you're going to be a dick about it, you can suck mine.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It used to be completely possible for a median income household to have a pool. I don't get why this thread is so hostile to your bland take tbh. House = loan, new appliances = loan, remodel = loan. These are things that the middle class has historically been able to afford via credit and it was normal.

Would I take on a loan for a pool in this economy even with good pay? Absolutely not. 100k is the new 50k and it sucks.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I can afford appliances and even a car without a loan, but a pool? Fuck no. That's rich people shit.