Quote:
Originally Posted by waves
[ - I am angry that I will have to share a lane and worry about crashing into people (more than viceversa).
- I am even angrier that when the pool is "busy" the lane-sharing might involve 3, 4, 6 people from what I have found out on youtube.
- I am angry that I don't have other alternatives for swimming.
- I am angry they don't have a pool with deep (can't touch bottom) end.
- I am angry that I don't have the whole entire pool to myself! (LOL)
- I am angry that I have to undress in front of people and either a) be naked in front of them or b) look stupid holding my towel with my teeth to avoid (a).
- I am angry that when I leave the pool with clean chlorinated feet and dedicated flip-flops, I have to walk through an ankle-deep pool of standing water. What is the point of having slippers "for hygiene reasons" if you are going to dunk them in a bath of water with your feet... and can't re-chlorinate the feet afterwards! You might say, take the flip-flops off, well that would be even worse as other people do not remove their slippers. I'm sorry, but that's just gross!
- I am angry that I spent all this money and will probably have to spend more just to fix things and still can't fix everything.
- I am angry that I spent all this money and now feel like I am pulling teeth to get something out of it.
- I am angry at myself for having such high expectations of a situation that I was clueless about (I'd never used a public pool before -- not even used in the U.S.)
- I am angry at myself for not buying a single one-day pass to check it out before I got the 10 visit package + required membership card.
- I am angry that I don't have a home with a large pool in my backyard for my own private and exclusive use.
|
Waves,
Today is crazy busy but I want to respond to some things in case any of my words help.
1. You do not have to worry about crashing into other people. They are supposed to watch out for you too . (There are sites that have suggestions for this but I think it varies from pool to pool: . . .. talking to the person in the lane, finding a lane with a swimmer of similar speed)
2. Three or four people is a lot. I am hoping that you do not encounter that very often.
3. The pool is not anywhere close to fresh water or ocean. Pools are a different kettle of fish. The only thing that makes them similar is water.
4. I was at a pool that was shallow like that. It felt weird. Maybe it is a liability issue.
5. I like to swim by myself too so I understand.
6. I grew up with brothers and a sister so I am soooo past getting undressed in front of people. But again, I understand. I think one trick is to wear something that is easy to get off and on. Here there is gym ttiquette that invovles not looking at anyone dressing. The dresser should not be looking either. Looking is not appropriate. One reason is because the looking can be construed as a come one . .. (O.K. I looked all over for that and cannot find a site to link to. It cannot be that I made that up. Anyway, it is common sense to ignore people in the locker room and wait until you are in the pool area or the gym area to talk to people.)
7. Yes. That is a problem. That would be the worst problem for me. Wash yourself thoroughly
when you get home ( and dry your feet thoroughly). That is the only suggestion I have.
8. Probably you cannot fix anything except adjust your previous expectations considerably. This is about living and working and working out in crowded conditions.
9.It does feel like a lot of money and you are not getting everything you want out of it.
10. I have used public pools until 10 or so years ago and they are not the same as the ocean but they can work well enough with some adjustment. They will never substitute for the beach.
11. It is o.k. that you did not check it out more thoroughly. It happens. Do not give yourself a hard time. You thought that the whole thing would make sense. . . .that at least SOMETHING would make sense. (See above when I said that apparently the only thing that does make sense is WATER.)
12. Pools in backyards have a hefty insurance cost. Non filthy rich people look for homes without pools. BUt yes, it would be cool to step outside and swim in our own pool.
There are good reasons to go to the gym.
THere are lots of sites about gym etiquette so you are not the one who wishes things were nicer:
http://www.carlmason-liebenberg.com/...tte-essential/
I tired to find lane sharing etiquette, but found much variation -- prolly depends on the pool.
. . . I saw some links about sharing lanes. Knowing what to expect from the other swimmer and knowing what the other swimmer expects from you might help with your anger/anxiety/and so on . . . .. (Do not make up rules that do not exist. 80% of the other people are doing their best to share. They are trying to be considerate of your needs. )
Talk to the people at the desk. Or ask the people who are swimming . . ask when they get to the end of the lane.
M