I am so excited!!!
We searched for many months for our "dream house". A funny thing happened along the way…we started to appreciate the home we already have. Our house is on ½ acre which we took for granted. Shortly after our home search started we came to realize how lucky we are, so many homes in South Florida are on zero lot lines. Last year we put so much work into our house (new roof, interior and exterior painting, we just replaced all the appliances, etc) that it started becoming a home to us. We decided to put in a pool and start enjoying where we are. We are having an in-ground pool installed with a large deck. The best part, for us, is we are not stuck with a higher mortgage yet still have the feel of having a new home.
They dug the hole yesterday. Oh my---what a mess
Tomorrow they come to frame it out. We took a ton of pictures yesterday but will miss tomorrow since we are going to WannaDo city on a field trip. The kids (and me too) are fasinated with the whole process.
Yvonne
PS...We are not telling anyone (thats why I HAD to tell someone lol). We are planning a pool party and everyone will be surprised when they get here.

By Bea on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 06:02 pm:

When we bought this house I wasn't thrilled with the pool out back. I pictured a lot of work and very little fun. Boy was I wrong. I love it, and spend more time than anyone floating and reading. When Nichole visits, she lives out there. The maintenance is no harder than our hot tub. I know you'll enjoy this. Best of luck with it. Have a ball.

By Annie2 on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 06:13 pm:

Yeah for you! We were four days from signing a contract on a pool last Sept. then Hurricane Ivan hit us. We still need to finish the repairs on our house and fence before we can reconsider getting a pool.

I like your attitude. I understand the difference between a house and a home. Congratulations!

By Mommmie on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 08:49 pm:

How exciting!!

By Jelygu on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 08:59 pm:

That is awesome. We want a pool so badly!

By Ilovetom on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 09:02 pm:

I love, love, love our pool. There is nothing better on Sunday than my float and good book.

Enjoy.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:12 pm:

ANNIE2
Hurricane Frances is the one that did the most damage to us. It caused a great deal of damage to our roof and our screen enclosed porch. We ended up replacing roof, painting exterior and tearing down porch. We also had to replace several sections of fence that came down during the hurricane. Luckily hubby was able to do that himself. We were alsp lucky to get roof done quickly. We know people who are STILL waiting to repair. Darn hurricanes! I love Florida though so I guess it comes with the territory.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:21 pm:

It will be a salt water pool so hopefully low maintenance.

By Eve on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 07:31 am:

Congratulations! Do some laps for me!

I didn't know you could do salt water in your home pool. On the cruise we took, all the pools and hot tubs were salt water and they were great!

By Rayanne on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 07:58 am:

CNGRATULATINS!!! The pool will be so much fun.

I've never heard of a salt water pool.

Ynonne, where in Florida do you live?

By Yjja123 on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 08:03 am:

The water is coverted to salt and somehow that converts to a form of chlorine--all through the filter/pump system. You use rock salt and stabilizer instead of chlorine. It is supposed to be a lot less work and a clearer pool. My daughter has problems with high levels of chlorine but this type of pool does not bother her eyes (we have friends who have this type of pool).
I live in South Florida.

By Amecmom on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 08:38 am:

congratulations! Its great that you are getting one and you live someplace where you'll be able to use it a lot! When we were looking for a summer place in Florida we saw a lotof houses with inground pools inside a lanai. I thought it was so neat - you could go swimming even when it rained.

Enjoy you home!

Ame

By Meltonmom on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:05 am:

Congratulations! MM

By Debbie on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:17 am:

Congratulations!!! It sounds like you are going to be very happy in your new and improved home!

By Rayanne on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:31 am:

I live in Tampa/Lutz, so I was just wondering how close we were to eachother.

By Wandilu on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 02:04 pm:

When my best friend and I were growing up ,she said when she grew up,there was 2 things that she wanted.One was to always have plenty of Pepsi's in her house,everyday!And the second one was to have a pool!!And ,she does!!!!Congrats on your pool.I know you'll love it .

By Yjja123 on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 10:26 am:

Thanks everyone! The pool is now framed in and we are waiting for it to pass permits so the shell can be poured. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of dirt coming inside. We will need to scrub top to bottom when they finish. At this point it is just constant vacuuming. Oh well, it IS worth it to have a pool to swim in soon.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 11:11 am:

Lucky you!!! My physical medicine doctor wants me to join a gym with a pool because swimming would be beneficial, but who can afford $120 a month?!? Not *I*!

I'm with Eve - swim for me!!!!!

The first year I worked for my company, the office was in a cabana on my boss's property. At lunch time I'd lie in the sun or swim in his pool. At one point I was the only person using it, so I assumed the pool cleaning duties. It's not so bad when you consider the benefits.

I'm sure you'll all enjoy it immensely!!! I notice you have a fence, that's a good safety factor.

I have a question though - does your homeowner's insurance increase with a pool???

By Yjja123 on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 01:10 pm:

We had to have a fence in front of canal...so someone cannot swim across canal and swim in our pool? Very frustrating as I loved have a waterfront view! I will miss looking out and seeing ducks but maybe this means they will stay out of our pool.
Will need to look into insurance. Not sure if I have to update it now or wait until policy renewal time. I pay HIGH insurance now for being waterfront and hurricane area so hopefully it will not jump much.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 09:43 am:

YVONNE Absolutely notify your insurance company immediately, and ask them what steps you can take to keep the additional premium for the pool low. The reason you call them NOW is that, God forbid, something should happen - there you'd be, with someone claiming damages and your insurance policy denying coverage because you didn't tell them. Bye-bye pool, house and all.

By Bellajoe on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 03:41 pm:

Congrats! That sounds like so much fun! Have a blast!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 12:31 pm:

I called my insurance co and was informed I did not need to do anything additional. She said to just fax the pool contract over so they can note it on our policy. We have a high liability and personal property amount that she said was typical for pool owners. At least that is one less thing to think about. We will reveiw in November and can go higher if we feel the need. Thanks for the advice Ginny!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 06:22 pm:

I'm pleased that you took my advice and delighted that you won't have an increase in premium. I am not a pool person, but I am happy for you that you are getting someting that clearly will give you a great deal of pleasure.

By Jann on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 06:31 pm:

You will love your pool! It is so wonderful for the kids. My teens love having their friends over to hang out and swim. It's great to be able to invite families over for a swim and burgers.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 04:05 pm:

http://pak04.pictures.aol.com/NASApp/ygp/Login?event=DirectView&shareInfo=1uXYxRKKm4TsIA1LMqftHVRvXAv0Dnyb33Vqpktr%2b9hWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d&pageName=AlbumViewFromEmails&locale=en_US


I am not sure if you can cut paste the above? If so it is pictures of COMPLETED pool!

By Jann on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 06:21 pm:

I get an AOL sign in page.

By Conni on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 06:23 pm:

Me too Jann??

By Breann on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 07:14 pm:

Me too. Needs username and password?

By Yjja123 on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:09 pm:

email me at bargainsbyym
(AOL) and I will send them to you