Just as an aside, my wife was saying this morning on her way out to the pool, "You know, the fitness center pool will be closed for cleaning all next week." I shrugged, so what? I can go several other places.
How many pools are within easy driving distance from you. I feel I'm pretty lucky in that I have access to no less than 7 pools within a 30 minute drive in New York's capital district. There are 5 YMCAs, 1 town fitness center and my college alma mater. Our health insurance pays for access through a program called Silver Sneakers, so they're all free to me as well.
I have the fortune to work part time at a chain gym, which affords me access to all their locations. Three of those gyms with (real - the 16yd doesn't count) pools are within a 15-20 minute drive of my house, and there's two or three more further afield (30 - 45). There's a YMCA with two pools 10mins away, and a couple of Lifetime Fitness locations. The city's HS has a pool (open to residents at limited times in winter for a fee), and in summer a cool $45 gets me access to both a pool (10min walk) and a whole lake (pond) (10min drive) from June to Labor Day. A number of local HS's have pools open to residents and nonresidents for laps and open swim. So. Um. A lot of options?
As a sidenote, Silver Sneakers is a wonderful program that lots of folks at my gym use. Most insurances will also reimburse (to a point - usually $150 or so) the cost of a yearly gym membership, which I think more people should know about and take advantage of.
I have the fortune to work part time at a chain gym, which affords me access to all their locations. Three of those gyms with (real - the 16yd doesn't count) pools are within a 15-20 minute drive of my house, and there's two or three more further afield (30 - 45). There's a YMCA with two pools 10mins away, and a couple of Lifetime Fitness locations. The city's HS has a pool (open to residents at limited times in winter for a fee), and in summer a cool $45 gets me access to both a pool (10min walk) and a whole lake (pond) (10min drive) from June to Labor Day. A number of local HS's have pools open to residents and nonresidents for laps and open swim. So. Um. A lot of options?
As a sidenote, Silver Sneakers is a wonderful program that lots of folks at my gym use. Most insurances will also reimburse (to a point - usually $150 or so) the cost of a yearly gym membership, which I think more people should know about and take advantage of.
