Okay, I know somebody's gonna bust me on the unethical nature of what I'm about to ask. Rest assured I'm not actually planning to do this, but with the misery of swimming in my current pool the idea did enter my head, sort of a "what if" type of thought...
Have any of you find upstanding folks ever used a hotel or apartment pool where you weren't staying or living, um, without permission? I know, most hotel and apartment pools suck, but occasionally there's one that's of sufficient size to get a workout that beckons to you over the fence. "Come swim in me..."
Anybody do this regularly and get away with it? Anybody have any interesting stories of running half naked from hotel security hell bent on having you charged with tresspassing?
Once again, no lectures, please. I've been reading a lot of material from Hunter Thompson lately (who swims, by the way--or at least he used to), and his weird shenanigans have my own imagination coming up with all kinds of daring, if unethical, solutions to the problems of life.
Shaky, if I were you, which thankfully I am not, I would not spend the money on a pool at your house or an Endless Pool. It would be much less expensive to buy a lifetime of good French cheese to go with all that whining you do about the Y.
If someone posts the location of a pool that has a "rather attractive female receptionist" and " flight attendants", I promise I will sneak in and report what happens. ;)
When I was on my honeymoon my husband and I decided to slip into the hotel pool after hours for a little private swim. We had just 'settled' in when no less than four security folks showed up and asked us to get out. Then we had to prove we were actually guests of the hotel, which we were! Whew! Luckily we had not been in the pool very long. Any longer and it might have been VERY embarassing!
Well - I can understand what you are up against in that rat race. There are some apartment and Hotel pools that are almost 25 yards and you can get a workout in. The best thing to do is show up with a couple of people in the pool already - Not too many questions will be asked. Try to go where you know someone living or staying at the Apt. or Hotel.
You may want to think about building a two lane pool at home or getting a Endless pool.
Swimmore
coach steven fair
www.pirateswimming.com
Shaky -
Hmmm.... I share your pain. The YMCA I swim at is fine, but the outdoor pool that I also swim at is a nightmare - very similar to what you have described. My solution is to heed the wisdom of the 23rd Psalm, revised: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for I am the meanest SOB in the valley.
1) Complain constantly to management. A very effective way of getting their attention is to point out that their liability insurance carrier wouldn't be very happy to know about the unsafe conditions which they allow to occur.
2) Go to board meetings and complain per #1.
3) This there some sort of national governing/organizing group for YMCA's? If so, complain to them.
4) Complain to the lifeguard every time they allow something that is unsafe to occur. Follow it up with a complaint to management.
5) In the case of a teenager or kid doing something unsafe (swimming across a lane, etc), pull rank: don't hesitate to give them H@ll for it - most kids are loath to argue with someone who reminds them of their dad.
6) Offer to make up waterproof signs listing the rules that can be put on both ends of each lane. This precludes ignorance as an excuse.
7) For the slower swimmers who won't go to a correct lane (assuming YOU are actually in the correct lane, BTW), keep touching their feet as a signal to pass. Most people hate that.
You won't exactly be loved, but if there is an accident at a pool and someone gets clobbered by you because of something stupid that they did, you will also be named in the lawsuit. It is in everyone's best interest to try and promote a safe swimming environment. I've had (some) success where I swim, but it is still a battle.
Good Luck.
Bruised and battered, but not broken,
LBJ
When I was a med student in Houston back in the 80's the Shamrock Hotel in the medical center had a beautiful outdoor 50 meter pool that was used primarily for sunbathing (the Air France flight attendants stayed there during layovers), so a few of us would sneak in and swim laps after class. No, really, we did swim laps. Eventually the lifeguards kicked us out. The hotel was later torn down ("they paved paradise and put up a parking lot"). Thanks--I hadn't thought about that in a long time.
Gosh, in high school and college we used to go "pool hopping" on a regular basis!
Heck, back in the hippy college days when we drove out to Calif. or down to AZ in our van, the best place to get a free bath was during a late night pool hop at the nearest motel or apt pool. Never did any lap swimming, but I did have a work out or two. Hey, life is way to short, go hop the fence and go swimming....
Shaky...you're so silly, and funny (in a good way).
I'll admit that I've done it. In fact, growing up, my parnets would take us to hotel pools all the time! I was always so paranoid about it...but, I was also jumping off the high dive at age 3 or 4. So, it was a good thing--and fun. Plus, it was the 70's, and nobody had any money...let alone a couple of teachers like my parents (that's how I justify it). No harm done.
If I was desperate I might attempt to sneak in a hotel pool if it was worthwhile...but since I'm not in that situation, and there is no hotel pool worthwhile, then it's a mute point.
In college--I snuck in an apartment complex by the university that had a terrific pool. My friends lived there, and I learned the code to get in. Nobody ever used the pool! AFter awhile though, I was really feeling guilty and paranoid so I stopped going. But it was fun and worth it when I did it.
You're not a bad guy thinking of this--and sneaking in is really adventurous, and fun. It's not something to do all the time, but can get your heart going, and be exciting.
So, go do it! And report back!
Jerrycat ;)
