Sneaking In?

"but with the misery of swimming in my current pool " Perhaps I saw the details of this and forgot them (senility), but what is the problem? Hunter Thompson rules! -LBJ

Shaky, The words,Sheraton and Woodbridge,New Jersey spring to mind.I got caught by the rather attractive female receptionist and had to promise to take her to dinner the next evening to stop her telling on me.The rest of the story is X rated.Lol:D

Originally posted by Leonard Jansen "but with the misery of swimming in my current pool " Perhaps I saw the details of this and forgot them (senility), but what is the problem? Overcrowding and bad scheduling. The mental giants who run the place schedule all the activities that take up two and three lanes of the pool during the busiest times for lap swimmers. The pool is a favorite of inexperienced swimmers who don't understand lap swimming etiquette, ignore the speed designations on the lanes and can't swim a straight line. Just yesterday, I got kicked in the thigh under the lane rope by someone who thought the breaststroke kick should resemble James Brown's scissor splits; hit in the shoulder by another breaststroker who sculled out wide under the lane rope; stuck behind the slowest swimmer in the pool who insisted on swimming in the fast lane and couldn't pass because there were five other people in the lane; had to keep dodging a guy who insisted on doing backstroke but needed the whole lane to do it; and had my hand cracked by a guy who kept swimming down the middle of the lane and crowding oncoming traffic. It made me want to swim butterfly with my fists closed. That's the short version. For a more in depth look at my pool, read my description of it on the "Paddles, gloves, etc." thread, at the bottom the page linked here: forums.usms.org/showthread.php It's so ridiculous that if it weren't so irritating it would be a laugh riot. The facility itself is nice enough, but the problems here officially make it The Worst Pool I've Ever Used.

coming from, Shaky. Having swum in inner-city pools (London, UK) for 5 years, I really sympathise with you! I mean, I've swam in pools where people simply- and regularly- WALKED down the lanes (and across the lanes) rather than swim (as the 4.50GBP/ph lifeguard examined his fingernails); I've had collisions, been kicked by obnoxious school-brats, been punched, verbally abused by some psycho-women, and I won't even discuss the condition of the water! However, as a well-meaning condo-dweller, I would hope that you would target the motels rather than apts... I hate it when outsider people here use our pools and/or gym- hey, I pay the rent, you know? Besides, I do know that the leasing office here will call the cops if they caught someone hopping the fence (they live on site, along with security), so be careful! Good luck! peace...

Shakey, have you ever thought of approaching management of the pool in question and asking them if you could pay a monthly fee for the use of their pool? There was a hotel, a very very nice hotel, where I grew up that use to 'sell' memberships to the community. If the pool management balks at the idea because it would cause the pool to be too over crowded, then suggest they limit the number of 'memberships' they sell... Everyone would win... they would make money and you would get a less crowded pool to swim in. LOL--it would make you an honest man :D Lainey

I can't say that its that bad of a experiance. A few times I accidently hit someone doing backstroke because I had to be on my side of the pool and share the lane. Its a lot better now than in the 1970's. Back in those days, there was no lap swimming and when I swam a few times doing the break from the club team I had to put up with kids doing recreatonal swimming.

Call around to local hotels to inquire as to size of pool and whether they sell community memberships. (I know of a hotel near me that sells family memberships to its pool for a very modest price, but you must live in that city. (When I used this pool, I did not live in the right city and, thus, had to opt for the walk-in-and-pretend-I-belonged access option.) You might have similar hotels near you. Be sure to ask about parking options for community guest members, other applicable rules (days of week or hour limitations for community guest members), and about crowded times/best times to swim.) Some hotels allow family members of hotel employees to use pool facilities. If you can find out what hotels near you do this, you might want to avoid these pools during summer months. You will find the stay-at-home parents there with their kids. (My brother used to work at a hotel (nice one), and his wife and their 3 kids were there almost daily during the summer, along with a slew of other parents/kids -- it was the place for the stay at home spouses of hotel staff to hang out with their kids.... They were limited to weekday use and excluded Fridays-Sundays.) To scope things out in advance, you might just show up at some of your prospective options and ask to see their facilities, as you are planning for some relatives to visit you and will be putting them up at a hotel near your home. Ask to see the pool during your tour.... On Gonzo pool hopping: Avoid dropping acid during the 12 hours preceding your planned swim. The sharks, eels and squids that may greet you at the pool will not be worth the trip. Hotel staff will also become too ominous. Do not brandish weapons on the hotel premises. This makes hotel staff nervous and suspicious. Leave the Tequila, limes and beer at home. While you may feel completely in control of a situation involving hotel staff and security, the situation may turn ugly without warning and you may need to leave the premises promptly. If you are trying to make your escape by car, limes bouncing around in the back seat and a beer in your hand can easily be forgotten until it is too late. Do not drive wildly through the hotel parking lot upon arrival. Attracting attention at this stage may blow your chances of sliding by hotel security without questioning. Park in the hotel parking lot and pay the hotel parking fee. This will make you an authentic paying guest. :) Obey all pool rules (other than the one that says you must be a guest of the hotel to use the pool). Be polite and smile as you pass hotel staff on your way to the pool. Relax, and enjoy the swim!