Do you swim with a group or go it alone?

I swim alone and miss the "push" of swimming with other people. Unfortunately the masters swimming near me is in the evening when I'd rather be at home with my wife and three children. I can find some other swimmers in the morning, most seem interested in swimming 100 free repeats. Open Water Swims are my thing now; these are quite a change from my competitive background in 'fly and IM. I tell myself that swimming alone is good preparation for the "isolated" experience of open water events. My swimming "goal" now is simply demonstrating to my children that I swim too (not just haul them to swim classes). My family attends when I swim an open water event, and we all enjoy the day at the beach. Granted my swims are likely slower for training alone, but the other rewards are much greater.

I swim alone and miss the "push" of swimming with other people. Unfortunately the masters swimming near me is in the evening when I'd rather be at home with my wife and three children. I can find some other swimmers in the morning, most seem interested in swimming 100 free repeats. Open Water Swims are my thing now; these are quite a change from my competitive background in 'fly and IM. I tell myself that swimming alone is good preparation for the "isolated" experience of open water events. My swimming "goal" now is simply demonstrating to my children that I swim too (not just haul them to swim classes). My family attends when I swim an open water event, and we all enjoy the day at the beach. Granted my swims are likely slower for training alone, but the other rewards are much greater.