Chances are, your neighborhood holds a secret...
...place that is.
Perhaps it's a park, or a great place to eat; or maybe it's a coffee shop. Whatever it is, it's a secret, and once you find it your life is better because of it.
For me, it's a pool.
During the winter months, our friends in the neighborhood had told us about this really cool pool. But I kept thinking a pool is a pool--so what. They assured us that all of our neighbors would spend their summer poolside. Furthermore, they told us that the kids would love it.
Then summer arrived and indeed, everyone in my neighborhood was going to this pool, that is everyone except for my family. After some debate my wife and I agreed that it would be good for her to buy a pass to the pool for the her and the kids. (I assured her that I wouldn't be going and not to worry about me.)
Soon myy wife and kids starting return from their afternoons at the pool with hyperbolic claims of 'the greatest pool' and 'it's awesome Dad' and 'it's so close,' Still, I refused to go. You see, I really don't like pools. I burn easily and I am afraid of the
water because--well--I just know the little kids have been doing their
business in the there. I explained that it's just a pool, that they were probably getting all sorts of diseases, and thank you very much but I wouldn't be going any time soon.
That is until last week--when I experienced it all for myself.
Our daughter chose to go to the pool for family day. The one rule of family day is that we all must do whatever the activity planner plans. (Although we are still debating whether or not we should spend money on family night, but that's another post.) So off to the pool we went.
And man did I have a blast.
This pool has is an Olympic-sized swimming pool (12 feet deep in one part); two HUGE water-slides; a lazy river; a kiddie pool; diving boards, and plenty of chairs. The staff keeps the place spotless. Most importantly, there are oodles of life-guards. The cost is reasonable ($8 for the day) and really cheap if you purchase a summer pass.
I spent the afternoon swimming with my kids, going down the water-slides, and jumping off the diving boards. I went back to my pool chair and lay down for a snooze. Before dozing off, I smiled and realized that I didn't care what all of those kids had been doing in the pool after all.
I understand the pool wasn't really a secret--seems everyone in the neighborhood knew about it except for me. But now that I aware of it, it's like I've discovered something.
I encourage you to find that undiscovered place in your own neighborhood. Try it, even if you think you won't like it. You'll be glad you did.
