One of the things that can be a challenge living in Memphis is the heat!

One of the things that can be a challenge living in Memphis is the heat! The Mississippi River runs right through town and makes this whole part of the state steamy in the summer. One of the reasons we chose the house we have is the big backyard, so we could have somewhere to at least enjoy the heat in. We wanted a place that was large enough to eventually install a swimming pool while still having room to play and enjoy our dogs. So now that the kids have taken their first round of swimming lessons, we think it’s time to choose a pool.

One of my biggest concerns with installing a pool was safety, so we wanted to talk to an expert about our options. The people at Family Leisure gave us some great information and options and directed us to their Pool School videos so we could learn about important safety precautions, using pool supplies and basically everything we needed to consider before our purchase. Once we felt comfortable that we could have a pool and enjoy it while keeping our kids and their friends safe, it was time to choose the pool.

We decided to go with an above ground pool as our first pool experience. Above-ground pools are durable and easy to care for, but are also removable. We thought this would give us a good chance to see how much we used the pool and how well the kids do with it before we move to a permanent in-ground pool. We went with a Royal Oak design so the exterior looked natural. The pool is made of heavy-gauged galvanized steel and can stay up all year long. This will save us money on water and maintenance over time.

We liked the fact that the frame came with a ten-year warranty and the liner has a five-year warranty. That way if there are any problems, we’re covered. We bought a solar cover to help heat the water after we open the pool in the spring. Since the weather is Memphis is so hot during the summer, after the first few weeks, we probably won’t need to use the solar cover. We also purchased a pool light so we could enjoy summer evenings in the water.

Once we see how things go, we’ll consider graduating to an in-ground pool, but for now, we’re really enjoying our new way to beat the summer heat and have fun as a family!