Is having a pool and nice weather overhyped?

We lived in the South of France for a few years and had this. Although we did BBQ a lot at the weekends with friends it was usually in the evenings and rarely did people swim. The novelty of the pool did wear off too. The kids would swim when younger and if they had friends around but as they became teenagers less so. We also felt there should always be an adult present and that was a bit of a pain. Wherever you live you still have all the normal things to do at the weekends. Shopping, kids activities, homework, hairdressers, going to the gym etc. It just isn't realistic to spend the whole weekend sitting around the pool barbecuing.

How about the Caribbean, say Barbados.

Gosh OP I feel like I’m just making you jealous. But we often cook outdoors because the weather is so favorable. Just this long weekend we have had one full cooked English breakfast on the gas bbq and a deboned chicken cooked on the fire. All eaten with a view of the pool.

I lived on the East Coast USA for many years. Most people had a pool . And employed a pool company to maintain it thus the infamous pool guy fantasy of suburban housewives . But it was only usable in summer and had almost a ceremony closing it usually in September around Labour Day and kids back in school .
The downside of long hit summers was the harsh and freezing temperatures of the winters . Where you had to dig your car out .
But I agree that everything is easier in the warm . Quick shower , sundress , hair can be left wet or damp . Minimum maintenance and quick easy meals,no stews or hearty fare .

Yes! Even our pool builder / designer commented that whilst pools are meant for swimming there is an aesthetic value to them. I’m also sitting on my deck overlooking our pool onto a valley of green farmland and hills feeling very fortunate.

Yes

Definitely overhyped

I sunburn in about ten minutes.

It’s been 15 years since I spent 2 years working in the north of New Zealand. I still long for it. I was lucky to have a pool but just the sunshine helped. The best part was being able to finish work and head to the beach. We had a bbq occasionally but mostly we all brought one or two picnic dishes and shared everything. It was the perfect end to a day.

I am also in South Africa OP.

And I also have a pool.
I sit and look at it every single day as I sit on my patio to wind down. It doesn't get used all the time granted, but I do love that it's there. And I am a dab hand at keeping it beautiful and blue.

I lived in the UK for a while and moved back here. Yes we have our problems here, but I'm happy to live my life with these issues and be able to enjoy this way of life.

Everyone should holiday in Cape Town at least once in their life before they judge South Africa.

I was born here and besides for 7 years in the UK I have lived here all my life. My parents emigrated to the Uk 20 years ago and have recently moved back here to retire.

Safety is largely in your control. We are financially fortunate and we live in a private estate but I have many friends who don’t and live in regular suburbs and don’t feel vulnerable. But you will live in a house with security measures such as an alarm and burglar guards. I feel that there has been a drastic improvement in safety here but I don’t have the figures to back it up so it’s just a general feeling. I don’t feel threatened or unsafe, you just get on with it. But like most cities and towns there are places where you just wouldn’t go if you were concerned about your safety.

Also the part of the country affects this too. Those living in Cape Town and the wine lands are living in what would often seem like a US type paradise. There are many many UK citizens who choose to live here or retire here. Your pound really does go far and language is not a barrier as most South Africans speak English.

I also disagree that we have clear
seasons here (compared to other countries). Winter can often be mild and dull with no snow and then we can have a cool, rainy summer. I’d love to live somewhere with a more guaranteed summer and cold, snowy, sunny winters. No idea where that place is though. Canada?

Sorry, forgot to mention that said language-challenged relative has become fluent in two European languages in turn by moving to the relevant countries.

I'd go for Northern Portugal if you can swing the right to move there. I have a relative who was 'useless at languages' and imo if you're of at least average intelligence and motivated, then when you're living somewhere else, the language learning will be effective. And in the meantime, it's super Brit friendly.

It would be my idea of purgatory- I've lived for a short time with a pool, and it's so much work and expense to maintain - but if you know you want it, think that way.

And to add I really do understand that feeling of putting on some summer clothes and shopping for a bbq (braai). Music, pool, fire and good food. That really is our weekend lifestyle here. We are very fortunate.

Not my cup of tea. I really only like sea swimming, get very bored by the pool. Quite an active person so hot weather doesn't always suit me. But you're not me, so if this is your dream, go for it.

South Africa. I have lived in a few houses and we have always had a pool. Reading this thread though has made me realize how we take it for granted. We could swim all year round the weather is generally that good. I think I have swum in our current pool maybe 10 times in a year and just generally lay around it even less. We mostly use it to cool off after a run or a very hot day at work. Sometimes it’s actually too hot to swim… the water just doesn’t refresh you and it’s better to be inside with the aircon.

I have lived in the UK and I can attest the to the fact that a sunny country generally does do better for your mental health and inspite of our problems here I am going to make an effort to not take that for granted because it’s almost always a beautiful warm sunny day here!!!

The biggest benefit for me was being able to come home from a hot day at work, shopping, walking, whatever and head into the pool. Perfect way of cooling down in hot countries
Pain to clean when not used for a while but if used regularly then not much needs doing every day

No, it very much is not overhyped. I grew up in a warm, sunny climate and the sheer joy of the sunshine, good weather, sitting round the pool and spending evenings outdoors just cannot be overstated.

And yes I'm planning to move to the sunshine again when I retire.

Absolutely considering this myself

My middle DD lives in Oz and has just bought a house without a pool. She said that the upkeep (her inlaws have a pool so she gets to see it first hand) and expenses of running it just aren't worth it. But she's only ten minutes from Torquay beach, so they go to the sea rather than having a pool.

And the weather can be very inconsistent in Victoria.

It’s a bit over hyped sometimes

We live somewhere hot in summer. We don’t have a pool ( use local lake instead).

It’s only really hot hot June-Sept really so seasonal, but life has to happen also. When it’s 30 degrees at 9am it’s not pleasant going food shopping, working, nursery run, maintaining garden, walking anywhere.
On days we have no work or chores it’s nice, but it’s too hot outside in sun 11.30-5pm often so you end up hibernating indoors or shade.

In the winter we often spend 3 months clearing metres of snow also

We do have a much more outdoors lifestyle though, but spring and Autumn are actually better times to go off out and about

Its actually already pretty hot this afternoon, and I’m putting of cutting the grass.

Our neighbours a few doors along have a pool. Only installed it about 5 years ago. They have to fill in pool filling applications at town hall to get an allocated day they are allowed to fill it for the summer as if everyone fills at once we would run out of drinking water. They are charged a fair amount by town to fill each year. Last year they didn’t bother filling at all. Cost a fortune to install also

The point about being on holiday is that you're on holiday! You don't have all your normal everyday stuff to do so can lounge around a pool. Pools need a lot of maintenance, even in warmer climates lots of people don't bother with one.

I'm just like you OP, I would love to live in a country that has proper seasons every year, I wouldn't mind cold short winters for a guaranteed summer, think New York. If you have to opportunity to do it, I say do it. What's the worse that can happen, if you hate it you can always come back to the UK.

Smoking and drinking by a pool sounds amazing.