Is having a pool and nice weather overhyped?

[Keithlemondrop]

I have really got completely obsessed with the idea of moving somewhere with sunny weather and where pools are the norm. There is NOTHING i love more than lazing around a pool on holiday, barbecuing and socialising with friends/family.

The world is really our oyster as both dh and I have very in demand jobs. And our kids are young. I sit in my bikini in my garden on a warm day but it’s just not the same. I know you cant out run your problems but a pretty garden and pool wouldnt hurt is my view.

Have I just overhyped this in my head? It just seems a wonderful lifestyle. Putting on a sundress on a Saturday morning and then going to do a big bbq food shop, followed by a day lounging by the pool seems like HEAVEN. Or is it just a bit of a novelty to me.

Do you live somewhere like this? What is your experience?

Absolutely considering this myself

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.

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

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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

Pls Can I ask how safe you feel in South Africa?

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

Yes

Definitely overhyped

I sunburn in about ten minutes.

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.

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 .

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.

How about the Caribbean, say Barbados.

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.

I had assumed you would not want South Africa - most UK people seem to find the idea horrifying.

Like others on this thread, that's where I grew up and yes, the lifestyle is fantastic. And if you moved somewhere like cape town (no idea how easy it is to emigrate though), it can be a glorious life - beautiful, good weather but still seasonal (I wouldn't swim in winter, for example), lovely lifestyle etc. I am from Cape Town so I feel I can say this though - cape townians can be difficutl to integrate with so bear that in mind!

And ifyou are goign to be employed locally think hard about income because even highly paid south Africans are still earning in a currency that has little value internationally. So life in SA can be fabulous, but options down the line are harder if you wanted to move back to the UK, for example. Cape Town is also filled with with wonderful places to eat and drink, lots of outside things to do if you are so inclined (hiking, swimming, kayaking, surfing etc etc), great schools (if you have, or plan to have, kids) etc.

Also, to add, as a South African in the UK, when the weather is good we do routinely cook and eat outside which seems to be something that isn't htat common. we do it even more now we have a gas BBQ as we always felt bad in our relatively small garden with coals on a Tuesday afternoon or whatever. The only reason I am not BBQing this week is I've done all my food shopping and none of it is "braai"-friendly! I was nowhere near prepared enough for this glorious weather!

I was like that until I lived where I had a pool and the upkeep was costly and people try to sneak in and critters fall in. Now I join a gym with a pool or an area pool club.

Agree. Ideally you want to earn your pounds and live here. I’d imagine though that getting visas etc may be a struggle although probably an improvement of late since our home affairs has had a bit of a shake up. But there do seem to be many British citizens living here so it can’t be impossible.

I think it is overhyped. Mainly because many of the places people think of have limitations in some other way.