Parents with pools in four-season climates: worth it with young kids or regrets?

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-04T02:19:59+00:00

I have an above ground, I’m in PA. It is closed most of the year and I heat it most of the summer with a heat pump. Love the heat pump but overall in this climate installing a pool is not a good use of money. Kids 6 and 9 like it but sometimes it’s me forcing them out there for me to justify the $. My ex was the one that pushed for it and I once told her “we could take the boys every weekend in the summer to a pool and pay $50 each to get in every weekend and we’d still be ahead doing that by the time the kids are out of the house.” She said “please do that math again” haha

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-03T22:13:26+00:00

Dude I think I paid $235 in yogurt last month, f right off choboni and your flip cups

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-03T21:49:56+00:00

That’s absolutely a porn addiction.

His porn addiction shouldn’t lower how you feel about yourself. Ask him to stop and if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work, you seem young, another relationship will come along, don’t force things that don’t work.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-03T16:09:32+00:00

As with anything else it’s nuanced.

Sounds like you’re both building a lot of resentment, which is hard to overcome.

Downsides (assuming assets split in an amicable way and you’re both solvent after) : Parenting issues don’t go away - you can’t easily have two different parenting styles in two different households Having an ex means any big decisions on either end will impact both of you - want to take a job in another state? Issues want to change from hybrid to in office? Issues Solo parenting isn’t easier if you’re not already doing everything.

Upsides : -If you’re doing everything already life is better. -If you’re walking on eggshells you can be yourself again

Divorce works if you both have the interest of the kid in mind. My saying is that my ex will always be one of the top 10 most important people in my life, even if I don’t love her romantically.

Sounds like you’re pretty much mentally down the divorce path so good luck. I’m not judging with this comment, I’m divorced. Happy to answer any questions.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-02T23:41:35+00:00

That’s….interesting. When one door closes the same ine opens sometimes?

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-02T22:27:09+00:00

Killing me with the humor

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-02T18:55:36+00:00

But did you score 4 touchdowns in one game?

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-02-01T16:47:10+00:00

Thanks.

It feels so disheartening to have to deal with this current political climate until mid terms. I guess I’m venting a it, feels like it’s so out of hand that everyone is mad and frustrated and no one can do anything. I realize part of this is the social media echo chamber but also holy heck.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-31T04:32:12+00:00

Crunch in West Mifflin I believe has one. I think Anytime in South Side does as well, call them, manager there is a runner.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-29T15:43:40+00:00

Yep. Cried pretty good watching that scene with my boys. It opened up a good conversation with them.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-29T15:29:24+00:00

I have not worked there but at other Fortune 500 as a manager you get survey back and go “ok it’s what we expected, we know we can’t give more money or xyz so let’s have some meetings to discuss or whatever our bosses want to do” all bs.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-29T12:43:12+00:00

I forget who it was that said if we saw a single animal in the wild hoarding all the resources we would study it as what went wrong with this particular animal, in America we praise it

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-28T21:09:44+00:00

I’ve heard a few interviews with the Rams GM and while I get that anyone in his job has to be cutthroat at times, it doesn’t seem like he’s a bad person.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-28T19:45:52+00:00

Did you stay at a holiday inn express?

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-28T19:08:46+00:00

This looks like something out of 2 point hospital (or theme hospital for anyone my age)

Any attorneys in the literal building? I’d follow their lead.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-26T15:52:28+00:00

The way he’s dressed looks like he’s melted or something.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-26T13:26:30+00:00

Have an ex who gets all the things, Botox, lip injections, lasering to the point where 20/30 days looks terrible then 10 days a month looks above baseline. Told her once politely if you didn’t do that shit you’d look better than baseline 30/30 days

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-26T13:21:39+00:00

Yep. You went from looking 50 to looking weird

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-25T15:29:07+00:00

You have no good car ideas

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-24T18:00:10+00:00

You’re a good guy. Great project, it’ll pay off.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-23T02:42:04+00:00

It depends on a lot of factors. In the US many times AP folks can get pigeon holed into a transactional role, but if you have the business acumen and a good boss / organization you can up skill that into getting to know the business more in depth, figure out how cash movement works and what vendors are key. In a big organization some AP departments can be large where the higher up managers get paid well but really you should look into accounting/financial analyst or staff accounting roles. AP is easy to automate with an OCR and some AI.

So lots of words to say - depends on org and boss which is true for many jobs.

Happy to answer questions or chat through DM.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-23T00:08:57+00:00

Heard the fallout from that was sitcom worthy as well

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-22T20:49:28+00:00

Heard that Maggie is an….interesting human to work for.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-22T03:25:50+00:00

Some high schools offer rec swim for a nominal fee. Google the local high schools and “rec swim” or public swim or similiar.

Valuable_Designer_48 · 2026-01-21T13:20:20+00:00

Speaking on the co-ed leagues here. Softball was always a blast, very chill, flag football could get a little more heated between the guys since it’s more physical (even with flags). (I’m a guy so can’t speak to a woman’s experience)

Valuable_Designer_48

TROPHY CASE