XE has to confess that she has never been a good swimmer--if indeed she could swim at all. For many years, despite journeys to the family lake cottage every summer weekend from the time she was 9 or 10, she couldn't swim. She was terrified to go too deep for her to stand with her head above water. A good friend urged the age-50 XE to get a snorkel so she could breathe and relax (XE subsequently learned the two go together in swimming). XE then grew out of her long characteristic of being a sinker, even when she tried to float.
Wilson has changed their lane configuration, from always being long (50 meters), to half long and half short (25 yards)--to the satisfaction of what my swimming buddy calls "the nonathletes and rich housewives of Chevy Chase." Here's the DPR's report of the "survey" they conducted last year on this issue:
Of the 1,185 District residents who participated in the unscientific online survey, 66 respondents voted for the pool to be 25 yards at all times, 818 voted for 50 meters at all times and 166 thought it should be split equally with some days 25 yards and other days at 50 meters. 82 people said it should be split, but mostly 25 yards and 53 people thought it should be split, but mostly 50 meter. The ANC’s voted unanimously to have the pool configured in a 50-50 split.This is democracy? Here's the tally:
FOR 25 yards at all times N= 66
FOR 50 meters at all times N=818FOR a SPLIT--25 yards/50 meters N=166
[Mostly 25 yards N= 82]
[Mostly 50 meters N= 53]
Seems like some votes count way more than others: 871 swimmers (or 74% of those surveyed) wanted 50 meter lanes all (818) or most (53) of the time.
But whose happiness & satisfaction did the ANC decide, by unanimous vote, should be honored by the lane arrangement? 148 swimmers (or 12.5% of those surveyed) who wanted 25 yards all (66) or most (82) of the time.
Sigh. I can't swim since my stroke. One arm doesn't work and one leg can't kick. It makes me sad because swimming was always my best sport as a kid. Walking bores the hell outta me.
ReplyDeleteKay: So sorry you can't enjoy your best sport any more. My best sport as a kid was making and shooting a slingshot. I just gave it up.
ReplyDeleteI can swim. I think of it like I think of running: it's something you do if you HAVE to do it, like trying to get away from an angry dog or a sinking boat.
ReplyDelete... and you're still pretty good with a slingshot M.E., far as I can tell. You just upgraded to the metaphorical model.
ReplyDeleteWish you could be here to enjoy swimming in Hilo Bay, as I did today! It was glorious, and the snorklers were spotting turtles and big fish. Not being strong swimmers, we generally just paddle around for 1/2 hour and chat and gossip. The salt water holds us up nicely.
ReplyDeleteA crowded pool would not entice me, as you can imagine. Well, this is why we moved here!
Half a pool, half a pool, half a pool onward,
ReplyDeleteInto the valley of drown swam the 600...
Sherwood: Visualizing...thanks for reminding me. 25 years ago, I used to picture swimming all the way to Paris. and I actually got there a few times!
ReplyDeleteHattie: What a delightful place to live! and swim!!
Stu: *:0) They have lifeguards now....
And I thought they had tennis on...
Deletethe days the pools was closed ;-)
That's another whole setup. Don't know where the tennis place is, although there is one by the Georgetown pool. The courts get claimed pretty fast, ditto the basketball hoops. My renters one summer kept asking me where the tennis courts for the public were. They seemed to think that if the courts were busy nonstop, it was because they were private. *:0)
ReplyDelete