No pools in Albuquerque? (Las Vegas: hotel, home, buying)

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Trkstp Tina

I've noticed that the pools at Sports & Wellness can be a little chilly--I think it's because the temperature drops so much in the evenings that the pools don't always completely warm up. Perhaps with a smaller backyard pool, though, the situation would be different.

Yeah, I think your ideal situation pool-wise in ABQ (spending someone else's money! ) would be a heated pool (like gas-heated, etc.). If you had a gas-heated pool, you'd be swimming in ABQ from March until November. Heck, I see ABQ's temps this week with many days in the mid-to-upper 70s - throw in that wicked warm sun, and you have good swimming weather.

BUT, when you are still having nights in the 30s, that water is obviously ice-cold and thus isn't swimmable. So if you could have water that was heated, then you'd be able to hit that pool so much of the year in ABQ.

(Of course, the negative is that ol' price tag which would go with heating an outdoor pool! ).

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by OutofNJsomeday

Thank you to all for the input.
It seems that (as I suspected) the cost to keep a pool in abq is higher than here. Particularly the 10,000 - 15,000 gallons of water per year lost to evaporation - wow! Last year we didn't even have to add to our pool because of all the rain.
I'd be interested to know which neighborhood Zoidberg lives in, where many residents have pools. Also, couldn't solar power be used to heat pools? Are there any taxation issues with pools? Where we live, an above ground pool is not considered part of the property value for taxes, but an inground pool will increase your (already exorbitant) property taxes.
Thanks again for all the input. We like the pool for relaxation as well as exercise.

I don't want to get into too much detail about where I live, but let's just say the area spanning from Candelaria/Louisiana to Wyoming/Montgomery is particularly rich with pools. Good ol' 1960's suburban excess.

Solar power is used to heat all outdoor pools in that sunlight reaches them directly. Almost all pools use a floating blanket to capture summer sun and provide heat and reduce evaporation. A few pools (not mine yet, unfortunately) use an outboard solar heater as well. July and August, the blanket is about all one would need.

Property taxes here are not as draconian as yours sound; I'm sure as much as the pool increased my home's selling price, there's a weak correlation with property tax, though I'm not sure how big of an effect it has. If you worry about the effect of installing a pool on property taxes, you're probably not the sort to install a pool. It's kinda like worrying about the annual cost of auto registration when considering a new car. Much bigger concerns, like gas and upkeep.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

Despite some of the posts here, pools use less water per square foot than lawns. This is particularly so when used with a thermal pool blanket.

Zoidberg, did you also figure in the water used to actually fill the pool, or just the water that evaporates? And are you saying that for people who have lawns, if they replaced the entire front and back lawns with a 6 ft. deep pool, it's a form of xeriscaping?

Also, consider there are some lawns that use little, or even no, water. A combo grama/buffalo lawn uses very little water, compared to more traditional, high-water lawns [provided the grama/buffalo grass is not over-watered]. In the Heights, you can almost get away with not watering a buffalo lawn. And up here, a grama lawn does not need to be watered.

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

Zoidberg, did you also figure in the water used to actually fill the pool, or just the water that evaporates?

Well, since I don't routinely fill the pool (water stays in it year-round, even if I cover it up for the winter) don't see how it's relevant. Haven't done a changeout in 5 years. I believe also the numbers still come out on the pool's side versus the lawn. You can go through 20000 gallons watering your lawn many times over in a year.

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

And are you saying that for people who have lawns, if they replaced the entire front and back lawns with a 6 ft. deep pool, it's a form of xeriscaping?

Careful with your straw man fallacy there.

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

Also, consider there are some lawns that use little, or even no, water. A combo grama/buffalo lawn uses very little water, compared to more traditional, high-water lawns [provided the grama/buffalo grass is not over-watered]. In the Heights, you can almost get away with not watering a buffalo lawn. And up here, a grama lawn does not need to be watered.

Perhaps if you do not water your lawn or you get a drought-resistant species, you might get closer to pool use. However, those breeds you mention are an unrepresentative sample, and the majority of the city doesn't use these breeds, either because they don't hold up under use, or they just look awful.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

Well, since I don't routinely fill the pool (water stays in it year-round, even if I cover it up for the winter) don't see how it's relevant. Haven't done a changeout in 5 years. I believe also the numbers still come out on the pool's side versus the lawn. You can go through 20000 gallons watering your lawn many times over in a year.

Careful with your straw man fallacy there.

Perhaps if you do not water your lawn or you get a drought-resistant species, you might get closer to pool use. However, those breeds you mention are an unrepresentative sample, and the majority of the city doesn't use these breeds, either because they don't hold up under use, or they just look awful.

o.k. I was just curious about the water change-out, since I have never had a pool. If it's just the evaporation I can see why the water usage is lower. Especially if the grass is one of the high-water users, like bluegrass or some of the fescues.

I've attached a pic of our little piece of backyard heaven. The "inside" grass area consists of 500 buffalo grass plugs, lovingly planted by hand. It's only green a few months of the year, and so it would not suit the whims of many local lawn-lovers. The smaller "outside" clumps are taller, blue grama.

But it's very "high desert" friendly, and I can guarantee it doesn't use anywhere near 20,000 gallons of water. Not even ballpark. I water it myself by hand when necessary, and that's only about 10 times per year, max. It's water needs when dormant [most of the year] are zilch. Buffalo is extremely drought tolerant - I've read that their roots have been known to penetrate 6 ft. into the ground for moisture. So even if there's a "bad" year, it'll come back the next.

You're right about blue grama not looking great. It can survive in the Heights with no water, but it's usually combined with buffalo for the reason you mention. However, it still needs to be cut. Buffalo you can actually get away with not cutting, because it only grows to about 5-6 in. IMO it's the perfect lawn grass for Albuq, and personally, I really like the look.

[jack7y]

I really like your desert appropriate lawn and yard in general!

[Towanda]

Great picture Tim! I like the look, too.

I'll be moving to Santa Fe in May ... and have been studying xeriscaping all winter. I'll have two enclosed courtyards, and can hardly wait to start experimenting with desert plants and flowers, etc.

[Tim Rankin]

Thanks jack7y and Towanda! It was a lot of work but it's worth it now. I still have to replenish the mulch in between the grasses, as a result of those 49 knot gusts earlier this month...

[EnjoyEP]

AWESOME photo TR!

H*#&, I like the planting, but more than anything, I am sitting here with my wife, and we just like the view of a good-hearted backyard in our beloved ABQ with the Sandias and other houses in the view-scape.

Arrggh....

[Towanda]

To Mr. and Mrs. EnjoyEP:

You two NEED to get back to ABQ. I don't think this home-sickness is good for your health!!!!!