Pools

Rian spent most of yesterday afternoon swimming in a friend's backyard pool. Twas an Adventure of multiple discoveries.

First. Apparently one can 'wallpaper' a pool. Not true wallpaper, no, but some sort of vinyl or plastic cover. To soften the concrete walls and decorate the floor with any particular colour or design one would like. This gives the pool not only an odd geometric dimension, but also the illusion that the walls are flexible because as one swims up agains the side, the 'wallpaper' flexes against one's skin. Rian found this rather disconcerting, especially as the evening wore on and drinks were served.

If one is drifting about in H2O, does one want to feel that the walls are as unsubstantial as the water beneath ye?

The floor was also 'wallpapered', in a very tiny spray of blue and white squares. Hypnotising. At one point Rian, floating in the deep in, happened to glance down and spot a small white drain circle in the center of these squares. Looking down, the circle and square seemed to spiral away and on.

"This is dangerous." Rian thought, idly sinking down. "This pattern could snatch one away just like that."

As the sun set and the guests became restless, the host and hostess rolled out the motorized pool cover. Mr. Host happened to brag that the pool cover manufacturers claimed it could support twenty people.

So, of course, in a mass rush of doubt and delight we tried it out. It held at least six adults, Rian cavorting in the very middle. The waves of silver churned out and out until they hit the flexible edges of the pool and then bounced back again.

Walking on the ocean and nothing felt particularly real after that.