Pool or no pool?
We got a house with a pool. Wasn’t really looking for a pool but we wanted the rest of the house. I do all the maintenance on it myself and it’s a chore. Perhaps it wouldn’t seem so bad if I enjoyed pools more.
Running the pump is a big electricity drain for me and the costs of chemicals can add up quickly.
I got busy a couple years ago and the pool ended looking like one of the drainage canals around Nola. Don’t ever let that happen! Getting it right again took weeks.
It’s a little like taking care of a plant. Ideally you put a little effort in at least every couple days, better if it’s everyday. But it won’t go to hell if you’re gone for the weekend.