Went to an elementary school that was attached to the local university, which had an indoor pool. We students attended swimming lessons once a week. I swam in the local rivers and creeks, but once you have gotten use to a pool it's hard to get into that murky water. When I was 14 my father built a backyard pool, and we are still swimming in it 50 years later! I never joined the local swim team...I could have spent my summers around teen-aged girls who were fit, tanned and wet!
In Boot camp at Swim Qual,, we had a guy that was deathly afraid of the water. ,,, he barely passed that part of boot camp . I asked him the 1st night after being at the pool ,, why was he so scared of the water ?? ,,, he said ,, " I'm not scared of the water ,, I just respect it to much " ,, he barely passed ,, but he faced his fears , and adapted and overcame ,,,
I remember my first pair of swimming goggles, talk about a game-changer. They always seem to leak but it was amazing for a few seconds.
Grew up in Levittown NY in the 50's --had a community pool learned to swim at 6. Parents bought a house for 8,000 dollars in 51 came with a peach tree and a little round TV under the stairs, fireplace two sided facing the kitchen other side facing the living room. still remember the address 7 cable lane
In my youth, a neighbor had a goldfish in an outdoor pool. It grew huge, about a foot long. Another neighbor, an evil little barstage who later went to prison, put an eel into the pool and it killed the big goldfish.
Took me something like 4 years to pass basic swim class at the local pool growing up. I kept getting ear infections during the class and would have to stop. My son got his swimming training from the boy scouts, one of the few things they are still good for. Interestingly I had a great conversation with one of the instructors from my troops camp over the weekend. He believes that scouts who earn the swimming, canoeing, sail boating, etc. merit badges should be proficient, not just "complete the min required requirements". He basis this on a news story from a few years ago where 3 scouts who had earned their swimming and canoeing merit badges died when their canoe got flipped over. None of the scouts could swim well enough to save their own lives. Can only wonder if the counselor who signed off on them saying they could swim ever felt any remorse. I always felt that the MB earned were their to give a general understanding of the subject, now I believe there are some that require being proficient in the subject, because if you are not, you can die.
Same here at six flags over Georgia, Seems your not supposed to put your arms outside the log ride throwing water all over the other riders?
just had a local new Mom, asking on FB, where they have infant swimming sessions - not the worst idea in the world - they have that natural ability including how to instinctively close down for an underwater dip .....
Growing up, we did n;t have ponds. This park had this pool fun place to swim and check out all of the HS sweeties out swimming as well.
