Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 7:43 AM
“Nature Girl”
Because public pools are closed on Labor Day we decided to buy a one-day-pass at the JCC. We had never been there and were curious about it. Four years ago when the City Council raised the prices of the public pools sky high, so they were more expensive than any private club in town, I had asked Jimmy, who is head lifeguard of all the pools, "where should we go?" He suggested Racquet Club or JCC. This was actually a week before Labor Day 4 years ago. The new rates were to go into effect the day after Labor Day and the public pools were closed on Labor Day.
Bill was attracted to JCC, I was attracted to Racquet Club, so I called both of them to find out if we could see their facilities. But for some reason at JCC, I could not connect with the woman in charge. Each time I called, I was transferred to the woman in charge, and I received her machine, so I left my phone number and she never called back. But when I called Racquet club, I was instantly connected with Nancy, who told me “yes we are open on Labor Day, it would cost $67/month for you and Bill to join, we are open 24/7, and yes you can come on down on Labor Day to join up and have your swim.” The new rates for public pool were so high, that Racquet Club was 1/4th the price. The decision was made.
So we swam at public pool till the day before Labor Day. And then on Labor Day we went down to Racquet Club. Nancy was there, she signed us up. She waived the 50 dollar initiation fee. She offered to take us on tour of facilities, but I said “just show me where the pool is, I want to take my swim.” I guess she took Bill on tour of the facilities.
I really could not stand it and I was in tears. I had no idea it was a Labor Day party. I thought that is what it is always like there. Crowded, with loud music, and people lining up to buy the picnic food. And where was my view of the beautiful mountains. And I hated taking my shower in air conditioning. And having to walk thru a whole gymnasium to reach the shower.
I left subdued and miserable. But I did see Sally there, I had known her for past month at public pools. She had joined Racquet Club two weeks before we did. In fact it was on her recommendation we had joined. And when I bumped into her in the pool, she said she had never seen it so crowded. So I realized today is not a typical day, and that gave me hope.
And it turned out that was their Labor Day bar b q with a band. Ordinary days were different.
And eventually we got used to the Club. It was a much longer drive. The pool did not have my wonderful deep water which I love so much at public pools, nor that view of the mountains to die for, nor showering with no roof, so you shower under blue sky and sunshine. But it had luxuries I never knew about before. There was a jacuzzi right next to the pool, and it was delicious to go into that very hot water. I loved the jacuzzi. And a year later, I discovered there was a girls shower room right off the pool. I didn’t have to go into the sports center and walk thru all that air conditioning. I could just go into the little girls shower room and have a nice shower. It was simpler. And I like simple.
And Bill loved all the facilities it offered. He loved the steam room, the sauna, the indoor jacuzzi with the great jets. He loved the weight room. And one evening I talked to a lovely woman in the pool. She said “I teach yoga here, the yoga is free. My class is in one hour, 6PM on Fridays, why don’t you come.” And I said “my husband has never taken yoga, he might like it.” And I told Bill “a lovely woman named Maryanne invited you to her yoga class.” And he went and fell in love with yoga. He took all the classes with all the various teachers.
And so we began to congratulate ourselves on what we discovered. It was luxurious that it was open 24/7 and we never had to look at the clock. Public pools are only open for 3 hours when school is in session. And we got to know the people there, and they were all very nice people. At public pools you take your swim, you take your shower, and you leave. But at the Club there is plenty of time to schmooze in swim pool, schmooze in jacuzzi. I realized I was making friends in Tucson. And Bill made friends too.
But some things were not so perfect about it. They were always holding tennis matches or squash matches, or handball matches, where people came from all over the country to compete, it was crowded and noisy. In summer the Friday bar b q open-to-the-public began early, with loud band you couldn’t get away from. Half the time when I wanted to swim, they were holding aerobics class, which was amplified instructions from the teacher, and you could only stand in a tiny corner of pool till aerobics class was over. There was just too much activity there for a girl who liked a quiet swim.
And eventually there was no such thing as a quiet swim. I now knew everybody. So it was like arriving at a “splash party” every day. I would schmooze instead of swimming. I would over-socialize. I would leave with a headache. I really did love the people I met there. They are the nicest people in the world. But one long conversation is usually as much as I can handle. And I was having 5 or 6 each time I came. And because Bill liked to work out in weight room before his swim, we would be there for 3 hours. I would spend an hour in pool, and then 2 hours schmoozing in jacuzzi, waiting for him to finish.
So even tho I loved all the people there and was very attached to them, and shed a big tear, when public pools lowered their rate to $80 a year for both of us, in mid-May over a year ago, we went back to public pools. It was a huge relief not to have to write out that check for $67 each month, sometimes I hadn’t had it. And it was nice to return to all that peace and beauty. It was nice to finish my swim and feel like a million dollars again, instead of all washed out from too much socializing.
There was a two week overlap. Because we were paid up at the club till May 31, and bought the year membership at public pool on May 15th. I never went back to the Club, but Bill really wanted to take advantage of those last two weeks. He took me swimming at public pool, and then spent the evening taking yoga classes, working out in their gym, enjoying the steam room and jacuzzi and schmoozing with his friends.
And then it was over and our life was now the public pools, and I was much happier. Some of the friends we made there are now our friends. Sue got me back into my writing, and I send her my stories on email. Maria found out I am a writer and invited me to Barnes and Noble writers meetings. And I post Layla’s beautiful paintings on my Blog. And Bill’s friend Jim became our good friend. He lives in our neighborhood, so we have someone to exchange favors with. The Club may not have provided peaceful swims, but it gave us a social life.
You have to have friends for your life to expand. And the Club is where we found our friends. Jim, and Layla, Maria, Sue, and Sally are our friends now. Yes we have wonderful acquaintances at the public pools too. Where your heart beams with love when you see them. And Bill loves having conversation with Doug in the lanes, and I enjoy my chit chat with Gail.
But a friend is someone you share your life with, they are there for you, and you are there for them. And as heavenly as it is, that there is someone to do you the favor when you really need the favor, it is just as meaningful and gratifying in another way, that you can do the favor for them when they need the favor.
It is this interdependency which brings the deep closeness into your life. I have now called Jim so many times when I needed help. He has now called us so many times when he needed help. This is what has brought intimacy into our Tucson life.
It is the hidden roots of friendship. On the surface there is the conviviality of the high school football games he and Bill go to on Friday nights, or the two times he came over on Saturdays to spend an hour watching the football game on tv with Bill. But never would I have gone last Saturday to buy a delicious cake at bakery, have her put half in a separate box for Jim to take home for his mom, and then gone to Sunflower to buy their expensive assortment of cold cuts, plus fresh tomato, lettuce, and French bread, so Jim could fix himself nice sandwich while watching game -- spending two hours the night before planning out how to provide a nice spread for Jim in case he stopped by for an hour to watch some of the game, and then carrying out all my plans to the letter -- these are the fruits of intimacy. Before the Club our only friends were Margot, and Jan and Harry. Because of the Club we have more friends.
So I really don’t know how to describe our experience of going to JCC yesterday when public pool was closed for Labor Day. I had no idea they were having their Labor Day party poolside. The music was horrendous, as loud as it was at the Club, this was amplified far more. I realized this is how a person could go insane, if they could not get away from this noise. They were very generous and kind to let us both have the one-day-pass for 10 dollars, instead of upholding the rule “ten dollars per person.”
And the JCC is much more beautifully set up than Racquet Club. That really was just a tennis club, everything else was added later. The Sports and Fitness Center at JCC was designed beautifully from the start. The pool is laid out nicely in the grounds. There are shaded areas around it. It’s a better club. And the picnic party is not a money- making enterprise as it is at Racquet Club. Every member could have free hot dog, chips, and lemonade, iced tea or water. It costs $20 more a month than Racquet Club does, but it is worth it. You can see the mountains as you swim. It is in a country part of Tucson, and it is not the long drive to Racquet Club.
Bill went to the weight room, while I tried to keep my head under water as much as I could because of the horrible noise from the amplified "music." And then I took 3 jacuzzis to get away from the noise. The jacuzzi is indoors, but nice and hot with good jets. The people were all lovely. Of all the clubs in Tucson, this one is, no comparison, by far the best.
And if we had the money, for sure Bill should join. He loved the weight room. He loved the jacuzzi and the steam room. They have the yoga. They even refrigerate the water in swim pool in summer, so it is not hot like at Racquet Club or public pools. It is delicious frosty swim. And the basketball court is so luxurious that the Wild Cats have their basketball camp there. It is the club which has everything, and it is the best.
But for me, it is a matter of “been there, done that.” It was every luxury a girl could possibly want. The ideal club. But what can you say. I have discovered I like simplicity best. If we had the money it would be great for Bill to join, he loves all the things the JCC offers. But even tho it would only cost $20 more a month for me to join, I would stay at the public pools. I have found a place where I am happy. It doesn’t have any luxuries, but it has the things I love the best. The very deep water. I love deep water. The quietness and peace. I love quiet, I love peace. That view of the mountains, I love beauty. And the simple seamless way it integrates into my day.
The JCC is an ideal country club, and even tho a very affordable country club, always seemed like a dream come true to me. To my very great surprise, I don’t want a country club. I like a public pool where you shower under the blue sky. And bird song.
Love, Annie
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