First, I've owned a pool for the last 25 years. And as such, the comments about maintaining a pool are greatly exaggerated on this thread. A robotic cleaner like the Dolphin eliminates the need to brush the walls and stairs. A salt generator eliminates the need to add and balance chemicals. I test the water about once a month and aside from adding a little salt and cyanuric acid pellets now and then, my pool maintains itself. And that includes the spa as well.
Pavers around the pool are ideal and do have footings for support. Handheld sprayers with bug killer, vegetation killer, and 10% bleach/water will kill the bugs, the weeds, and any mold you may encounter. The screened lanai keeps bugs and debris out of the pool at all times. I never skim. No need. I never use the vacuum. And my skimmer basket is empty every time I check.
And finally, I installed two additional items that have made my current pool a dream pool. I have a Helicol Solar System that heats my pool and spa all year round. If I switch to spa in the dead of January, the solar system can easily achieve the upper 90’s as long as the sun is shining. And my second addition is a Hayward Ecostar Variable Speed Pump. The pump is quiet. The pump is completely controllable. But the best part of the Ecostar is that my electric bill is down at least $60 a month since installation. So in response to the initial question: Yes, I would not live in Florida without a pool. No public pool can compare to the comfort, privacy, and availability of my own screened, solar heated oasis in the Florida sunshine.
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