Annie’s Mailbox: Sensible pool rules to abide by

Dear Annie: It is summertime again, so I thought I would put in my two cents on what I want friends and relatives to be aware of when they come to my house to swim. Because I’m the one with the pool, I am often expected to host our family and friends, which is fine. I enjoy it. But people don’t realize how much work it takes to make it ready to use. Here are my suggestions:

1. Don’t show up early.

2. Please bring two towels per person. You use one towel each time you get out of the pool, and when it’s wet, you borrow one of mine. Most of the time, I never see that towel again. Bring a spare.

3. Remember to take all your stuff home with you and please label everything you bring. I don’t know which goggles, towels, shirts or sunscreen are yours when you come back a week later looking for them.

4. If you bring food to one of my pool parties, bring enough to share. And if you want to contribute to the meal I make, bring something substantial. I resent spending $75 on meat and you show up with a bag of chips. And bring drinks and ice. If there are leftovers, take them with you. I can’t store everything.

5. Watch your kids. I’m trying to cook, carry on a conversation, maybe swim a bit, and your precious child is running circles around the pool. Don’t expect me to keep an eye on the kids, too. Have them obey my pool rules. They’re for everyone’s safety.

There are probably more things, but that’s enough to make me feel better for now. – Swimming Along

Dear Swimming: Everyone has different expectations for their pool guests, but your rules are sensible, especially the last one. Thanks for writing.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox @creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.