The Pool And Then Other, More Important Stuff

Today was one of the hottest, most humid days so far this summer here in Iowa.  Pretty unbearable, really, until I decided to take my two youngest kids to the local pool. The first time I go every year always gives me pause because I'm really looking at two things: swimsuits and tattoos and the trends I might notice in each.

If I were to write about my own personal history of swimsuits, it would be very simple: no bikinis, two maternity swimsuits, a host of forgettable one-pieces, a MiracleSuit, and then in my 30s, I began to wear the Lands' End look popular for many, many mothers across the nation:

Thank you, Lands' End.  She is lovely.

Don't get me wrong, this is a cute outfit.  I love the color and paisley is one of my favorite patterns.  The straps are adjustable for comfort, and the underwire supports big boobs. The bright pattern distracts from the baby pooch leftovers, and the comfy shorts provide upper thigh coverage so that a.) other swimmers don't see upper thigh stretch marks and b.) I don't have get a bikini wax.

And for the past decade, this type of suit was enough for me.

And then I turned 40, and I don't know what the hell happened.  Maybe it's because I started a little bit of running, maybe I'm not as embarrassed about my upper thighs, maybe it's because I just don't care anymore.  Whatever the case, this year's suit was a definite departure.  For the first time in many years, I ordered a suit that did not come with adjustable straps, an underwire bra, and shorts or a swimskirt.  For the first time in many years, I had to pay attention to my bikini line.

Right?!

No, not me.  Some hot model at ModCloth.com.

This is what I wore to the pool today. And I admit, I loved it!  It's not really a suit that makes me feel sexy, per se, but I feel glamorous in it.  I feel like a 1930's throwback, and I dig that.  So, hurrah for a new pool look this year.

Now, the trends.  Lots of skin, lots of bikinis.  Yes, naturally, the teens and non-moms do the two-piece thing, but there are also a fair amount of moms who happen to have the body for a bikini.  And they are doing it.  They're also doing it without farmer tans, so I think there's a bit of artificial tanning that goes along with wearing a two-piece to the pool.  

Tattoos?  About the same.  Everyone has them.  I didn't see any new or unusual tat placements this year.

There's my yearly pool assessment.  Done.

Oh, before I forget, a couple of new developments around here in our neck of the woods:

1. We sold our camper.  We'd had it for nearly ten years, and hadn't taken it out in the last two.  So, maybe that phase of our life is over...but hopefully not forever.

2. And oh, yeah, we bought a food truck.  So, there's that.