I am about 340km from the beach. We have a public pool, but nowadays it is not the best place to visit, kind of a teen drinking spot. (Yes, very safe!) In SA almost everyone has their own pool. Our previous house had one. When we moved to our new house, I wanted more children, and my daughter was 3, so I could do without the angst of a pool. Then I couldn't afford one! (We lose kids to drownings regularly.)