Pool Over Passport: Why These (Almost!) Empty Nesters Chose a Stay-cation Backyard Paradise

When it comes to investing in your future, the choice isn’t always between staying home or seeing the world. In fact, sometimes you can bring the vacation home. For one Tennessee couple building their dream home, the decision to install a fiberglass pool from Leisure Pools and installed by Loy’s Pools & Patios instead of booking endless trips turned out to be the best investment they could have made. Here is there stay-cation story.

“We knew ahead of time that our goal was to get the pool and get the house done,” the homeowner explained, referencing building a home and installing a pool at the same time. As self-employed business owners running a thriving business, extended vacations were never really in the cards. “It’s hard to leave the business, as crazy stuff happens when you’re not there.”

Rather than spending thousands on trips they’d rarely take, they chose to create a vacation destination right in their backyard. Two years later, their 40-foot Allure model with an integrated spa has become the centerpiece of their entire home.

The couple opted for The Allure model in Sapphire Blue, complete with three color-changing deck jets, a built-in spa and a sun deck. The pool starts at 4.9 feet and slopes to almost 7 feet, providing the perfect depth for both relaxation and recreation. With a heated saltwater system, they enjoy their backyard oasis year-round, even during Tennessee’s mild winters.

“The whole back of the house is all windows, and the pool is in the center of it,” the homeowner shared. “We designed the house where we have a great view of the pool and the yard that overlooks a pond behind us.” Working from a home office with this view has transformed the workday experience. “It’s almost like looking out and thinking, well, time to go on vacation…it’s 2:00.”

What they didn’t anticipate was how the pool would transform their social life. With a 22-year-old and a 17-year-old still at home, the house has become the go-to gathering place for their kids’ friends.

“All of a sudden we’re finding all these new friends that we didn’t have before,” the homeowner said with a laugh. “Our house is now the hot spot for all the kids to hang out.”

While the younger crowd takes over the pool on summer days, the parents have claimed the spa as their weekend sanctuary, a perfect compromise that keeps everyone happy.

The couple plans to have their pool paid off within a couple of years, after which they’ll have even more freedom to travel if they choose. But for now, the pool has filled any potential void that travel might have created.

“We still get to travel. I guess we could travel more if we didn’t get the pool, but we have a plan,” the homeowner explained. The difference is that now they have a permanent vacation destination that doesn’t require packing, planning or dealing with airport security.

After extensive research, the couple knew they wanted a fiberglass pool over traditional concrete or vinyl liner options. “Fiberglass has a lot more options now with layout and size, and it’s maintenance-free,” the homeowner noted. “The installation takes three times less time than other pool types, and you’re getting something that you don’t have to constantly maintain.”

The almost-zero-maintenance aspect was particularly appealing for these busy business owners. No resurfacing every decade, no liner replacements, no rough surfaces…just easy, enjoyable pool ownership.

The couple chose Loy’s Pools & Patios, a local pool dealer with a stellar reputation for quality work and professionalism. What stood out was the team’s commitment to excellence: W-2 employees rather than subcontractors, accurate time schedules with advance notice of any delays, and completion within two months from start to finish.

“If there was a day here or there where they weren’t coming, I would get a heads-up ahead of time, whether it was weather or something else,” the homeowner recalled. The dealer even hired a professional photographer to document the entire installation process, offering a thoughtful touch that gave them stunning photos for years to come.

The couple isn’t done yet. They’ve already run gas lines and prepped the space for an outdoor kitchen, which is the next big-ticket item to complete their stay-cation backyard paradise. Their careful planning during the home’s construction made everything easier, with internet and water hookups already in place before the pool was even installed.

Located in a gated community just outside city limits, they’ve created their own private resort. “We feel like we’re going home every time we drive to our house,” the homeowner emphasized. “It’s a good feeling to go home.”

For empty nesters or near-empty nesters considering their options, this Tennessee couple offers this perspective: “To us, the pool is the center point of our home. We use it all the time in the summer, and in the winter, we enjoy the hot tub. That’s good enough for me, as it’s an all-around win.”

If you’re weighing the costs of travel against the investment in a backyard pool, consider this: vacations create temporary memories, but a pool creates a lifestyle. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, summer after summer, with friends, family and countless spontaneous moments of joy.

Ready to bring the vacation home? A Leisure Pools fiberglass pool might be the perfect solution for creating your own stay-cation paradise. With low maintenance, quick installation, and endless enjoyment, it’s an investment in your home, your lifestyle, and your happiness – no passport required. Connect with Leisure Pools and get your adventure started today.