It looks like a pool is not going to happen. Even though retired, I do not feel I have any more time or inclination toward pool maintenance than I did as a teenager. Nor a strong desire to swim. If I want to exercise, I can use my air conditioned Gym, right off the living room. And even that I don't use enough, struggling for the past year to ensure I do at least one exercise per day, though I find it easy and enjoyable. My best friend uses my Gym too, making it a social feature just like my living room.
Nor do I forsee a hot tub of any size. Even when I hopefully return to once or twice per month parties, I find it hard to imagine many of them progressing to the hot tub. Or me wanting to use it much other than that. And then, all the maintenance! I'm also glad I gave up my wish for a whirlpool bathtub. Years go by between times I've needed to use the tub, though I find my Kohler tub with curved shower curtain rod makes a very nice shower too.
But I'm really really glad I added what is certainly the most cost effective backyard water feature a few years ago. It causes many moments of joy every day, and takes only a few minutes to hose off and refill.
Of course, I'm talking about a Birdbath. I got a fairly plain vanilla concrete birdbath a few years ago, but least year moved to be in easy view from the kitchen through the sliding glass window.
I would not have imagined seeing so many kinds of birds. They are beautiful and look appreciative.
I don't try to polish super clean. (Birds actually seem to prefer dirty.) I blast big crud off with the hose each time before refilling, and that leaves only some residual staining which is further bleached and loosened by the sun when it becomes dry.
