Pool Tips and Observations

Here is a list of random suggestions and general musings that I've accrued from all my swim workouts.  Hopefully they'll help in the pursuit of being a happy and courteous pool user.  Or at the very least be somewhat amusing.

1. Like we learned in kindergarten, sharing is a good thing.  Make your peace with having to share a lap lane.  If you are heart-set on having a lane to yourself, you'll be waiting a LONG time to swim.  If you still insist on waiting for your own lane, please have a seat and do not stand at the end of the lane you want, tapping your feet.  Thank you.
2. If possible, do not pick the lane next to the open swim area.  Otherwise, you will be dodging escapee fun noodles and beach balls all workout.  Unfortunately, this can't always be avoided, so just treat it like an obstacle swim.
3. The most respectful way to enter an occupied lane is to announce your presence in some way to the existing swimmer (a wave or verbal greeting is fine), and politely enter on your half of the lane from the shallow end.  The least respectful way to enter an occupied lane is to jump in from the deep end and announce your presence by colliding with the unassuming swimmer who still thinks they have the lane to themselves.
4. If you are sharing a lane, it is poor etiquette to swim the backstroke.  Unless you have internal sonar and can dodge your lane partner without looking.
5. Accidentally whacking arms with your lane partner happens from time to time.  Once or twice is normal.  If it happens twelve times, you need to re-evaluate your trajectory in regards to the big black line at the bottom of the pool.
6. Floating on your back in the shallow end without moving is an activity best suited for the open swim area, not a lap lane.
7. If you swim in a chlorinated pool without goggles, you WILL look like you spent the day smoking pot in the back of your older brother's rusted-out Chevy Astro.  Just sayin'.
8. One of the grossest things you'll ever see is an old Band-Aid lying on the floor of the deep end.
9. Believe it or not, there are dust bunnies in swimming pools.  Or maybe they are aquatic tumbleweeds.
10. If you observe a mother rapidly yanking a crying child from the open swim area, something very bad just happened in the water.

The wealth of knowledge you can collect during triathlon training is amazing.  If you have other words of wisdom regarding the pool, please share!