Maybe next year for Christmas

For some time now we’ve been thinking about whether we need to get a spa – and my recent visit to Uncle D’s only reinforced the question. They’ve got a sale on - almost 25% off - and in particular, this spa model seems like exactly what we need…

This one seats four and has a cool down seat. It’s 6.5 feet in diameter, and can plug into regular household current. We’d just need to get one of those orange extension cords and pass it through to the hot tub. It even has a cup holder!

Also making it attractive is the style of it – it calls to mind the retro versions I’ve really been thinking about, actual wood-fired models. These photos are from Snorkel Tubs, which frequently advertises in the Utne Reader. We’ve got no shortage of firewood to keep one of these humming.

I think we have a couple of places on the lot where we could set up and have the same woodsy setting. Our neighbors Dan and Sally have a hot tub that’s built pretty far away from the house, near the organic garden (I’ve written about his hops before). They have a great night view from there in a setting partially surrounded by woods, and Big Meadow is visible from the spot.

Working against the wood-fired idea is the thought that the water needs to be changed frequently, since there is no filter, the assembly is touchy, or you have leaks, and the potential for freezing and the problems associated with that.

I’d be inclined to go with the one I saw at Uncle D’s, only that would be a big project: I need to build a deck to hold it (about 4,000 lbs. with water and people), get power out there, and then get a roof of some kind over it to keep the pine branches, needles and cones out.

So, maybe next year on this one.