swim etiquette

Recently I've been toying with the idea of taking up swimming (thinking of doing an Olympic TRI in Sept). Now, I maybe an Aquarius, but I am not so sure I was meant to be a water sign. I am VERY good at floating and idling in a pool. In the past, I have tried to make this a hobby and conquer a fear of open water and being attacked by something (did 2 TRI's in CA - open water); but they were more like small moments of force. Well my first visit to the community pool (indoors, 5 blocks from home) last week I got there around 6:45AM. I saw 6 lanes of swimming from SLOW to FAST; then a 1/3 of the pool was the senior/idlers section...now were talking. I went straight for the lounge section.

After that visit I swore I would "swim" moving forward. Why get up that early and lounge in a covered pool and watch everyone else and have the older Berry White lifeguard flirt with me.

Yesterday, my 4th visit to the pool. I jumped into the slow lane, there were two other swimmers in the water. They were both at the other end of the lane. I smiled at one he swam to my end and he said he would share his half of the lane. I did not see a reason to ask the other gentleman he was moving quite fast. I started once I got back to the starting side gentleman #2 gave me quite the talking about how to "ask for permission" when entering a lane. I was "suppose" to wait for both swimmers have them all agree that we will start a circle rotation. I agreed and was trying to be accommodating, but my response did not suffice, so the 1st gentleman got fed up with #2 and just ended the swim. He wished me well and told the #2 gentleman to relax it is just swimming and simple exercise.

While this was ending a girl approached the lane and swimmer #2 bolted down the lane. I explained to the girl what happened and we just blew off gentleman #2. We started to swim in a circular rotation. Because it was the slower lane he would huff at us, because we idled in the lane to catch our breathe. A fourth swimmer came in and she said this guy is know for being a trouble maker. Well, he came to the end and jumped out and said the lane was all our and good luck.

Drama at the community pool...the best way to start off an AM workout and conquering of a fear.