Wow! Interesting questions. We do have a pool but live in a warm climate so it's a very different consideration. When we moved from Oregon to Arizona the pool was almost a necessity to make the adjustment to a warmer climate. Now, well, it can be a pain to take care of and certainly an expense. Since our pool equipment is older we do not have a variable speed pump so electricity per month runs about $80 just for the pool. Pools must be continually maintained with chemicals to be added 1 to 2 times per week. Skimmer baskets need to be cleaned at least daily and the pool walls swept regularly, especially after a storm. We do have a salt system pool which eliminates the need to add chlorine but you still have to watch the chlorine level to ensure you are within the ideal range. Too high, or too low for that matter, throws off other required chemicals; the better you maintain the chemicals the less maintenance/repair will be required overall. As for a social magnet - well - we find people do enjoy the pool when they are here but have yet to have visitors because of it. If we had to do it again - well that would be an interesting discussion and I could not predict what we would do.