Hunter & Amy Gurley Share Their Pool Ownership Experience
Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast
John Watts: Welcome to the Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast. I’m John Watts, alongside Brad Cook. Today we’re joined by Hunter and Amy Gurley.
I met Amy at her pool last year, and she couldn’t stop talking about how much they loved their pool and their experience with Aloha. I knew we had to get them on the podcast because they’re exactly the kind of homeowners who can share what pool ownership is really like.
“We’re Not Vacation People”
John: Amy, when we stopped by last year, you were literally getting out of the pool to talk with us.
Amy Gurley: That’s because during the summer, I’m in that pool all the time. I stay home, and honestly, that’s where I want to be.
I’m not a vacation person. I don’t want to go to the beach. I don’t want to go to the mountains. I don’t want to spend hours in the car. Our pool is our vacation.
Hunter Gurley: We finally got to a point where we could probably travel more, but we’ve got kids, a teenager about to start driving, and all the expenses that come with that. Having a pool at home just makes more sense for us.
Starting Small
John: You didn’t start with a pool, though.
Hunter: No, actually, years ago we bought a hot tub from Aloha. Back then it was just my income. Amy was staying home with the kids, and we were both in school trying to get ahead.
What I appreciated was that nobody treated us differently because we were working within a budget. We found something that fit our situation, and it turned out to be a great purchase.
Amy: That experience is really what brought us back when we started thinking about a pool.
From Above-Ground to Semi-Inground
John: So how did you end up choosing the pool you have today?
Hunter: Originally, we were planning to buy an above-ground pool. We had everything figured out.
Then our neighbors decided to install a semi-inground pool. Once it was finished, we started spending time over there and thought, “Wow, that’s really nice.”
For a while we actually backed out of buying anything and joked that we’d just keep swimming in their pool.
Amy: That plan didn’t last long.
Hunter: Not at all. After seeing how theirs looked, I started talking with the Aloha team about what would work in our yard. I wanted something deeper and customized to fit our space.
I’m pretty particular. I’m a machinist, so everything has to be just right.
Was It Worth the Cost?
John: A lot of homeowners wonder whether a pool is worth the investment.
Hunter: For us, absolutely.
By the time everything was finished, including some additional concrete work, we were under $30,000.
People hear that number and think it’s a lot, but I look at it differently.
A family vacation can cost a fortune, and it’s over in a week. Our pool is something we use every day throughout the season.
Honestly, it’s so worth it that I don’t even think about the total anymore.
The Unexpected Benefits
Amy: One thing I didn’t expect was how much time we’d spend outside.
Hunter: Exactly. Before the pool, everyone wanted to stay inside where the air conditioning was running.
Now everyone wants to be outside.
The kids are swimming, playing, moving around, and exercising without even realizing it.
Amy: It’s become our favorite place to spend time together.
Pool Parties & Teenagers
John: How have your kids enjoyed it?
Amy: The biggest thing I’ve learned is that when you have teenagers, all their friends want to come to your house.
Hunter: That’s a huge benefit. Instead of wondering where they are, their friends are hanging out at our place by the pool.
You know where everyone is, they’re having fun, and they’re making memories together.
Amy: Last summer was honestly one of the best summers we’ve had as a family.
We’d get up, spend the day by the pool, and just enjoy being together.
Saving Money Without Realizing It
John: Do you think having the pool changed your spending habits?
Amy: Absolutely.
The last day of school, I filled up my gas tank and didn’t need gas again until school started back.
John: Seriously?
Amy: Seriously. We weren’t constantly driving somewhere looking for things to do.
Hunter: That’s what people don’t think about. We aren’t spending money on trips, entertainment, or traveling all over the place every weekend.
For our family, the pool became the destination.
Water Care & Maintenance
John: How has maintenance been?
Amy: Much easier than we expected.
The team at Aloha helped us understand exactly what we needed, and they’ve always been available when we had questions.
Hunter: That’s one thing I appreciate. You can walk into Aloha and talk with people who actually know your pool and know your name.
It feels different than walking into a big-box store where you’re just another customer.
More Than a Pool Store
Hunter: Honestly, coming to Aloha has become part of the experience.
We stop in, talk to people we know, and catch up. It doesn’t feel like running an errand.
John: That’s exactly what we’ve been trying to build.
Hunter: And it shows.
Final Thoughts
John: If someone is considering a pool but isn’t sure whether it’s worth it, what would you tell them?
Amy: For us, it was one of the best decisions we’ve made.
Hunter: Same here. It gave our family a place to spend time together, helped keep the kids active, and created memories we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
It’s more than just a pool—it’s where we spend our summers.
John: Hunter and Amy, thank you both for joining us and sharing your story.
Amy: Thanks for having us.
Hunter: We appreciate it.
John: And thank you for tuning in to another Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast.
Most importantly—
Dive safely.
