As I write this, it is the middle of May of 2009. Gas prices are starting to shoot back up and have already reached $2.50 a gallon here in San Antonio. They are rising each day, conveniently just in time for summer vacation. With so many unemployed, and so many more worried about layoffs and company closures, summer vacation this year does not seem possible. So why not do a staycation in your own backyard?

If you have been saving up for your summer vacation and you have some cash but don't want to spend it all, consider taking a budget vacation aka staycation or stacation in your backyard this year. How? Easy! Get a cheap above-ground pool that the whole family will enjoy. Go to Sam's or Wal-Mart and pick up a 4.5 foot deep pool. You can buy a complete package with filter for $500 or under, depending on the size of the pool. We did this and it is just great.

My pool is 4.5 feet deep and 18 feet across with no metal walls. The sides are vinyl with PVC tubing and I got it for just under $500 at Sam's. My husband set it up in just a few hours, after smoothing and leveling an area in the yard. He removed all rocks and used some dirt to level the ground in a few places and then set the pool up. Then he filled it with water. This is what takes hours.

These pools come in smaller sizes like 15 feet across and 12 feet across and are still plenty big enough and deep enough to actually swim and to cool off. Here in San Antonio, Texas, cooling off is very important.

Once your pool is full of water, you are ready to go. Unplug the pump before anyone goes in to avoid electrocution. It is not like a built-in pool. Do not take any chances with your family. Unplug the pump!

After everyone is out for the day, plug the pump in and let the water get filtered. Your pool will come with directions for operating the pump and for cleaning the pool. You will need to add chlorine to your above-ground pool. We use one inch tablets and put them in a little plastic floater that releases the chlorine a little at a time, day and night. Check your chlorine level by buying a small tester kit. Take a sample of the pool water and add some drops of liquid tester. The colors that the pool water turns will tell you if you have enough, too much, or too little chlorine. It will also test the pH level of your pool. You can buy this tester kit at Wal-Mart or at any pool supply place. Wal-Mart also carries pool chemicals pretty cheap. For more info, read the pool manual. It is simple to take care of.

You will need a pool skimmer to remove dirt, grass, leaves, bugs, etc., from your above-ground budget vacation in your back yard to keep it sparkling clean. A pool skimmer is one of those long-handled items with a net. Mine is retractable so it can be used in very deep pools. I found it at Wal-Mart.

To make your budget vacation in your backyard more fun for the whole family, buy a variety of floaties and pool toys. My favorites are the pool noodles. If you hold on to two of them, you can do all sorts of water aerobics in the pool without sinking. Don't forget the beach ball. We enjoy playing pool basketball, too.

If you want really warm water, invest in a pool blanket. This is a sheet of plastic with bubbles in it that you can find at any pool supply company or online from your pool manufacturer. It heats the water up using sunlight. Roll it up and remove it before getting in the pool and put it back on when you are finished swimming. Not only does it heat up the water, but it also helps to keep it clean by covering the water, preventing bugs and leaves from getting in. Unfortunately, you will need to buy a new one each year. Chlorine in the water kind of eats it up, weakening so by the end of the season it is falling apart, but it is worth it. They are about $75 and make the water temperature perfect.

I hope you will seriously consider saving your money this year and spending just a bit on a pool so your family can still have a wonderful budget vacation in your backyard.

If your children do not know how to swim, teach them how to do so. Do not allow them in the backyard alone until they do know how to swim. Caution them to stay away from the pool if you are not out there. Always remove the ladder from the pool when you are not in the backyard. I remove my ladder everytime we are finished with the pool. Once the kids are older, it is no longer a worry for you. You may want to consider fencing off the portion of your yard where the pool is. Taking a few precautions now will make your backyard pool enjoyable. Have a wonderful summer staycation in your own backyard pool.