We put in a pool 10 years ago when we built our house, the kids were young and used it a lot..all the families got in it when it was Xmas, and it was a major part of our backyard and didn't need mowing. Like everything garden and house, I did all the PH testing and making sure it was clean..after 8 years of being sick of leaves, we put a roof over the whole thing, and it is clean and shady so you can go in it without getting burned. Creepy crawly and self cleaning salt cell, and keeping up the water level by having it plumbed into the pool via the filter..(ask me about this in a PM if you need to) via the automatic watering system...
If you want hours of entertainment for your kids do it now, if you want a maintenance free pool go salt, and go fibreglass. Rodney and I sit in it in the summer months with a drink, and it is totally relaxing...(it can be 45degrees here at times)

Playwme I agree but I would rather have my kids where I could see them and their friends here where I know what they are up to...

Even last xmas we were up one end of the pool having family drinks, and our 22yr old son had all his mates, plus one with a baby, up the other end with their beers, and chips etc. so it is a very social part of our family....