500 dollars and growing- still can't swim!!

It's tough being a know- nothing- and who knew you shouldn't mulch around a pool? This is my second summer in this house- the first one was bad enough- thought this one would be better only actually it's worse. Having invested a lot in the house- and then putting in a new pump- and a never ending list of other things- I was finally informed about the mulch issue- sure I saw the darn stuff- but I thought it was because we need a better winter cover.

Anyway- that's why I'm here- I want to learn- I want to stop throwing more and more money into this pool that no one can yet swim in!!