Given that I've already added 2 doses (2# each) of baking soda before I saw Evan's and Carl's posts, I guess I just now need to wait until tomorrow and test the pH and then just add MA to get the pH down to 7.6. Right? I do have an acid-demand test and feel very comfortable using the chart in the back of the Taylor book to determine the amount of MA to add.

Carl and Evan: It's a gunnite pool, older...not newly resurfaced or anything like that...and I'm about as low-altitude as you can get, living in north-central FL. Oh yes, and I'm using bleach (though I plan on going to LC from the pool supply store as it'll work out to be much cheaper).

I did read the article on maintaining a high-pH pool (a couple of times)...that's why I was inclined to do nothing...but I never got that it's also okay to keep such a low TA. I've now read and re-read your post, Evan, and I think I get it. Interesting.
It sure would be nice not to have to keep such an eagle-eye on the pH and continually adding MA, but I'm not sure I fully understand the borate option. Are you saying to add borax and MA together? Is that a one-time deal or does it need to be done regularly? Maybe I should just suck it up and keep adding the acid?

Oy :-)