LOL, I know - its so frustrating. Here's the thing.....we purchased the 24x12x52 Intex and we LOVE it...our ground is pretty level except that its about 6 inches off from one end (the 12 ft end) to the other. grrrrrrr.....the other thing I was wondering about was leaving the pool up over the winter (Michigan) ~ We are hoping if we can cover it (either by building a deck around it or some other means of covering it......if this pool can withstand being left up?