Quote Originally Posted by trueblu1 View Post
Has anybody attempted this? or should I just breakdown and pay the big bucks?
Poke through former member, Ben Choi's site: http://www.howibuiltmyownpool.com/ There's probably more involved then you realize. California is an expensive place for pools (and everything else, I think!) -- at least 2x what it costs in S. Florida -- but I don't know 'going rates' in your area.

Not sure what your wife wants: a place to cool off, or a a yard feature. If it's the former, you might try a high end Intex, like these:
Intex 54979EG 24-Foot by 12-Foot by 52-Inch Rectangular Ultra Frame Pool
Intex 54949EG 24-Foot by 52-Inch Metal Frame Pool Set
You can have those up and running in 2 weeks, instead of 9 months. It will give you both a chance to find out, if you'll really enjoy having a pool, since functionally, they will be very similar . . . as a place to cool off and float around. And because they are easy to take down and re-assemble, you should be able to sell them next year for 1/3 - 1/2 of what you paid.

Of course, if the purpose is a decorative yard feature, there's no comparison.