Thank you to everyone who has been providing assistance to a newbee in the pool care arena.

I have all the suggestions written down and will try to find the solution this weekend and report back my findings.

To answer a couple questions, -- Waste - I am in MA, and we did have a lot of rain. In fact during the non-leak timeframe, i had to drain the pool to get the skimmer from being totally overflowed and overflowing the pool. I do not believe that disguised the leak.

Last year when I just let the pool leak, it stopped at a specific area (which gives me some other areas to focus on - besides just the main drain - hydrostatic valve).

I dont know if this has any bearing, but there has been a significant debris around the main drain (we have two dogs who swim - and shed)... This is still my first area to focus on.

I can check the pump area (in fact will do the testing to see if the leaking stops w/out the pump running). On visual inspection, there is not anything noticable.

Thanks again to all the suggestions, and i will do my best to identify (and then see about repair) the leak.

John