Now I've done it-- I wanted a bulletin board at the pool I use, to put up aquatics info I often refer to when working with newbies. Then I realized that inviting someone to get out of the water to go see a an item, then get back in to resume discussion or try techniques-- a clumsy process at best! "Gee, I wish I could use a binder in the water!"

So I took a cheap binder and made a foam cover out of a 1/2" camping pad, and laminated the pages I inserted. I insert new pages as needed and I can take out the page someone may use to guide a workout (diagrams, etc.), for them to take over to the part of the pool they'll use. The metal binder rings will rust eventually, but that won't be a problem.

My office is now in the pool, not just AT the pool. Yesterday I made a large-print page that diagrams the controls of the spare (waterproof) MP3 player I lend folks-- all set up with the music their particular workout calls for.


The net effect of all this is that I can respond to folks' help requests without interrupting my own workout, and without getting entangled with a lot of non-productive conversation to interfere with their workout, or mine. And material only goes in there when something emerges as a Frequently Asked Question.


I also can email binder pages to folks as attachments. How to exchange email addy's to facilitate this? I laminated a pageful of address labels that contain my name and email address. Cut up, they make nice small, waterproof business cards. There's a pile of 'em tucked in my MP3 case.

Oh yeah, the case..... the newer MP3 player came supplied with a cheesy little drawstring bag? I lined an unused plastic VHS case with more of the blue camping foam, and cut out compartments to hold the player and the headphones. Padding, plus flotation. All that's missing is the waterproof notepad and pen-- thats' next.

~Susan