The loud, harsh, clanging sound of heavy machinery woke us from a sound sleep several mornings earlier. The homeowners of a house directly behind ours on the street behind that which we live on, have decided to have an in-ground pool installed.

They are parents to two pre-school children, a boy and a girl. Delightful children; when their parents happen not to be around, the children will wave to us and call out "hello!" Which, of course, we are pleased to respond to.

This family, two young adults and their children, are the third to occupy the house since it was built almost a quarter-century ago. We knew the previous two owners as pleasant, sociable people with whom we could pass a few friendly words of greeting, and more. These two adults, man and wife, are different. When they moved in I had made an especial effort to welcome her, and passed a pleasant introductory conversation with her. And there the pleasantries ended. For never again would either of them deign to notice our presence. Churlish at worst, indifferent at best.

Not for us to be overly concerned that their two very young, inquisitive and bright children will now be blessed by the presence of an in-ground pool in their backyard. The children are cared for through outside sources throughout the working week, permitting both parents to work. The benefits of such arrangements are many; a good home in an excellent neighbourhood, and at those times when the children are at home in their own house and both parents are busily engaged with the few 'leisure' hours outside of work hours and home chores, they may use the swimming pool.

Those times of pleasure, leisure and tension are, in our northern climate, limited to a few short months of intense summer heat and humidity. Having tens of thousands of dollars of expendable income for such an enterprise with such a limited return leads invariably to other questions of values and priorities and the seriousness with which people view parenthood.