I have a tiny yard; it's only 23 ft X 50 ft. Upon returning from a scalloping trip 2 summers ago, I discover that a brand new 12 ft trampoline has been set up in my yard. I ask what the heck is goin' on, Missus says that her brother bought it for the kids (she has 4;my stepkids) because he thought it would be fun. No disscussion, no input from me (they KNEW I'd put the K-Bosh on it), they simply waited till I was out fishing, and snuck it in.
Now, I'm not against kids having fun, but those things are dangerous. Just watch a couple of kids on one for a few minutes, and you'll see that soon they are constantly trying to come up with new "tricks", most of which invlove some kind of flipping. I could just picture one of them landing incorrectly and ending up a para/quadraplegic (thankfully it hasn't happened). To make matters worse, her brother didn't bother to install the safety netting. I immediately started to voice my opposition and was dismissed as a Grumpy Old Phart (which, incidently, I am).
When the kids go outside, they invariably shed thier socks and/or shoes and climb abord the tramp. The shoes and/or socks invariably end up left outside, sometimes getting rained on, muddy, or go missing completely.
As soon as Fall arrived, I made sure to insist that the brother show up and dismantle the tramp for the winter. He did so, completely; frame and all.
Memorial Day 2005 I was offshore and called home on the sat fone. Missus said she was having a cookout, brother had attempted to set tramp back up, but couldn't find the springs. After some thought and disscussion, it was determined that springs had been accidently broguth to landfill during a basement spring cleaning. Missus researched on internet and discovered that springs would cost about 100 bux to replace.
I return from scalloping trip to find a BRAND NEW 14 FT TRAMP set up in my tiny yard! (At least this time it had the safety netting). The Missus' logic was "...why spend 100 bux for replacement springs when for just a 100 or so MORE you can get a whole new one! Besides, it was on sale!"
I HATE trampolines!
Sidenote: During the trip, when I told one of my shipmated about my missing springs plight, he offered to sell me HIS tramp due to the fact that his homeowner's ins agent advised him to remove tramp, or face cancellation.
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