When is the best time to start getting your pool ready for next season?

Cliff:

I have some experience with in ground pools in both TX (outside of Dallas) and NJ. In NJ we do a full winterization, but in TX for the winter we would pretty much just leave the pool alone - we would run the pool motor a few hours a day (more if the temp got down into the 30's to keep lines from freezing), shock it every week or so, and generally skim leaves - just as you describe. Then when it warmed up it was simply a matter of adjusting the chemistry and adding chemicals in accordance with what the local pool supply store said to do. We never used a pool service except for winterizing the pool in NJ - the rest is so easy that I never saw a reason to pay someone else to do it. Same reason why I don't have a chaueffeur.

As for a solar blanket - yes, it will extend the season a week or two. They work pretty well, especially at retaining heat on cold clear nights. But they can be a a bit of a pain - you have to pull the blanket off in an "accordian" fashion, which can be done by one person but is a lot easier with two.

You say it must be 90 for you to go in - I assume you mean air temp, not water temp! If you're OK to start the season when the pool water gets to 75 or so (a bit nippy for some, but kids love it) you should be able to get the pool to that temp once you have a few days in the mid 80's.