Mark, I never pulled a permit in my life even when I built out my pool hall. I just built out the space and when I cent for the Occupancy Permit they asked where all the other permits were. I played Micky the dunce and said I didn't know I had to pull any permits and what exactly is a permit. They looked at me like I was some kind of moron but I got mu CO within 2 weeks and it would have been weeks longer than it took.
I wanted to heat my Rhode Island pool which was huge so I put a 350,000 BTU gas heater on it. I was supposed to Dig Safe and pull permits. I said screw that. I told my plumber to dig the trench and get 260 foot of pipe in within 6 hours and Dig Safe had no idea I had done that. My pool was open on May 1st and I didn't closet until October first. My most expensive months were May and October but even then keeping the pool at around 88 degrees in those months only cost 650.00 a month and me and the kids had a blast as did any friends who came over.
As soon as I moved to Florida I replaced the pool heater with a top of the line unit so we could swim comfortably in January. Those winter bill were around 600 plus a month but again playing with my kids came first. All of their friends couldn't believe how hot a I kept my pool.
I was spoiled. I had a huge Jacuzzi in my R.I master bath that was real hot and I could only take 104 before we had to get out. The kids we kept at 102 or so. They would use their goggles and snorkels and we had a blast in it. It was also a real treat after being in the snow all day playing, later in the night me and the wife took advantage of the Jacuzzi.
One time in R.I I forgot to turn thee heater off. I did my usual dumping my bathrobe and dove in. I screamed and swam for the quickest way out. I had left the pool on all night and I thought I burned my Johnson off. Of course my wife and kids were laughing their asses off once they saw I was not physically damaged but I will never get thot one out of my head.
My point of all this was that in 1990 my 800 an hour corporate lawyer told me what I could get away with and what you couldn't. He told me you never do anything that can land you in jail. He said there is always a line in business. You go right up to the line but never go over.
That advice came from my Dad who was a freaking genius. He taught me how to deal with insurance companies and all kinds of vendors, city governments, state governments and I was a quick learner .
