there's gotta be gills somewhere on him

Ben lives to swim. No joke. We spent most weekends this summer at his aunt's house making good use of her pool.
Living in NJ, come October this is no longer doable.
Past winters we've typically spent time at the mall, getting Ben a Happy Meal, and letting him check out the tween skateboarders at the pretty neat indoor facility the mall has. Ben enjoys the routine.
This Sunday, because we're completely spontanious type of people, we decided to go to the JCC in our neighborhood. The JCC is the same as a YMCA, but Jewish. Needless to say, you don't have to be jewish to join though.
We went, and took a tour and it is nothing shy of gorgous!
We've been going to the YMCA for open arms night, and it was ok, but this place.... WHOA!
The pool is open and light with windows, and they actually have a baby pool that's about 1.5-2 foot. Perfect for Ben. It comes to mid-ab. Nothing gives this sensory child more joy then laying on the bottom of the pool. No swimmies needed.
Well, we joined.
I had off on Monday. I picked Ben up from school and let him know we were going to do something special. He has an inner-compass. As we traveled down the first road he guessed "swing lady" That would be the OT we had last winter (he was crushing on her). We turn down a second road... "We're going to see the doggies". We had been to the shelter ONE time, but he knows what's up. I answer no.
We turn into the JCC, and he thought ok, I've been here before, We go walking in, and even though he hadn't seen the pool when we toured. "We're going swimming!"
Well, I can't tell you how thrilled that child was. He jumped, and dove, and splashed with utter joy.
When it was time to leave, he started to get pissy. I told him not to worry. This is Ben's pool and we can come anytime. Can you hear the dum dum dum.... Next day I picked him up from school and of course the aid tells me he's been saying I'm going swimming! complete with arm motions.
Remember, alll this comes from a fairly non-verbal child....
Membership at the right pool ----- Priceless