Thank you. I have a really hard time paying for something to be done when I can possibly lean it and do it myself. Every person I talked to about digging the pool said absolutely do not attempt it on my own, which made me want to try it even more. It was challenging but I just took my time. A backhoe is definitely not the most efficient tool for that job either.
My neighbor a few houses down is building a pool as well, and he hired everything out. I was fortunate enough to be able to watch his excavators, plumbers, electricians, etc. I learned a lot from them, and probably would not have attempted to do my own had I not used them as a resource. Even watching the simple things like them using a propane torch to bend PVC and conduit was so valuable.