backyard playsetsIt's that time of time again: playset season. The time when millions of parents get ready to pay out thousands for small-scale backyard jungle gyms for his or her beloved children.For years I'd were able to efficiently avert this requirement of suburban family life. And then, 1 day something happened.I cracked.I can't even blame my kids. They never badgered me or complained. I'm not sure they required a playset. No. I wanted one.Whenever we were outside the house in the backyard my kids wandered around aimlessly, invariably returning inside to the sofa. I needed to shoo them back outside and shout, "Go play!" But with what? We didn't have a pool or swings or even a paved driveway to attract on. I made a decision for my very own sanity and their success we needed a playset.Visions of summer time days whiled away on a swingset or in the fastened fort with children's laughter floating by on the balmy breeze, danced in my head. But I wanted one thing to be flawlessly clear. If I was going to take out a second mortgage to fund a playset, my kids were going to have to go on it--literally.The playset we eyed-up acquired a house-like enclosure and a picnic stand and was practically as big as my house. It was certainly a suitable dwelling for two smallish people. They could come inside for the wintertime however, not until then. And if we ran some electric wiring and plumbing to the fort, I would never have to see them again.But much like most fantasies, once understood, the facts on the ground don't quite match the vision, therefore it was with the playset.My research on playsets commenced prior to planting season because I thought if we bought in the off-season, we would be capable of geting a reasonable price. I used to be mistaken. A couple of no reasonable prices as it pertains to playsets. I don't know if the hardware is stable yellow metal or if the structure is made of rare, endangered timber, but bargains are not to be had. So I considered an option a friend suggested: used playsets. You can get a complete playset for fifty percent the price. That had my name written all over it.Unfortunately, it didn't have my husband's name written onto it. He was against the whole playset idea from the beginning--it would harm his lawn. If, however, I would insist he acknowledge he has children and that they require toys, then he driven he would desire a deluxe model worth being located atop his pristine yard.Still, I prolonged in my search for pre-owned models, persuaded I could fulfill us both. And I was successful in finding a used playset in relatively good condition large enough for two school-age kids. It even got a rock wall membrane. But the best benefit was it only cost in regards to a thousand bucks. Victory was mine.Then my husband described the playset was somewhere outside the tri-state area, and we didn't have a vehicle large enough to transport it even if we do want to take the half-day drive to go get it. I nodded silently. I comprehended. And with a heavy heart, I gave up on my used playset search.For people who have never had the experience of shopping for a playset, it's a significant daunting task. There are numerous makes and models and levels and configurations to choose from, and everything the genuine playthings are extra. I suppose you might buy a reasonably cheap wooden framework, but your entire children would be able to do is stare at it wistfully since it would be only an oversized sawhorse.I continued to comparison shop online for weeks until the day finally came when I discovered my dream swing action set. It experienced everything I'd thought. The sole problem was I couldn't find the money for it. During the period of the following weeks, I been to the playset many times, hoping to happen upon a sale. Then, mid-summer, it finally occurred. The company acquired what constituted a storewide sale in playset circles: free gangplank weekend. I was sold.Free gangplank weekend was a huge coup for me, and I breathed a sigh of relief that the hunting and agonizing and planning was over. Then the sales guy strike me with the bill. Slightly below $2,000. And it was FREE gangplank weekend!The playset has been bought and payed for, shipped and erected in our yard for almost each year, but it was not used much. Or possibly I will say it hasn't been played with as much as $2,000 would warrant. We haven't made our cash back on it yet, but a few items have been worthy of their price. The swings and trapeze bar. That's really all you have to. Take it from someone whose been burned up.The kids still wander aimlessly about the back garden, ignoring the one component, the most expensive one, that they lobbied so vehemently, the fort. It rests empty except for the parrots and the squirrels. But maybe if we installed a Tv set in there...