Turns out I DO need a stinkin' health club

We joined 24 Hour Fitness and I love it! The equipment is so much better than anything I can buy for myself, and I don't have to maintain it. They have TVs on each treadmill (and other devices), with headphone jacks, and even iPod connectors.

There is the problem of sensory overload - besides the TVs on the equipment, there are overhead TVs everywhere, usually tuned to sports - even in locker rooms. On top of that, there's music blasting out at a high volume. I could do without that, since it's so loud I can hear it over whatever I'm listening to with my headphones.

They even provide hair/body wash dispensers in shower, which has private stalls. The closest I've ever come to belonging to a gym was using the county rec center, which had the open showers you might expect in a high school locker room. Or prison.

The really cool thing they have is a high-speed swimsuit spin dryer. You stuff it in and hold down the lid and it's practically dry in about a minute. No dripping wet suit soaking your gym bag on the way home.

It's not even all that expensive, considering it's less than I pay for TV every month (and that's half the reason I need the gym!). I like that they have month-to-month memberships, too, so there's no contract.