Okay, be honest...

[eclectic]

I've been a pool rat since I was 5 and allowed to go to the pool by myself (in those days, eons ago, we could walk to the pool and hang out all afternoon)

Hey we look like cyclists when we bike so why shouldn't we look like swimmers when we swim???? If I see someone swimming laps w/o a cap or goggles I think "beginner or leisure swimmer"

My geek attire is: basic - Speedo or TYR training suit, Cap, goggles. Now that I am older and wimpier I wear earplugs (got swimmers ear once - I hate it) AND when doing certain drills I wear a noseplug and snorkel. I call it my creature from the deep outfit. I have also worn short fins. The only thing I am missing to complete the total nerd look are the waterwings

In regards to goggles buy good quality ones (the $12 ones instead of the $5) I buy women's Speedo Vanquishers. They seal really well. When tightened up for competition I can do a racing dive and they don't budge (they also pop your eyeballs out but hey the race is only 100meters ) On any other given day I loosen them. another good thing about them is they come with different nose peices so they can adjust to fit different faces.

Downside to goggles are the racoon eyes from them - they leave semi permanent indentations in my face (back in the day the skin "popped" out faster)

I also wear a swim cap whether my hair is long or short. anything to help prevent chlorine damage is a good thing.

ANOTHER thing is to buy some chlorine ridding rinse for your suit (I can't remember what it is called I will have to look at it when I go home) Chlorine will literally disintegrate the spandex in the suit. Swimming 1 hour 3 days a week - a $60 suit only lasts about 4 months

I always start my shower with my suit on (when I wash my hair out) so I can get as much of the chlorine rinsed out as possible. then I use a good moisturizing soap to get the chlorine off my skin. I never wait to get home just because I hate to have the chlorine on my skin that long

Re locker room etiquette, we have an adult women's only locker room which helps. Most everyone wears underwear, suit or towel to and from the shower but strips to the buff to change (there is even one older, very overweight lady that goes to water aerobics and she strips down in public, i just think way to go for her to be out doing it).

[Bluetree]

Downside to goggles are the racoon eyes from them - they leave semi permanent indentations in my face (back in the day the skin "popped" out faster)

I showed up for a meeting with a client with indentations around my eyes! What a way to leave an "impresssion."

Yeah, I know what you mean by Chlorine Skin. Sometimes I'd swim in the morning and go running in the evening. As soon as I start building a run-sweat, here comes that chlorine smell!

[JmcG]

As for the goggles - how else would you swim and know where you're going and make sure you're not bumping into people (unless you like having chlorine stinging your eyes by opening them under water)? I always wear goggles and a swim cap - what's dorky about that? That's what we wore when I was on the swim team - plus the swim cap makes you that much more hydrodynamic! If you ever do a triathlon, you have to wear an authorized swimcap that's usually color-coded per your age group and may or may not have your # on it.

As for changing in the locker room - the pool I swim at, people are free about their bodies! Especially the older women. I think it's great. Some people will wipe down their bodies with a towel, then put it on their head and stay in the nude while putting on lotion, their makeup, etc. Nobody stares and nobody cares. Oh, and there are no shower stalls - it's one big open area with about 10 shower heads all in a row. People talk and carry on lively conversations while showering next to each other!