Swimming with the fishes...

[HillSlugger]

One more thing. When i used to swim on my own(before finding the group swim I go to) I would be the only one in a lane during the chilly winter mornings. It was so cool swimming outside as all the old hags would be inside.

I am a bit confused about circle swimming. Do you mean in a lane each person would stay on one side only?

At most pools here they have a slow, medium and fast lane with signs noting this.

C

When there are two people in a lane each can have their own side and go up and back one their side at their own pace. When you get to three everyone needs to go up one side and back down the other side, rinse and repeat. Since you are following right behind someone else, it's good is everyone is pretty well matched for pace. Many pools will have signs designating the lane speed. Mine does not and chaos reigns.

We usually go up the right and down the left, counter clockwise.