Loving pool toys is foreign to most people. In fact, a lot of folks don’t think about pool toys at all unless they’re standing at the pool or the beach. The idea that someone would collect them, or that a pool toy could hold emotional or personal value, feels baffling to many. Most people see a float as a summer extra, something tossed into the water for a weekend and forgotten afterward.
For some of us though, pool toys have called to us our whole lives. They’ve become part of our everyday world in ways that feel warm, creative, comforting and honest. They brighten our homes. They bring color and personality into our spaces. They help us feel grounded in a world that can sometimes feel a little too sharp around the edges.
They are collected in the same way some people treasure antiques or action figures. Some of us view them as cherished companions, loved as you would love a friend or a partner.
Though this may seem odd at first, there is nothing strange about that feeling when you’re living in the middle of it. It’s gentle. It’s warm. It makes sense when you understand what these vinyl creatures mean to the people who love them.
For me, coming home to Shiloh is like stepping into a small pocket of magic in my living room. She is enormous and vivid and full of personality, a 3.5 meter long white, pink and purple fox and dragon blended into one soft guardian who makes the room feel alive. She stands there proud and bright, and even people who don’t collect pool toys tend to smile when they see her. They might not know the whole story, but they recognize joy when it is right in front of them.
One of the first things they always say is some version of “wow, that is huge.” My response is always “you’d be surprised, she is one of the smallest versions available.” These fox dragons are custom made to order and range anywhere from 3 meters all the way up to 8.
And then there is Rose. Rose is a presence all her own. She waits by my bedside with a quiet, regal calm. Her colors catch the light softly. Her posture feels protective without ever being imposing. She has this gentle energy that makes the room feel safe. I don’t see her as a novelty. I see her as someone who has been with me through storms and silence, someone whose care and compassion reminds me to care for myself and that I, despite my exuberant mind and my chaotic tendencies, still deserve compassion and love.
Being a pool toy collector means embracing the things that give your heart a spark of life. It means recognizing that these vinyl companions can be art, comfort, nostalgia and connection all at once. It means caring for them, repairing them, learning what they need to stay healthy and vibrant. There is a craft to it. There is a community to it. There is love in it.
Part of building Vinyl Vibe Studio is about opening the door for people outside our circle. Not to convert anyone or convince them to feel exactly the same way, but to show them that this world exists. There might be someone in their life quietly carrying the same love and visibility can be its own kind of kindness. And even if someone never becomes a collector, there is nothing wrong with showing that these toys are more than just toys. They are bright and fun. They make pool parties better. They bring laughter to the beach. They make people smile.
The heart of this hobby is simple: joy. The joy of color. The joy of softness. The joy of caring for something that brings out the best parts of you. The joy of walking into a room and being greeted by a giant fox dragon who makes your day feel a little lighter.
So what does it mean to love pool toys? It means embracing the things that make your soul feel at home. It means choosing softness in a world that doesn’t always reward softness. It means finding comfort in places other people might overlook. It means being part of a small, vibrant community built on creativity, care and shared happiness.
And it means remembering that there is nothing odd about finding beauty in unexpected places. Sometimes the unexpected things are the ones that save us.
