Assembling and repairing a PVC pipeline for a pool is much like working with Tinkertoys. Tinkertoys was all fun. You could add or subtract pieces with a simple twist of the wrist.

In working with PVC pipes and adapters, you first saw the pipes to the length desired, add adapters, and then glue the components together. If you later wish to modify your design, you can saw the pipe, add adapters and more pipe, and glue them together. If you need to make more repairs, you can cut and glue again, each time adding more pipe and more adapters. Unless, that is, you purchase the more expensive union coupling. The union coupling allows you to unscrew the pipe without cutting it. So, if you need to modify your pipeline, there is no waste of pipe or adapters. Are these expensive union couplings worthwhile? It depends if you are a mind reader and know how many times you will need to modify your pipes. It is a form of insurance.

Now for real life. Since maneuvering through life is a bit more complex than working with Tinkertoys, if you wish to make changes in life, a simple twist of the wrist may not be enough. But you do have options.

Let’s say you cut off a relationship. Cutting off a relationship, like the pipeline you don’t think you’ll have to fix again, does not “cost you” very much in time or effort. Trying to later repair the relationship, to whatever degree you choose, may be hampered by the complexity of adding new pipes and adapters, and the effort you may need to make the cut-off connections whole.

Let’s say you disconnect a relationship. Here, you are not sharply cutting through old ties but enabling a subtler “unscrewing” of the coupling union. The procedure will likely be more “costly” as you think through the language you will use to disconnect as well as thinking about the ramifications of your decision. However, in this case, you give the message to yourself and to another that a repair can be made more easily, if desired, by both parties.

Since life is complex, a cut-off relationship may be easily repaired, and a disconnected relationship may never be repaired. Wouldn’t it be simpler if we operated like pipes and adapters? No way! I still haven’t purchased union couplings, and have wasted so much pipe and adapters. I want my Tinkertoys!

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com