There's a big trend right now where new spec homes are being built with showers only and no tubs. The thought is that the only people who use tubs are toddlers and so if there's no kids in the house and a perspective buyer isn't planning on having any kids, there's no reason to have one. I'd like to get rid of mine and go with a shower in the alcove, personally. What about you?

You can tell Darin does not live with a woman.

How so? Lots of the homes I mentioned are bought and lived in by them women-folk.

Women love taking baths. You said that Toddlers are the only ones who use the tub. That is incorrect.

Kramer: I just took a bath, Jerry. A bath?

Jerry: No good?

Kramer: It's disgusting. I'm sitting there in a tepid pool of my own filth. All kinds of microscopic parasites and organisms having sex all around me.

Also, in the event of injury, soaking some injured body parts would be difficult without a tub. I would never buy a home without at least one bathtub.

They're also good for storing cooking water during a hurricane.

We have two bathtubs. We really only need one. Some day we will convert on to a walk in shower.

Oh sure, but have you seen a lot of these shower/bathtub alcoves lately? They are NOT comfortable to take a bath in. They're tiny... even for a 5'3'' woman. What good is a bathtub if you can't get reasonably comfortable in one. A dedicated tub is a different thing altogether. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough... but I was specifically referring to tub/shower alcoves being in decline... not stand alone tubs.

Edited to add: Yeah, upon reviewing my initial post, I do see that I was definitely not clear enough there. My bad.

No bathtub? Where is my rubber duckie supposed to paddle around?

The shower gets my book wet.

And if I drift off to sleep while reading my wet book, I fall down.

I can't take a bubble shower. Mr. Bubble customer service lacks patience if you call to demand action.

Soaking is good. Jet tub/jacuzzis can be pleasant, too.

Yes, toddlers and women take baths, so do the elderly and the disabled. Or injured.
If you eliminate tubs from your home, you're eliminating potential customers at re-sale time.

I would like to have a huge tub for two in the basement bath, with jacuzzi that you can turn off. But that's for fun, not for washing. A shower is all I want. I bet I've taken no more than 1 "bath" in the last 10 years, and that would be a zero if not for the fact that I was dying from allergies last week and took a scalding hot steambath.

You big baby.

Kids take baths. Why would somebody want a house that can't accommodate kids? Seems like a poor investment decision.

To be honest, that's what I felt like, sitting in a tub!

Not sure about the rest of the cosmos... Around here, new houses seem to be built around the master bathroom and the kitchen. If it's anything other than a starter home, it includes a huge tub. The days of the tiny bathroom off of the master bedroom are gone.

I'll take a shower if I must, but I'd never live anywhere without a bathtub. Even in motels with little tubs I'll still try to take a proper bath.

The seperate Shower/Tub senario is popular as it allows for both and has an air of luxury. Houses that are space effecient will likely continue with the traditional combo stall, though those can be very nice as well. We had bathfitters come out and replace our spec combo with a bigger, more comfortable unit in the master bath.

I was right!

The Tub is also popular with women who have lots of hair. It's difficult to keep dry in a shower cap and often washing and drying long hair (with styling) is a time consuming process.

Generalities are always wrong.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.