ldymtrow,
I think having a heater really depends on how much you think you’ll use it. If you don’t like being out in the cold once you get out of the pool, you may not use it much. Now, if you can tolerate some cool air when getting out on a cold day, you may be the type that would use a heater more. If you’re not sure, I’d probably go ahead and do it if it’s in your budget. It would be better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Down where I live, it was like $300 for a bigger gas meter and gas is cheap. I heated up my pool once earlier this year about 15-20 degrees and it only cost me about $30 to heat up 16K gallons. Also, keep in mind it’s easier to run a gas line when building your pool, not so much after it’s built. Good luck and let us know what you decide.