Pondering Ponds

My oldest loved the fishpond in her grandparents’ backyard. It wasn’t highly decorative; it was more a huge outside fish tank. I can still remember her glee and fascination with the goldfish it held. Hubby has suggested several times that we install one of our own in the front of our house. I know we need something to spark our landscaping and flowers won’t work as I have a very black thumb. Still I am concerned about upkeep and maintenance. As we are getting older, do we really need what comes with a water garden, namely water control, pond pumps and filters, lights, plants, fish, and the list goes on?