My mind was going in a whole different direction. Cottaging
Are you a cottager?
- Thread starter dognutz
- Start date
God no. For me, I associate a cottage with a 3-4 hour drive then up early for cottage maintenance then guests coming over with the resulting prep & clean up.
While I can image that there are moments of pure bliss with waves gently lapping and birds gently chirping, these moments of heaven can be discovered and found almost anywhere & anytime.
Renting a cottage or getting a trailer sounds better.
While I can image that there are moments of pure bliss with waves gently lapping and birds gently chirping, these moments of heaven can be discovered and found almost anywhere & anytime.
Renting a cottage or getting a trailer sounds better.
Yeah see I don’t know if I would be so keen on my trailer if it didn’t have every comfort of home either. My first trailer was older/vintage so had to bring in all the comforts but was a double wide so very roomy. The AC, the wifi of course I brought in. New huge TV, new couch, etc. I redid the roof for $1800. Labor included. Like you can’t beat that! But that trailer was a fair bit of work to keep it going. Every year was something new with last year being the water heater. Which got switched out for a new one for $1000 labour included. Again, can’t beat that compared to cottage/house prices.
Although in my part of the woods - It is not that buggy up here - I am so lucky that way. Mostly just mosquitoes, and spiders.
Now my new trailer is all bougie with herringbone floors, shaker cabinets, fireplace and power everything. Nice open concept floor plan, shower big enough for 2 with a little seat. Think more like a park model home than a “travel trailer.” For example, none of that silly banquet seating that folds to a bed - which would never be used by me anyway. Instead a normal table and chairs.
Less maintenance and cost of a cottage/second home but all the comforts of a regular real home. I think this was the best retirement decision I have made. A second home for 1/10 of the price, where I can walk 100 feet to my boat and be fishing in 5 mins.
This trailer as a power awning and just sitting outside under it during the thunderstorm Friday night, with a coffee and joint - can’t beat that. Sure you can see that in city but you don’t smell the grass, see the colours of the sky or hear the rain hitting the leaves in the trees. There is a level of relaxation/security that I just personally can’t get in my home/city. I admit part of that is a safety thing for me as well. At home I have to be on guard from my stalking ex, on tour I have to be on guard of potential harmful clients so at the trailer - I am free from being on guard and THAT is what hits me the most here I think. It takes away a mental load that I don’t realize that I carry when not here. But the balance in my schedule that has me here most of the time - makes all of life feel less stressful.
Plus having a morning zoom meeting sitting down at the water and having to tell a loon to shut up because he is interrupting is not too shabby either. LOL.
I live in Hamilton.When I was young 2-3 we had a cottage at Wasaga BEFORE the 400 was built. My dad got tired of the drive so he sold it and bought one in Port Dover about 45 min away. I was there from the last day of school to the Sunday of Labour Day weekend. My dad was just commute back and forth. PD was a jewel back in the 50's 60's. Dad sold it in 74 but I wish he hadnt. Now this was a COTTAGE not one of those mansions you see in Haliburton owned by NHL guys. My sons in laws have a COTTAGE in Wainfleet on Lakeshore Road with a fantastc view of Lake Erie. I dont need a mansion just a basic cottage.
Take your pick. Doleful cry of the loon; dulcit cooing of doves OR jackhammers, sirens, gunshots. Nobrainer.
Too much noise can hurt your health and shorten your lifespan. Here’s how to know if you're at risk, and tips for protecting yourself
Millions of Americans live in areas with unsafe levels of environmental noise. It's taking a toll.
Take your pick. Doleful cry of the loon; dulcit cooing of doves OR jackhammers, sirens, gunshots. Nobrainer.
Too much noise can hurt your health and shorten your lifespan. Here’s how to know if you're at risk, and tips for protecting yourself
Millions of Americans live in areas with unsafe levels of environmental noise. It's taking a toll.fortune.com
The only problem with cottaging north of the city is the lack of Spas and escorts.Take your pick. Doleful cry of the loon; dulcit cooing of doves OR jackhammers, sirens, gunshots. Nobrainer.
Too much noise can hurt your health and shorten your lifespan. Here’s how to know if you're at risk, and tips for protecting yourself
Millions of Americans live in areas with unsafe levels of environmental noise. It's taking a toll.
I had the good fortune of spending my summers (up until the age of 17) at my family’s water access only cottage.
They were idyllic summers filled with swimming, canoeing, water skiing, sailing, hiking, and weeklong camping trips on the many adjacent lakes located on Crown land. My friends would come up on a rotating basis for visits all summer – so I was never lacking for buddies to go on adventures with.
Evenings were spent at bonfires in the patio fire pit, card, and board games with family, or sitting around listening to music or reading. These were the days before internet, cell phones (or even a land line phone at the cottage), VCR’s or any other media distractions. The summers spent at the cottage brought my family closer together and instilled in me a lifelong love of the outdoors, and an appreciation for nature and the soul satisfying peace and connection to the world it brings.
The cottage is still in my family all these many years later and I have the advantage of being able to visit anytime without the obligation of maintenance, or feeling I need to go there every weekend. Every time I go there I am reminded of those magical summers of my childhood.
They were idyllic summers filled with swimming, canoeing, water skiing, sailing, hiking, and weeklong camping trips on the many adjacent lakes located on Crown land. My friends would come up on a rotating basis for visits all summer – so I was never lacking for buddies to go on adventures with.
Evenings were spent at bonfires in the patio fire pit, card, and board games with family, or sitting around listening to music or reading. These were the days before internet, cell phones (or even a land line phone at the cottage), VCR’s or any other media distractions. The summers spent at the cottage brought my family closer together and instilled in me a lifelong love of the outdoors, and an appreciation for nature and the soul satisfying peace and connection to the world it brings.
The cottage is still in my family all these many years later and I have the advantage of being able to visit anytime without the obligation of maintenance, or feeling I need to go there every weekend. Every time I go there I am reminded of those magical summers of my childhood.
I am also a cottager, love it.
Finally getting reliable internet up there has allowed me to do some work up there, so I can go Thursday night and come back Monday night thus missing the weekend cottage traffic.
Bugs never really bothered me and there's spray for that.
Boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and a cold beer on the dock, can't beat it.
It's not for everybody, but it's for me.
Finally getting reliable internet up there has allowed me to do some work up there, so I can go Thursday night and come back Monday night thus missing the weekend cottage traffic.
Bugs never really bothered me and there's spray for that.
Boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and a cold beer on the dock, can't beat it.
It's not for everybody, but it's for me.
I’m writing this while sitting on my dock at my cottage in the Bancroft area. I admit it’s not for everyone. This year, the mosquitos have been cunts but as it heats up, their numbers will drop. Yes there can be work involved in cottage ownership but I don’t mind cottage work, Especially with a beer in my hand. I work in the city in an insanely busy/loud/challenging environment. Coming up here and listening to loons, breathing fresh air, boating, fishing, and exploring is just my cup of tea. Im dreading the drive home today 
If it gets breezy, that will help with the mosquitos. I miss the cottage we sold, but not the mosquitos and the black flies. Why no black flies on Georgian Bay?I’m writing this while sitting on my dock at my cottage in the Bancroft area. I admit it’s not for everyone. This year, the mosquitos have been cunts but as it heats up, their numbers will drop. Yes there can be work involved in cottage ownership but I don’t mind cottage work, Especially with a beer in my hand. I work in the city in an insanely busy/loud/challenging environment. Coming up here and listening to loons, breathing fresh air, boating, fishing, and exploring is just my cup of tea. Im dreading the drive home today
Oh I know!
It is also Fathers Day weekend so I am picking up my dad and we will stay 4 nights at the trailer. Should be a great weekend of bonding and fishing.
I'll see you on the lake and enjoy the time with your Dad!Oh I know!
It is also Fathers Day weekend so I am picking up my dad and we will stay 4 nights at the trailer. Should be a great weekend of bonding and fishing.
I loved cottage life in Muskoka so much as a kid, I bought the place from my father, torn it down and built a year-round retirement home. It's where I live now. My life's motto: "If you're lucky enough to live on the water, you're lucky enough." Learned it from a very respected, now retired (I beleive,), SP who was based in Muskoka. Sweet, Petite, Miss Jessica Lee.
This is a saying of hers! LOL. She will be happy to hear that her motto lives on. I will be sure to show her this thread.
I grew in in cottage country and you can tell the cottages vs the full time residents on any lake front by the degree of screening of the front porch.
Cottagers only have to deal with mozzies who fade off at first hot weather.
While year rounder have to deal with the spring hell from ice out to June that is the black fly season.
I now live in Sauga, but still enjoy a week of wilderness canoe camping about every second year.
So traffic hell getting there can be forgotten by the nice times paddling along and setting camp and making dinner as the sun begins to set before the bugs come out too bad.
Cottagers only have to deal with mozzies who fade off at first hot weather.
While year rounder have to deal with the spring hell from ice out to June that is the black fly season.
I now live in Sauga, but still enjoy a week of wilderness canoe camping about every second year.
So traffic hell getting there can be forgotten by the nice times paddling along and setting camp and making dinner as the sun begins to set before the bugs come out too bad.
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Cottager for almost 30 years. We tore down our old cottage and replaced it with a four season in 2016, retired a few years later then when COVID hit it was our retreat from our kids who lived with us. Sold our place in the city last year and now live year round at the cottage. Love the near isolation and privacy as I love being clothing free whenever possible. There are drawbacks to being an hour away from services but not having to hear city noises and people is heaven. I wish there were some available small town discrete SPs...hmmm any farmer's daughters in the Land O Lakes Region?
The happiest I’ve ever been in my life is being 10 yrs old, playing in the lake with my brother and dog at my grandparents cottage. Summer seemed to go on forever.
I’d pay a gazillion dollars just to revisit that time in my life for a week.
I’d pay a gazillion dollars just to revisit that time in my life for a week.
