Overnighting on the boat is something fairly new to me the last few years. Very much like tent camping, except no skunks
Growing up on Winni lakeside, my boating life was probably pretty narrow-minded as compared to now, and I'm still learning things every day. If you judge everything based on perceived negatives, or just in a narrow viewpoint based on your immediate location, it can indeed be hard to imagine anything different.
I've not witnessed any real issues from boaters overnighting over here, and you can put up anchor just about anywhere. It's also not wall to wall houses on the shoreline either, so it's easier to find secluded spots.
I've changed my mind totally about lake boating and living. I've been a lakefront resident on two lakes, plus a boater as resident and marina slip dweller. The majority of the problems or lack of shoreline restaurants and destinations, not to mention slips and marinas in general, can be attributed to lakefront property owners. I know that once your boat is at the dock out front, it's hard to imagine anything different. But there is another, big, fantastic boating adventure just around the corner from your lakeside home. It's called, The Rest Of The World.
If any past or present lakefront property owners have switched to being trailer boaters or marina dwellers, they'll know exactly what I mean. Current lakefront owners owe it to themselves to pack up the boat and family, and head for a new destination for a weekend. Whether it be another lake, or just the other end of Winni, it just might broaden your horizons.