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Originally Posted by Frogman
Hello everyone,
I’m retiring from the military this spring, and my family is in the process of looking for a summer lake house. After spending a few years browsing Zillow and Redfin, we’ve noticed that island properties on Lake Winnipesaukee are an easier fit within our budget.
We’ve visited the lake a few times but always stayed on the mainland. Now, we’re hoping to hear from current or former island homeowners about what it’s really like living on an island.
A few specific things we’d love to know:
What’s the process like for getting housework done? Is it easy and affordable to arrange?
How do you handle grocery shopping and getting other supplies?
What about trash disposal—how does that work on the islands?
What are the parking arrangements on the mainland? It seems like the Rattlesnake Island Association has the most robust mainland presence. Do the other islands have similar setups, or are they more DIY? I'm trying to get a sense of how easy it is to take a boat to our car for a day trip or supply run.
We visited Wolfeboro once in February for skiing and loved it. Is accessing island homes in the winter feasible, or is it more hassle than it’s worth?
And lastly, what’s the overall vibe like on the islands? Is it quiet and peaceful, or do things pick up in certain seasons?
We’re open to doing things a little differently and would really appreciate any advice or insights. After reading a few older posts, it sounds like there are families who’ve been coming to the islands for decades, which is exactly what we’re looking for.
Thanks so much in advance for your help!
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My husband and I had a cottage on Whortleberry Island in Tuftonboro where we stayed full time from ice out to end of October and loved it. Island life is very much DIY, meaning everything comes and goes by boat, mostly your boat. We were lucky to have a private arrangement for dock and car parking. Before buying or renting an island cottage you need arrangements made for both car and boat. We had a post office box at Melvin Village, where we could walk from town dock. For shopping or other events we took either the pontoon boat or the 14’ Lund to shore, walked to where the car was parked, drove to wherever, returned and loaded groceries or whatever into the boat, motored home, unloaded the boat. Trash disposal was the reverse, with trash brought by boat then car to the town transfer station. We liked the pontoon boat, as is a great cargo carrier. We even brought lumber over to build a shed. There were times when we couldn’t get out because of rough weather, so you need to stock up.
For a price you might be able to get trash pickup and housekeeping. For septic pumping you will want to coordinate with neighbors, as the pumper truck will come on a very expensive barge. You will need to use bottled drinking water, as few island cottages have wells, using instead lake water for washing, etc.
Island neighborhoods are friendly, as families depend on one another. So why don’t I live there anymore? My husband died, and I couldn’t manage the cottage alone. I’m a New England girl, so I sold the winter house in North Carolina and the island cottage, and was able to buy a year round lakefront house within view of the cottage.
I agree with other comments that if you’re not sure if island living is for you, you should try renting. Keep in mind before buying that even though the price of island property is less than mainland, other expenses like boat and car arrangements and getting tradespeople to the house eat up the difference. You may not be able to get to the island in winter, as so many people have dock bubblers that ice may not be safe. So go into your island adventure with eyes open and have fun!