My parents are retired and have been living in Meredith now for about a year. I know my mother was worried about the long winters, and also "being stranded on a dirt road". Their house is out on Meredith neck on a private dirt road, therefore not plowed by the town. Last winter was one of the toughest in NH history and they made it through OK.
Anyway, they are very happy living at the lake. I hope to live there full-time someday too.