Island Life

Frogman · 08-10-2025, 12:46 PM

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!

08-10-2025, 12:46 PM	#1
Frogman Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2025 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Island Life 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!