Island Living Questions

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by RLW

RidgeRunner31, I was just browsing through the forum and noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Thanks for joining in on the forum threads and hope to see a lot more of you here.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[dippasan]

My wife and I bought on Sleepers Island in 2010.
Absolutely no regrets!

What we love about it:

• You need to be self reliant
• Your neighbors are self reliant also, but everyone helps each other (It's how life should be)
• It's quiet. No roads or driveways
• You definitely feel as though you have "escaped"
• Everything is a little harder and that is a big part of the charm.
• Watching the official "Ice OUt Thread" and the various web cams with great anticipation on this Forum in the spring

What we don't love about it:

• Nothing

[Descant]

Buy now and you'll be happy with your camp. However, in only a few years, it won't be yours anymore. It will be the family camp. This will be the place for family reunions after you've all made three job changes around the country, down-sized for retirement, and so forth. At some point, you may decide that island living doesn't fit your lifestyle anymore and the kids can't yet afford to take over, so you sell. And for the rest of eternity, the younger ones will say "wish you hadn't sold, we could have found a way". This may not be a short term purchase. Look at the tax assessors listings on-line and you'll see that many of these properties are in some sort of trust. That's part of the reason there isn't a lot of turnover. They're now into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation.

There may be some appeal to hiking on Rattlesnake, Bear, etc., but on the smaller islands (the Forties and the Varneys for example) there may be more water sports as they protect each other and you can easily walk or row to the protected side on a windy day. Great views but few canoes on the east side of Rattlesnake is my guess.

Docking: Room for your boat, the kids boat and a guest boat? Can you pull the Whaler, canoe, kayaks jetski, sunfish up on shore easily for winter storage? After awhile on an island, boats tend to accumulate. We've had more, but right now, we're down to our boat, the little boat, three kayaks and a canoe. And my daughter just got a stand up paddle board. We paid $75 for the canoe, and all three kayaks were raffle or promotional wins. But once you have the opportunity, you start slowing down when you see a boat for sale in a yard, or start looking at Craig's list for water toys.

So, land, exposure, docking, proximity to services. You can always modify the buildings.

Be prepared for a lifestyle change. You're not just buying some real estate.

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by Descant

Buy now and you'll be happy with your camp. However, in only a few years, it won't be yours anymore. It will be the family camp. This will be the place for family reunions after you've all made three job changes around the country, down-sized for retirement, and so forth. At some point, you may decide that island living doesn't fit your lifestyle anymore and the kids can't yet afford to take over, so you sell. And for the rest of eternity, the younger ones will say "wish you hadn't sold, we could have found a way". This may not be a short term purchase. Look at the tax assessors listings on-line and you'll see that many of these properties are in some sort of trust. That's part of the reason there isn't a lot of turnover. They're now into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation.

There may be some appeal to hiking on Rattlesnake, Bear, etc., but on the smaller islands (the Forties and the Varneys for example) there may be more water sports as they protect each other and you can easily walk or row to the protected side on a windy day. Great views but few canoes on the east side of Rattlesnake is my guess.

Docking: Room for your boat, the kids boat and a guest boat? Can you pull the Whaler, canoe, kayaks jetski, sunfish up on shore easily for winter storage? After awhile on an island, boats tend to accumulate. We've had more, but right now, we're down to our boat, the little boat, three kayaks and a canoe. And my daughter just got a stand up paddle board. We paid $75 for the canoe, and all three kayaks were raffle or promotional wins. But once you have the opportunity, you start slowing down when you see a boat for sale in a yard, or start looking at Craig's list for water toys.

So, land, exposure, docking, proximity to services. You can always modify the buildings.

Be prepared for a lifestyle change. You're not just buying some real estate.

Great post...that is my goal. If I do purchase something, I want it to turn into a family camp and hopefully it will stay in the family for generations. Also, docking will be key. Hopefully I can grow my toy collection. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[B-Laps]

My In-Laws have a place on Little Bear Island and the wife and I stayed over a few times this summer. This was also my first summer with a Boat and here are my thoughts.

• We have a slip at West Alton Marina. Luckily the weekends we came out were nice, but going across the boards on some windy days would have been treacherous. My in-laws have a slip much closer to the island, and it's a more sheltered trip over.
• I greatly underestimated the amount of time it takes to go Door to Door at first, you'll just need to find out what works for how you pack your gear. The time it takes from parking at the Marina to sitting on the sun deck with a beer in hand, is at least an hour.
• Pay attention to the docks at any property you're considering. If you see whips or what seems to be an excessive amount of gear to protect the boats, it's likely that there is either a lot of wave action, or a lot of boat traffic causing boat damage. It's a good idea to check out the traffic of an area on a busy Saturday to see what you can be in for.
• Many island properties were built without septic approval, either because it wasn't needed or it's been done without the proper process. It's becoming more and more difficult to sell without a full septic system, so any properties that already have the work done will help ensure that you don't have as many hassles in the future.

I've very much enjoyed my time at the island this year, and am hoping to spend a lot more of next summer out on the lake. If my in-laws didn't have the accommodations that they have at their camp, I'd be working very hard on how to make our own island property a reality.

[jkjoshuatree]

...feel free to PM me.

We've been on Bear for over 40 years.

[codeman671]

We spent 10 years on Mark Island and loved it. There certainly were challenges over the years and a lot of money spent but it was worth it. It is clearly the best way for the money to enjoy life on the lake. Usually the comparable mainland property would be 3-4 times as much plus higher taxes.

It is more expensive when it comes to maintenance and repairs, plus you need boats and slips to get back and forth unless you plan on towing each time. I know people that do, but that's not for me.

As others have stated, you have to be handy. Also a bit brave. Some days on the lake, unless you plan on being a fair-weather islander only, can be very hairy. Storms can roll in quickly. Fog banks are thick. Wind and waves can be brutal. I was on the lake until mid-December last year, although I was usually a bit more extreme than your average islander.

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by B-Laps

My In-Laws have a place on Little Bear Island and the wife and I stayed over a few times this summer. This was also my first summer with a Boat and here are my thoughts.

• We have a slip at West Alton Marina. Luckily the weekends we came out were nice, but going across the boards on some windy days would have been treacherous. My in-laws have a slip much closer to the island, and it's a more sheltered trip over.
• I greatly underestimated the amount of time it takes to go Door to Door at first, you'll just need to find out what works for how you pack your gear. The time it takes from parking at the Marina to sitting on the sun deck with a beer in hand, is at least an hour.
• Pay attention to the docks at any property you're considering. If you see whips or what seems to be an excessive amount of gear to protect the boats, it's likely that there is either a lot of wave action, or a lot of boat traffic causing boat damage. It's a good idea to check out the traffic of an area on a busy Saturday to see what you can be in for.
• Many island properties were built without septic approval, either because it wasn't needed or it's been done without the proper process. It's becoming more and more difficult to sell without a full septic system, so any properties that already have the work done will help ensure that you don't have as many hassles in the future.

I've very much enjoyed my time at the island this year, and am hoping to spend a lot more of next summer out on the lake. If my in-laws didn't have the accommodations that they have at their camp, I'd be working very hard on how to make our own island property a reality.

Those are some great points to keep in mind!! I will add those 3 items to my list. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I did not even think of the septic issue.

[The Real BigGuy]

Seems that most of the responses have focused on the islands on the western side of the lake. Remember that there are some beautiful islands and properties on the eastern side. The pace is a little slower but you also have further to go if you want to drive somewhere.

I'd suggest you find a Realtor who specializes in island property. Several of them actually live on islands and can take you out in their bot to show you several different properties on several different islands. Each one has its own character. 20 yrs ago John Bridges, god rest his soul, spent a Saturday with my wife and I and helped us find the perfect place for us. The first year there I spent literally 3 hrs watching my 5 & 9 year old run down the dock and jump in, climb out and do it all over again. I turned to my wife and said, "this makes it all worth it!"

One thing I didn't see anyone mention is docking on the mainland side. As someone did mention, a couple of the islands have their own dock space. I'm guessing more don't. You either need to rent or buy. We rented for a couple of years and then decided to buy to have some permanence and know where the boat was going to be and what our water commute is year in and year out. So take into account how you are going to handle the mainland side. Rental slips come and go. They are sold, turned into condo's, etc. so if you choose renting you may end up moving every few years.

Buying worked for us but it is expensive now. I thought that square of water was expensive when I bought it but slip prices have increased 300% + since then.

Lastly, I've had a lot of friends (+ relatives) who couldn't believe that i could live "on an island." "What do you do when it rains?", "Aren't you afraid of the animals?" "Isn't it boring?", "I could never do that!" Guess what, to this day, everyone who has visited couldn't believe how much they enjoyed their time with us and, sometimes unfortunately, they want to come back.

If you make the decision to buy on an island do one thing - ENJOY!!!

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Seems that most of the responses have focused on the islands on the western side of the lake. Remember that there are some beautiful islands and properties on the eastern side. The pace is a little slower but you also have further to go if you want to drive somewhere.

I'd suggest you find a Realtor who specializes in island property. Several of them actually live on islands and can take you out in their bot to show you several different properties on several different islands. Each one has its own character. 20 yrs ago John Bridges, god rest his soul, spent a Saturday with my wife and I and helped us find the perfect place for us. The first year there I spent literally 3 hrs watching my 5 & 9 year old run down the dock and jump in, climb out and do it all over again. I turned to my wife and said, "this makes it all worth it!"

One thing I didn't see anyone mention is docking on the mainland side. As someone did mention, a couple of the islands have their own dock space. I'm guessing more don't. You either need to rent or buy. We rented for a couple of years and then decided to buy to have some permanence and know where the boat was going to be and what our water commute is year in and year out. So take into account how you are going to handle the mainland side. Rental slips come and go. They are sold, turned into condo's, etc. so if you choose renting you may end up moving every few years.

Buying worked for us but it is expensive now. I thought that square of water was expensive when I bought it but slip prices have increased 300% + since then.

Lastly, I've had a lot of friends (+ relatives) who couldn't believe that i could live "on an island." "What do you do when it rains?", "Aren't you afraid of the animals?" "Isn't it boring?", "I could never do that!" Guess what, to this day, everyone who has visited couldn't believe how much they enjoyed their time with us and, sometimes unfortunately, they want to come back.

If you make the decision to buy on an island do one thing - ENJOY!!!

Thank you for feedback!! I will keep all those things in mind!

When I tell friends and relatives that I'm toying with the idea of island property they think I'm a little crazy for the same reasons you listed above. I'm sure if I had a place, I would have a tough time trying to get them to leave.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner31

Thank you for feedback!! I will keep all those things in mind!

When I tell friends and relatives that I'm toying with the idea of island property they think I'm a little crazy for the same reasons you listed above. I'm sure if I had a place, I would have a tough time trying to get them to leave.

LOL you got that right! However the best thing to do is keep it a secret and not invite them out after you buy something, if anything make sure to tell them how miserable it is. That way they won't be tempted to visit and overstay their welcome!

When all is said and done, to sit by a nice campfire, it's dead quiet other than the distant wail of a loon and the sound of the water lapping on the shore, the stars are out and you have a nice ice cold adult beverage in hand, my GOD how does it get any better? Winter or summer there is just no better place to be. Best investment I ever made and no you cannot put a price tag on it either.

[codeman671]

My wife was dead set against islands, especially building on one. Once the painful part was over she fell in love.

[ishoot308]

There's just something about the serenity of island living that cannot be duplicated on the mainland.

We love it and couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Dan

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by codeman671

My wife was dead set against islands, especially building on one. Once the painful part was over she fell in love.

I just had to bribe mine with a place that had a flush toilet.

[jazzman]

Yea, all the places with "alternative" septic systems quickly got nixed by my wife... No sense of adventure...

I had her talked into no electricity, but that place didn't work out.

In the end, electricity and a flush toilet are awfully nice.

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by jazzman

Yea, all the places with "alternative" septic systems quickly got nixed by my wife... No sense of adventure...

I had her talked into no electricity, but that place didn't work out.

In the end, electricity and a flush toilet are awfully nice.

LOL..yeah I have a zero percent chance in talking my wife into a home with no electricity or a home with "alternative" septic.

[KPW]

"When all is said and done, to sit by a nice campfire, it's dead quiet other than the distant wail of a loon and the sound of the water lapping on the shore, the stars are out and you have a nice ice cold adult beverage in hand, my GOD how does it get any better? Winter or summer there is just no better place to be. Best investment I ever made and no you cannot put a price tag on it either."

[Broken Glass]

We had a condo in Paugus bay for over ten years. Three baths , garage,pool, living the life. This spring we bought a place on the south side of Rattlesnake. I think I must have been hit by a bus, because I have been living in heaven ever since!

[JasonG]

Originally Posted by codeman671

My wife was dead

Sorry to hear that

Originally Posted by codeman671

set against islands, especially building on one.

Oh, well that's better than her being dead.

Originally Posted by codeman671

Once the painful part was over

Huh?I thought she was OK?

Originally Posted by codeman671

she fell in love.

Whew...that was a close one. I should probably read these through before reacting and responding.

[welch100]

I grew up spending summers on Dockham Shore, but moved to Welch Island 35 years ago. We ADORE island living! There is nothing like having the lake a few feet away from your front door, and miles of lovely walking trails out back. Once our kids could swim, they had the run of the island, acquiring a love of nature and sense of adventure. It's like turning the clock back 50 years, with WiFi!

Yes, you have to lug everything back and forth, but especially as we age, we appreciate the workout. Yes, we have to be aware of the weather, but watching the storms blow in and out is endlessly entertaining, and now with radar on the internet, it's easy to do. Yes, it costs more to have work done, but that helps us to live more simply and be self-sustaining.

The peace and quiet, privacy, safety, and sense of community that we experience on island can't be bought on the mainland for anything remotely close to the price we paid. I used to regret a little bit not having a year-round vacation home, but over the years, I have come to appreciate the island even more, precisely because it's NOT available all the time. We love the annual rituals that start watching for ice-out in early spring, and ending with close-up in October. In the winter, our grown kids snow-shoe out to the island and "camp" in the cottage.

Island living is not for everybody. It is not just real estate; it's a way of life.

[RidgeRunner31]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

LOL you got that right! However the best thing to do is keep it a secret and not invite them out after you buy something, if anything make sure to tell them how miserable it is. That way they won't be tempted to visit and overstay their welcome!

When all is said and done, to sit by a nice campfire, it's dead quiet other than the distant wail of a loon and the sound of the water lapping on the shore, the stars are out and you have a nice ice cold adult beverage in hand, my GOD how does it get any better? Winter or summer there is just no better place to be. Best investment I ever made and no you cannot put a price tag on it either.

LOL that is a great idea!

I don't think it gets any better than what you described. I'm trying to sell that to my wife now..lol