Island Living Questions

The Real BigGuy · 09-10-2014, 12:41 PM

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 · 09-11-2014, 11:35 AM

Quote:

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 · 09-11-2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-11-2014, 01:17 PM

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

ishoot308 · 09-11-2014, 01:25 PM

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 · 09-11-2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-11-2014, 01:49 PM

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 · 09-11-2014, 03:22 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-11-2014, 05:29 PM

"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 · 09-12-2014, 09:35 PM

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 · 09-15-2014, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

My wife was dead

Sorry to hear that

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

set against islands, especially building on one.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

Once the painful part was over

Huh?I thought she was OK?

Quote:

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 · 09-24-2014, 02:54 PM

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 · 09-11-2014, 03:09 PM

Quote:

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

09-10-2014, 12:41 PM	#1
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,310 Thanks: 125 Thanked 472 Times in 287 Posts	There is a whole other side of the lake! 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!!!

09-11-2014, 01:25 PM	#5
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,287 Thanks: 2,402 Thanked 5,297 Times in 2,064 Posts	Love It! 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 __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

09-11-2014, 05:29 PM	#9
KPW Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 398 Thanks: 735 Thanked 118 Times in 59 Posts	Well stated Maxum. "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."

09-12-2014, 09:35 PM	#10
Broken Glass Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atkinson,NH/Rattlesnake Island Posts: 164 Thanks: 331 Thanked 67 Times in 28 Posts	Newbies 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!

09-24-2014, 02:54 PM	#12
welch100 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Welch Island, Gilford Posts: 51 Thanks: 50 Thanked 15 Times in 6 Posts	Island Living 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. Last edited by welch100; 09-30-2014 at 09:07 AM.

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09-11-2014, 01:17 PM	#4
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,502 Thanks: 221 Thanked 816 Times in 489 Posts	My wife was dead set against islands, especially building on one. Once the painful part was over she fell in love.

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09-11-2014, 01:49 PM	#7
jazzman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mont Vernon NH & Big Barndoor Island Posts: 323 Thanks: 4 Thanked 184 Times in 62 Posts	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.

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