Love It Or Leave It

[Barney Bear]

On Monday, we opened our place on East Bear Island to start our fifty-third season. We had planned to return home on Wednesday afternoon. However, a strong southeast wind developed by noontime, producing waves more than we wanted to deal with in our 19' boat. Rain was predicted for later in the evening and during the night. Thunderstorms were predicted for Thursday afternoon. At daylight Thursday morning, and after the fog had lifted enough to see Long Island, and the wind had calmed down to "gentle" waves, we decided to head in to our slip at Fay's Boat Yard. The waves in the area between Timber Island and the mainland were very manageable. We love island living so much as to be ready to deal with such weather conditions, and, thus, would never leave it. 🐻

[MAXUM]

Welcome back for another season.

Should have been here a month ago!!!

[Barney Bear]

In past years, we have usually opened just after ice-out.

[Winilyme]

...under your belt and starting on yet another. Amazing. Congratulations. I think that has you landing on East Bear in 1968. Putting that into perspective - that year:

1. The TET offensive was launched.
2. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated
3. Nixon won the presidency.
4. Apollo 8 orbited the moon.
5. ‘Hey Jude’ is released in the US.
6. CBS - 60 Minutes debutes.

Pretty crazy year and possibly a reason you were looking for an island to find some peace and quiet. Wishing you many more years on Winni.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Winilyme

...under your belt and starting on yet another. Amazing. Congratulations. I think that has you landing on East Bear in 1968. Putting that into perspective - that year:

1. The TET offensive was launched.
2. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated
3. Nixon won the presidency.
4. Apollo 8 orbited the moon.
5. ‘Hey Jude’ is released in the US.
6. CBS - 60 Minutes debutes.

Pretty crazy year and possibly a reason you were looking for an island to find some peace and quiet. Wishing you many more years on Winni.

It was also the year Chevrolet unveiled the C3 "Mako Shark" Corvette in the 1968 model year which would go on the be thus far the longest running and most successful generations in Corvette production history. 1968 through 1982.

[Descant]

Barney Bear: Congratulations as a 50+ year island resident. We should have 50+ year recognition. Are you first generation?
Who else here is 50+ ?

[Barney Bear]

We first came to Lake Winnipesaukee in the summer of 1963 on the recommendation of our landlord. Our 20' Chris-Craft Sea Skiff, which we purchased in Louisville, Kentucky, was launched on July 23rd during a near total solar eclipse. We rented a covered slip at Fay's Boat Yard, and have been there since then. We bought our place on East Bear Island in October, 1967 and enjoyed our first full season at ice-out beginning in April of 1968.

We love spending as much time as we can at our wonderful location, sharing it with family and friends. As mentioned in previous posts of this fine forum [Thanks, Don], island living is not for every one, but, to us, is well worth the efforts associated with it. The Lake has many "moods" and must be respected.
Waves can build up over three feet in a few minutes. One learns to adjust to these situations.

Now, second, third, and fourth generations are able to enjoy this treasured location, and beautiful Lake. We are so fortunate!!! 🐻

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Barney Bear

...Now, second, third, and fourth generations are able to enjoy this treasured location, and beautiful Lake. We are so fortunate!!! 🐻

As it should be--and hope you can keep it that way. And yes, sometimes you don't truly understand how fortunate until it's gone. My family had the same place from 1945-2012, and has been on the Lake since the 1910s. Alas, a family member forced a sale, which tanked the deal for the third, fourth, and (future) fifth generations. So...look ahead and plan accordingly. We're still here, just not in our own place. Maybe again...some day...

Cheers

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Grant

As it should be--and hope you can keep it that way. And yes, sometimes you don't truly understand how fortunate until it's gone. My family had the same place from 1945-2012, and has been on the Lake since the 1910s. Alas, a family member forced a sale, which tanked the deal for the third, fourth, and (future) fifth generations. So...look ahead and plan accordingly. We're still here, just not in our own place. Maybe again...some day...

Cheers

At least, you're still on the lake. Nothing wrong with moving around a bit. Each area has its own personality and sense of community.

[farechofisherman]

63 years now. Started at 2years old. Special place! Now you know my age, hello Medicare

[Descant]

Oh, you kid. If you started two, then you're second generation, right? Your kids? Third generation?

[dickiej]

We had to sell our place because of financial problems....my mother said it was one of the few times she ever saw my father cry.

[gravy boat]

My great grandparents started camping at Lake Shore Park when it was just camping. Not sure of the year but they would pack up and make the long drive from NJ to NH. Eventually family had a one and at times two places on the beach at Lake Shore Park. In the early 70s my parents bought a place in West Alton where we still enjoy summers. Personally I am told I said my first word (Hi!) to kids playing on the beach in 1963 at Lake Shore Park. great grandparents, grandparents, parents, me, daughters...5 generations so far.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by dickiej

We had to sell our place because of financial problems....my mother said it was one of the few times she ever saw my father cry.

Nothing is more disappointing to me than hearing someone losing a vacation home. I'm not sure why—and it may not make sense—but it's more depressing to hear than someone losing their primary home. I'm sorry you had to sell.

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[WJT2]

I have relatives who have been on Birch Island since 1903 +/-. I had the privilege of visiting each summer since I was about this tall. They have history there back to the time the Island was purchased in 1893. Many great times and wonderful memories. "Winnepesaukee" "Have you seen the Smile of God"

[Descant]

If it's just the "lake house" and you sell it, perhaps no big deal. If it is truly "the family camp" it is incumbent on the current custodian to protect the family traditions and perpetuate the camp ownership for another couple of generations. Obviously, this can be very difficult if your camp is in an area of explosive growth where the taxes and other expenses have gone ridiculously out of reach. None of this is easy.

[farechofisherman]

Yes Descant, my father built, I'm second generation and my kids 3rd!

[Descant]

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

Yes Descant, my father built, I'm second generation and my kids 3rd!

Bravo! That's the way to do it, when you c an. Transition from 1st to 2nd is probably the toughest.

[Lakeflier]

Originally Posted by Descant

Barney Bear: Congratulations as a 50+ year island resident. We should have 50+ year recognition. Are you first generation?

Who else here is 50+ ?

My parents used to take us to various places on Lake Winni for vacation, then in 1961 they bought us a cottage near Wawbeek in Melvin Village. We all loved it, and after they died we four and our spouses did our best to keep it going, and we did for many years. It was great because it was large enough to accommodate a bunch of us at once. Then it became too much of a burden for those who lived far away and got minimal use. We wound up selling to one brother who has a large family, and my husband and I bought a smaller place on Whortleberry Island. We love Island living, and hope to stay many years though we’re in our 70’s.


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[Garcia]

Originally Posted by Descant

Barney Bear: Congratulations as a 50+ year island resident. We should have 50+ year recognition. Are you first generation?
Who else here is 50+ ?

53rd summer (first summer I was 6 months old).

[ursa minor]

Originally Posted by Garcia

53rd summer (first summer I was 6 months old).

You’ve got me beat. . 52 years, I was 6 when my parents bought their place.

[hemlock]

First arrived at the lake camping at Camp Iroquois with parents and grandparents in 1963. So I guess at the time it was 3 generations enjoying the lake. Grandparents then bought on Cow in 1965 and when they passed left it to the 8 grandchildren.
We now have both grand and great grandchildren who enjoy the camp at Cow so I guess that makes 57 years and 6 generations.

[GodSmile]

My mom was pregnant with me. She said the only time I wasn't kicking was when the boat was moving on the lake.

... some things never change.

[jazzman]

Half of the charm of island living is being one with the weather and having to plan things a little in advance. If you want to come visit me, you have to be flexible and willing to arrive/depart early or late since those are usually best wind times. We've managed to work our way up to a big enough boat that island -> mainland can usually happen, but a dock with a clear 15 mile shot to Center Harbor is pretty challenging to dock at on a breezy day from the NW (and we've had plenty of those lately)

[northforty]

Our family starting renting a camp on Camp I. in 1882. They stayed there until 1895 when their rental was already rented to another party. The owner, name of Gould I think, of the Camp Is. site let them rent a small island in the Forties which he also owned.
They stayed on Breezy Island until 1912 when they finally bought their own place, also in the Forties. They were my grandparents. We still have the place. My first trip was in 1951.