Island Properties

[Desmond]

Hello,
I am hoping to hear from some Island folks about the pros and cons of island living. My husband and I are hoping to make an offer on a property but I'm not sure what struggles we might be in for. Thank you in advance for your honesty!

[steve-on-mark]

P.m. me...maybe we can exchange phone numbers and converse when convenient for both of us. Lots of pros...some cons...

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[codeman671]

Hello,
I am hoping to hear from some Island folks about the pros and cons of island living. My husband and I are hoping to make an offer on a property but I'm not sure what struggles we might be in for. Thank you in advance for your honesty!

Which island are you looking on? Every one has different pro's and cons.

[Bear Guy]

You might check out this thread, and several others that are linked from it:

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18206

[Slickcraft]

Yes lots of prior discussion here, dig around the search window.

My bottom line comment is that it is extremely rare to hear of anyone regretting buying an island property.

[ishoot308]

Yes lots of prior discussion here, dig around the search window.

My bottom line comment is that it is extremely rare to hear of anyone regretting buying an island property.

^^^ what he said! ^^^

[MAXUM]

P.m. me...maybe we can exchange phone numbers and converse when convenient for both of us. Lots of pros...some cons...

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Same offer as well.

[ChasesIslandOkie]

It helps if you are handy! Most islanders I know are pretty self-sufficient kind of folks.

[Barney Bear]

It also helps to have a great contractor and next generation family and friends who 💕 the island and island living. 🐻

[dippasan]

^^^ what he said! ^^^

We bought 7 years ago and wished we'd done it earlier.
Best decision ever

[Rattlesnake Gal]

We are happy islanders too! We are Broads side of Rattlesnake Island. If you'd like to chat, PM me, so I can give you my number. We've been islanders for 15 seasons and could not be happier.

[Biggd]

Just my curiosity, what are the attractions of Island life?
Maybe of list of pros & cons will help.

[Barney Bear]

Suggest you follow the suggestion made in the above Item #4 above by Bear Guy. Many pros and cons are presented in various threads. We jumped into this special way of life fifty years ago, when our son was three years old. He (and his wife) have recently chosen to continue experiencing island living, purchasing their own location on our wonderful lake.

[joey2665]

Suggest you follow the suggestion made in the above Item #4 above by Bear Guy. Many pros and cons are presented in various threads. We jumped into this special way of life fifty years ago, when our son was three years old. He (and his wife) have recently chosen to continue experiencing island living, purchasing their own location on our wonderful lake.

That is fantastic. Island life is very appealing but just not conducive to my current life situations, however it is something I would enjoy tackling when I am closer to retirement.

[Biggd]

I had a chance to buy an Island lot on my lake recently but my wife shot it down like duck over water. I was going to build a camp on the Island and keep both places. So when all the kids and grandkids come up for the weekend my wife and I would have a place away from all the craziness. :eek:
I like to go to my place every weekend though out the year and the thought of not being able to use it at certain times is not appealing to me. But having both places would work.

[joey2665]

I had a chance to buy an Island lot on my lake recently but my wife shot it down like duck over water. I was going to build a camp on the Island and keep both places. So when all the kids and grandkids come up for the weekend my wife and I would have a place away from all the craziness. :eek:
I like to go to my place every weekend though out the year and the thought of not being able to use it at certain times is not appealing to me. But having both places would work.

Funny that is similar to my plan. Keep the house and purchase a small camp to really get away.

[Biggd]

Funny that is similar to my plan. Keep the house and purchase a small camp to really get away.We have more in common than I ever thought possible. :laugh:

[joey2665]

We have more in common than I ever thought possible. :laugh:

Very very true!!!! :laugh::banana::cheers:

[Spartans]

Island residents are the best! Every conversation with your neighbors ends with "call if you need anything". There will be times when you ask for help and there will be times when you are asked for help. Everyone is so generous.

[Slickcraft]

It also helps to have a great contractor and next generation family and friends who �� the island and island living. ��

"Former Hardy Islander" ?? BB there must be more to the story.

Alan

[Barney Bear]

Age makes some folks less hardy, so they must depend on others to help accomplish chores which they used to do. We plan to continue to be active islanders on East Bear Island as long as possible. 🐻

[Slickcraft]

Age makes some folks less hardy, so they must depend on others to help accomplish chores which they used to do. We plan to continue to be active islanders on East Bear Island as long as possible. 🐻

Thanks for the clarification, glad it is not "former islander". Yes we recently gave Island Support Service the job of taking the decking off the seasonal dock and raising it for the winter.

[ursa minor]

In reference to "hardy islanders": this is certainly not a scientific observation but I know / have known many people on the islands that were active well into their 80's and often 90's. Maybe it's the water, maybe the activity required to get back and forth, who knows for sure. I know it's working for my parents and a number of our neighbors, hope to be as lucky ourselves...

[ishoot308]

In reference to "hardy islanders": this is certainly not a scientific observation but I know / have known many people on the islands that were active well into their 80's and often 90's. Maybe it's the water, maybe the activity required to get back and forth, who knows for sure. I know it's working for my parents and a number of our neighbors, hope to be as lucky ourselves...

Your assessment is quite true! You will also notice that most island dogs tend to lead a much longer life. My neighbor has a yellow lab that just spent his 16th year on the island! We were not sure if he would make it through the summer but as soon as he showed up on the island in the spring, he was like a rejuvenated dog. Made it no problem and very happily through the summer and fall. Not sure I will see him next spring but you never know!... The islands are like the fountain of youth!!! I know I can use all the help I can get! :D:D

Dan

[Descant]

I, too, agree that islanders seem to live longer. No stress the island compared to "Do it now" on the mainland. "Hand me the tape. I'll buy some parts later."
And yes, island dogs have little stress too. No runs, no fences, but they rarely seem to go farther than the next camp[ or two. Their biggest fear is that they'll miss the next group swim or boat ride.
We're lucky.

[ursa minor]

Agreed on the islands being dog heaven. We don't have any ourselves but all the neighbor's dogs seem to know which cabinet the Milk Bones are in in the kitchen! They're like kids, spoil 'em rotten! ( We do have permission :D) We love the spontaneous visits.

Even visiting dogs seem to get it. One of our friends had a Lab that would visit every summer with them. She would start trembling with excitement when they headed down the last road to where we would pick them up in the boat even though it had been a year since the last boat ride. Could not keep that pup dry, she loved every minute of lake time.

[steve-on-mark]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171123/9a04eb10727a4c6f84297e4248e4750b.jpgmy shepard only made it to 11, but this was by far his favorite place on earth!

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[Barney Bear]

Our first Scottish terrier, Peppy, upon hearing the horn of the Sophie C as it passed by, would race to the East Bear Island mail dock for a doggy bone treat from a deck hand on the mail boat. Neighbor dogs come by almost every day to visit our two Scotties. A lady at a nearby camp gives them treats as we pass by on our walks along the many island trails. Three of our previous pets are now permanent island residents. 🐻

[mick the ditch digger]

just looking for information about a place my family spent our summers, it was a cabin in pine cove owned by my uncle ezra jones. it was next to camp nakomis where my sister attended, my father was the director of public relations for the SPCA in boston, during the summer he managed the alford wildlife sanctuary on the island. I have lots of memories of my summers on bear island. thanks for any info regarding that area.

[mick the ditch digger]

we also used to rent the brown house above the mail dock when my uncles cabin was full

[mick the ditch digger]

ther was also an uninhabited island I believe called 7 mile island, we wen camping there once and a terrible storm came up, my uncle rescued us in his larg wooden boat and almost hit a big rock, I'm sure that island along with bear has changed since the early 60s

[Descant]

Welcome to the Forum and Happy New Year.
I can't help[ much with Bear Island. You probably went camping on Five Mile Island. It's across from Bear, and a little north of Camp Nokomis. I have friends who camped there in the 70's. I think there was an abandoned cottage there in the 60's and the remains of a dock. Five Mile Island was purchased by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust in 1999.
From their website:
"Five Mile Island Conservation Area, Lake Winnipesaukee, Meredith: Five Mile Island, purchased by LRCT in 1999, offers nearly ten acres of forest and 3,300 feet of rocky shoreline for exploration. The best landing site for paddle craft is a small coarsely pebbled beach on the southeast side; there is no dock, so power boat operators should anchor and wade ashore. There are large rocks just beneath the surface on either side of a narrow channel as you approach the beach. LRCT’s kiosk marks the landing site and is easily visible from the water. A well-marked perimeter trail provides a comfortable hiking route around the island and reveals an interesting variety of vegetation including a small wetland."

[mick the ditch digger]

thank you Descant I believe you are correct about 5 mile island, especially the large rocks, my uncle nearly hit one with his large wooden boat not sure what kind of boat but was beautiful and was told it had an airplane motor in it, I remember the remnants of an old foundation also. do you know of a forum that might know more about bear island, thank you and Happy New Year.

[Descant]

I don't have anything that you probably haven't found already via Google. This Forum has a very good search function that will find several threads related to Bear Island.

[Garcia]

thank you Descant I believe you are correct about 5 mile island, especially the large rocks, my uncle nearly hit one with his large wooden boat not sure what kind of boat but was beautiful and was told it had an airplane motor in it, I remember the remnants of an old foundation also. do you know of a forum that might know more about bear island, thank you and Happy New Year.

Track down a copy of Bear Island Reflections volume 1 or 2. Maybe you can get one through www.bearisland.org.

[webmaster]

Track down a copy of Bear Island Reflections volume 1 or 2. Maybe you can get one through www.bearisland.org.Amazon has it: https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Island-reflections-Winnipesaukee-Hampshire/dp/0962303305