moving to the cabin?

[leechlake]

I just read a great post on the ice fishing forum of a guy who quit his job and moved up to his cabin for a year. He mainly focused on the fishing experiences, a cool story nonetheless.

Here is my question for you all. Like many of us I live in the Twin Cities and travel up north to our cabin as often as I can to hunt, fish, hang out. Recently on the hated trip back home one Sunday I pondered the thoughts of some day permanately moving to our cabin. My dad did this same thing about 20 years ago and never looked back.

When I thought of this idea at first I realized it was a pipe dream, I have two kids and a wife. But...in ten years the kids will have moved out and so I called this idea my "ten year plan." When I told my wife about it she freaked out at me, but what the heck that happens all the time.

My question for you guys is basically do you think that if you moved to the place where you have always loved being and spend so much time hunting and fishing do you think you'd like it? Or would the fact that you are permanately there kind of make it loose some luster?

I would most likely still be able to do the job I do now, so I wouldn't have to quit working or be retired.

[goblueM]

If I could move to the cabin while still working, I'd do it in a second and wouldn't look back

[NoWiser]

I wouldn't even have to think twice about it, I would be gone.

Goblue, I love your quote at the bottom of your posts! It's so true.

[goblueM]

thanks... it was tough to pick just one quote by Aldo Leopold, he's got so many great ones

[TooTallTom]

It doesn't really matter whether WE'D still like it. Would you?

I guess the only way to really know for sure is to try it and find out. Maybe you could start by spending summers up there with the kids if that's an option.

[gregg52]

i did it 22 yrs ago

it's been good but finacially alittle tuff at times

but i've said many times i wouldnt move back to cities (savage) if i was starving to death..and have been close to that..lol

but i still stand by that

one year i was on mille lacs everyday from opening til about july 6-7th

something like that...what a year that was fishing..we figured one week we had boated over 200 walleyes

i was fishing tourements back then and it was very good year on mille lacs

you dont get sick of being up here

i had a job for bout 7 yrs that in the morning driving to work i had to becareful of deer and few walkers.. saw a half dozen cars on my way to work

i see eagles fly over my house lots of birds at the feeders

although i didnt do any fishing this winter i could go to 5-6 major lakes (including gull..north long..pelican) with good fishing in 20 mins i can snowmobile out of my driveway to over 1500 miles of very well grommed trails in the area

i could go on and on

no guts...no glory!!!!!!! lol

[BoxMN]

Hey Greg, I follow you every letter of your post! (long post follows, I have thought about this often, and every Sunday night on way "home"...)

My wife and I talk about it often, moving to the cabin. Every single person up there I talked to who has moved north has said the only thing they would do different is they would have done it sooner. Nobody has said they wish they didn't make the move.

Here is my take, however...

kids are grown, but have grandkids (5) all nearby and see them often (we are sort of younger grandparents). We like that, but we also see them a ton at the cabin too and as they get older, G'ma and G'pa won't quite be as cool so it won't matter as much.

I really like my neighbors here at home, we do a lot together during the week, helping fix cars, building, [PoorWordUsage]'ing, going out, etc. We also have friends at the cabin, but they are either older or are also "weekenders" so I am afraid of getting bored during the week to be honest, and that I will miss my good neighbors. I don't like crowds anymore, but I do like socializing. I know we could make new friends, but I like my friends haha!

I have my Mom here still, and my siblings have young kids, so Mom's "care" will fall to me most likely, so far no problem there, but it is something to consider. For those that don't have to worry about that it would make it easier, as I don't see her wanting to be moving north with us, though she loves the cabin as a "cabin"...

I do think I would use the lake just as much and it wouldn't get old, and hunting opportunities would be more, and I would take advantage. However, the older I get, the more I like to share the fishing and hunting time with family and friends. I still would go out alone, but I like going with somebody who is as into it as I am. I don't have friend sup north at this point who are as into it as friends at home.

To sum up, my wife and I keep saying we are on the 5 year plan... I will say this, we could live up there much cheaper than having two places to worry about, and right now I could keep same job and work from there, and wife could get job in hospital or clinic, so we could get by pretty good. We would be money ahead... but just not quite ready to make the move... I will probably be one of those who say "I wish we would have done it sooner" ....

It is tough decision for me, and one we think of often. I think if I actaully pulled the trigger, I would be very happy once I was there. We love the cabin, and still arent' that far away from "home" or from bigger cities if we need something...

Good post, makes me rethink

[cylinder]

I just got a job near our lake home. I've wanted to live there since we bought it and have wanted to live up north since I was a little kid when my parents took me on fishing trips near Marcell.

In the last few years I haven't been able to spend more than a week at a time at the lake, but lots of weekends. One thing I look forward to is fishing during the week when there is virtually no traffic. I'll sit in the shade on weekends. My wife was against the move till now because she would miss her friends, but she's going to adjust. Her friends know their way to the lake. Luckily, my new job is for higher pay. I'll let you know in a year if it gets boring.

[delcecchi]

Our neighbors at lake Vermilion (on our road) pretty much all snowbird now that they are retired. One moved to cities, they were fairly old and it got real slow in the winter up there. Like, drive into Cook and not see a car on the way slow.

[Ufatz]

You will do what YOU want to do but let me offer this: your lake cabin is a "special place" now. You anticipate visits and remember certain moments from past visits. When things are rough in the City you take a mental trip to the cabin for healing. IF you live there, work there, fight there, spend time every day there some of the "special" feeling is going to go away.

It may be too soon for you to move. But keep it under consideration. When the time is right you'll know.

It is similar to turning your hobby into a business. Many people have found out the hard way they it just isn't as sweet as they thought.

Take your time.

[leechlake]

Ufatz,

what you wrote is exactly my concern. It would be like becoming a pro trail walleye fisherman. All of a sudden your hobby turns into your job. I'm not sure that would happen with moving someday but it's on my mind. The suggestion of spending a Summer up there would be the best way to "test the waters." Thanks guys.

[SkunkedAgain]

IDK, testing the waters in summer seems much easier than testing it throughout the winter. If you can survive a winter than you can easily survive the summer.

[Chef]

If I could earn a living and be at the Cabin, I'd do it. Not while the kid's are in school and doing sports/rec stuff though. Have to be an Empty Nester.

[Red_Dog]

I'll echo what ufatz said... The feeling you get of "getting away from it all" when going somewhere you don't live goes away. All of a sudden the same stresses you had at home of work, neighbors, bills, etc. are still there with you when you get home, just like before. We all "want our cake and eat it too" but what I learned is that you will never get that same "getting away from it all" feeling unless you do and go someplace you dont live and bring your everyday stresses when the workday is done but still on your mind....We ended up moving back to be closer to family because in the end any place, no matter how great, is much fun if your alone and not among the people you love and want to see frequently. The good part is I dont have the same depressing Sunday afternoon daydreams anymore, Its all a state of mind and once you know the other side's grass isnt all that greener you are more content.

[bikeoutback]

I grew up in the cities but spent every chance out of the cities camping, fishing and hunting. Didn't have the up north cabin to go to on the weekends but still got out of town. 10 months ago my at the time fiance got a job up north and my job lets me work remotely so we moved. 5 months ago we got married and bought a house up north with some land. I LOVE IT! I know it's not moving to the cabin but pretty much similar, starter house on 40 acres on a gravel road with lakes no more than 5 minutes away in any single direction. Fast forward to today and due to issues not of my control my wife left me and we are getting a divorce. I'm keeping the house. As bad as life is right now for me the real kick in the pants would be if I had to move back to the cities after all of this. Life here in some ways is simpler, it doesn't lose it's appeal to me. My weekends I still leave the bills and all that in the office but for me it's the fact that I can see deer and other animals daily. I can always see the stars on clear nights, and its' always quiet unless I'm throwing a party in which there is no quiet time or shut off the music time. I guess I liked the cities but not nearly as much as I like the outdoors so living in northern MN fits me better. Downside is it's a 35 minute drive to anything but the bar.

[TylerS]

If there was any way possible to pick up and move to a lake cabin, I'd do it in a heartbeat and never look back. Anyone who gets bored or bothered with the call of a loon or the fresh scent of northern Minnesota has a screw loose. Most people who own a cabin go up there for a few days and spend 90 percent of their time either fixing stuff or mowing the lawn or raking leaves, etc., etc. Could you imagine living up there, getting that stuff out of the way, and then having the rest of your time to fish or hunt or chill on the beach? I'm sorry, but there is no way in heck that would ever get old...

[reinhard1]

one day up in the arrowhead area is awesome! i moved down here in the 70's because i could not find a job at the time. my parents and brother and sister still live in duluth. now with my daughters and grandkids here it is here i'll stay. this summer i will spend as much time up there as i can. one week in the ely area for sure [bearhead state park]. haven't fished for stream trout in years [way upstream]. i will also camp for a week in the isabella/finland area. it is truly Gods country. good luck.

[Swimmer]

Some of my rambling thoughts.

I have a buddy and wife who are doing everything they can to make the move. His advantage is that his wife makes way to much money...even so, I was amazed when he plopped down a quarter million to buy his cabin on LCO ten years ago (and has since put many thousands into it). He has the dream, the vision, the means, and the chutzpa to make it happen.

I have everything but the means right now (the wife doesn't make enough money ha, ha ) but I do have the vision. I know it can be done on a piece-meal basis. Buy some land and slowly build something. [We lost our family cabin outside Hayward a decade ago due to a greedy uncle...long story]. I guess in waiting for the right moment...you may wait forever.

Another option I see people doing is to make their homes as much like a cabin as possible. I know it is completely NOT the same, but landscaping with thick evergreens, putting in a pool, a water feature, fire pit....you get the idea. Not exactly my idea of going to the cabin, but much easier on the fuel budget.

[BoxMN]

Swimmer, FWIW, we bought our place about 11 years ago - just a lot (100x300) on a crystal clear lake, with a small 20x20 building (the image in my avatar), electricity but no running water, just a biffy. We used it like that, fixed it up to be comfy, warm (or cold in summer), cottagey with knotty pine, and cleared some dying trees and brush (but still tons o trees!). Used the heck out of it for 8 years, and just built a modest place in '08. So it can be done by people who don't make a fortune, you just gotta pick your battles on the finances front (i.e. haven't gone on a warm vacation since... drive paid-for and older vehicels, etc.).

I don't even look at it as an investment anymore, other than an investment in fun that we and kids and grandkids and friends can enjoy over and over. And someday will be "home" although it already feels just like HOME when we are up there. Good luck.

(ps, I have said it before, but the people who say cabins are so much work... are wrong. They can be, but that is up the person. I rarely "work" at my place, certainly not anything near 90%, and then I have a beer in one hand work never gets in the way of going fishing, ha! sorry for getting off track, I just like the "cabin" talk...)

[Getanet]

Never experienced this myself, but can still share an experience. My parent's bought some land and built a cabin near Deerwood 30 years ago. The plan all along was to build a much nicer "lake home" once they neared retirement, sell the house in the cities and move up there full time.

Except then my sister went and had a kid - their first grandchild - and I'll be shocked if they move up there full time once they retire. Deerwood isn't too far from the cities, but it's certainly far enough that they wouldn't see their grandson nearly as often during the week, or make it to as many T-ball games, etc as they would like.

So, your dreams could drastically change once your kids start having their own.

[solbes]

I'm on a 14 year plan... Okay that's just downright silly more than anything. But maybe in 6 or 7 we can replace the camper with a nice but modest & efficient log cabin. We would still be working in the TC, because I want my kids to grow up here. 14 years the youngest graduates high school, and then maybe I can think about getting a "loaner" job up north for a few years until I can think about retirement.

It's fun to dream about, and I know it won't get old for me. We've got great fishing, loons, herons, bald eagles, lots of duck varieties, and too many deer (eat most of my plantings). I'm not so sure that my wife shares my enthusiasm for moving up there someday. But once we get a real cabin I think her feelings will change.

Agree with Box. Hardly seems like work with beer in hand. We have some great neighbors up there too, so I feel blessed for that.

Usually about this time of year, I'm about jumping out of my shoes to head up north again, since my last trip was in early November. This year is no different, maybe head up in 3 or 4 weeks!

[leechlake]

a lot of good perspective by everyone.

I think the ideal situation would be to simply to be in a position to do what you want and when you want to. If that means spending two weeks at the cabin or a month or the whole Fall then great. If family events need us "at home" in the Twin Cities then we head home for a while. That preserves it staying a special place rather than the only place.

Great point on life changing and especially Grand Kids. I think the dreams that we all have today eventually change a bit. It's fun to dream though.