What Kind of Cottager Are You?
October 19th, 2007I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Desiree Daniel, the editor of Cottage magazine. Over the course of our meeting we discussed the differences between lake cottaging and cabin owners. We both had our opinions about what constituted a “lake cottager” versus a “cabin owner.”
According to Desiree, I am a “yahoo” cottager, the kind who has a water ski boat, likes to party, is into toys and grew up in southern Ontario.
I like to think of Desiree as a “cabin owner” kind of gal. Grew up on the west coast, into nature, very environmentally sensitive, likes to kayak and there’s a good chance you’ll find granola in her cupboards.
While we are both guilty of making sweeping generalizations, the one thing we all have in common is our desire to escape, break away. We want a place where we can go with our family and friends to unwind, relax and have fun.
Some of us find our Zen on a wakeboard or inner tube, while others prefer the tranquility of a hike or a paddle.
The nice part about having a cabin on the island, is I now have the best of both worlds. I am a yahoo cabin owner. I still love my water sports, but some of them are now non-motorized. I find myself kayaking more and waterskiing less.
Happy hour is still happy hour regardless of where I drink my beer; it’s always icy cold and people, including myself, get funnier the more I drink.
The one thing I am curious about, where in Canada do cottagers cease being cottagers and turn into cabin owners? Is it Manitoba or Saskatchewan? And what about the rest of Canada? Are they called cottagers in the Maritimes, and if yes, are they yahoo cottagers?
I would love to know what kind of cottager or cabin person you are - perhaps there’s a type I haven’t even heard of. Please let me know and photos are always welcome.
Cheers to our diversity!
Julie
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October 19th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Here in Ontario there’s a line between Cottage owners and Camp owners. Here in Northern Ontario, our getaways are called CAMPS. We go to camp. Be it on a lake or a river it’s still called CAMP. If it’s small or massive it’s still called a camp!
I’m not sure where the line is drawn - some say Barrie, some say Parry Sound, but our place will always be called camp to me.
I think no matter what we call it, it’s still our paradise, our getaway, our peaceful resort.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Thank you Deb.
Cheers,
Julie
October 19th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I think I fit quite nicely in the YAHOO!!! category. Don’t have Quads yet (but looking) but the rest of the list is long and distinguished. Quiet time is around sunset and camp fire time. Daytime is purely gas burning water sport time.
October 19th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Cottage is one of my favourite reads, and I’m glad you and the editor have finally spoken.
You’re right about the escapeism provided by having a recreational home or property. I’m from Ontario as well, where the weekend getaway from the insanity of Toronto is, for some, a necessity. I think the common thread with most, if not all cottagers, is that sense of retreat - of peacefulness - experienced when you pull up to your cottage. Home away from home. The setting for weekend projects. Giving your kids memories they’ll carry forever. That, to me, is what it’s all about.
And for those who haven’t read Cottage, you should- it’s a great magazine (whether you cottage, cabin, are a ‘yahoo’, or anything else!!)
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:51 am
Thanks James. You will be able to link directly from here to Cottage in the very near future.
Cheers,
Julie
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Not sure which category we fit into. As Deb says there is a line in Ontario where cottages turn into camps. So I guess we are cottagers……..we have no watersport toys so we are not yahoo cottagers. We prefer (seems to be common among our neighbours) quiet restfull days at the cottage although we do enjoy happy hour get togethers and a good bonfire. As James put it ‘get away from the insanity’….well said. We like to enjoy things at the cottage we cannot get at home on the mainland. No traffic, star filled skies at night, peace and quiet (except for the wildlife) and cycling and hikes without the worry of getting run over.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Hi Ted,
You summed it up beautifully. Those are the things that I enjoy too about cottage/ cabin living.
Cheers,
Julie