How Lakeside Living Enhances Your Wellbeing

The water laps softly against the rocks, a gentle motion which has occurred for millennia. This is the serenity found by a lake, a soothing hypnotic calm. This experience is the joy of lakeside living. Many people enjoy short vacations by a lake, but what is it like to live by a lake long term, and how can a lake help you de-stress and find peace?

We are Water

A large body of water like a lake is an energy field, a source of peace. Since ancient times humans have sought out water. According to the biophilia theory, humans are drawn to harmonise with nature on psychological level.

The Japanese researcher, Masaru Emoto, famous for visually capturing the structure of water, outlines our connection with water:

“At conception, a fertilised egg is 96 per cent water. At birth, a baby is 80 per cent water. As the child matures, the percentage drops, and it stabilises at about 70 percent when the individual reaches adulthood. In other words, we live our lives mostly as water.”- Masaru Emoto – The True Power of Water

I am lucky enough to live in the country with more lakes than anywhere else in the world. This fact is probably the reason why cottaging is so popular Canada. This cultural phenomenon is a ritual in some families where they gather together during vacations, away from the city, to a family owned or rented cottage, with the more sought after locations being by a lake.

Getting away from the hustle and bustle, not too far from home, is nice and becoming more popular as foreign travel becomes more expensive and demanding. Because many people have a positive lake experience, they is always the thought at the back of their minds: Could I live here full time?

The Reality of Lakeside Living

I can share my experience, which has been positive, but it will be different for everyone and depends on your stage of life. Don’t start packing your bags yet. As you will find out, a short stay by the lake is different from full time living.

Background

As a former city dweller, I fully appreciate the seasonal benefits of lakeside living. There is a natural nurturing that comes with having a body of water nearby.

Although in my country of origin you were never 70 miles from the sea, it never seemed that way living in the big smoke. I was used to water in the form of rivers, which provided the numerous canals in London and recalled a bygone era, when barges moved their wares from to the Thames.

After years of work and travel, a window of opportunity opened up which allowed me to live by a lake. I took it. Now, I reside on a beautiful bay, washed by the the waters of Lake Huron.

Pros and Cons of Lakeside Living

A lake is never too far away in this the Province of Ontario. Of the five Great Lakes, Huron, Ontario, Erie, and Superior, four are in Eastern Canada, and shared with the U.S.A. Only Lake Michigan, is totally within the U.S. The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on the planet. resplendent like inland oceans, and provide us with ancestral memories.

It sounds wonderful, but is it for you? There are many wonderful things about lakeside living, especially the wellness aspect. however, there are also some challenges.

The following list applies to properties in smaller towns and more rural areas. We will start with the

Pros:

• Lifestyle – Slower pace
• Views
• Sunset and Sunrise
• Health and Wellness
• Less light pollution for star gazing
• Less noise pollution
• Experience nature in its natural setting
• Water activities
• Community connection

Cons:

• Higher property prices
• Higher property Taxes
• Lake Winds
• Insurance may be expensive or not available
• Docks may need to be taken out each season
• Boats stored for a fee
• Septic needs to be emptied and well water have to be potable
• Cottages are usually secondary homes
• Water safety
• Flooding or erosion
• Water safety
• Limited employment opportunities
• Busy tourist season
  

Now you have a good list to start with if you are considering lakeside living in your future. Be realistic and honest with yourself as you go through the list. Some things might seem small, but may be deal breakers for you. I will go into the pros and cons in more depth in subsequent posts.

Let’s talk about water activities. Lakeside living is even better if you are a swimmer, and the lake is safe to swim in. Here is what has been found in one study:

Blue spaces involve embodiment, mindful presence, community and much more, offering for some a therapeutic accretion which sustains mental health and wellbeing across a lifetime. – K. Overbury, B.W. Convoy, E. Mark

The more popular areas will have signs regarding the possible bacteria in the water, especially around the tourist seasons.

Much like forest bathing, lake bathing will de-stress the participant. It brings balance and is transformative. People gravitate to water to reset during holidays and on weekends.

Have you ever wondered why you feel so refreshed after a shower? It is not just about being clean, the water has reset us. In the past people sought out waterfalls for this very reason, they were seen as sacred places. If you live by the water, you will know what it is like to lean in to the ebb and flow of the currents, to watch the energy change with the colour of the lake.

In my area, the city folks come up, and sometimes bring the city with them, in the form of noise, and distractions such as water toys and drones. The speed boats bounce off the water, while canoes and kayaks slow down the pace.

Final Thoughts

Lakeside living is a blessing, an opportunity to do what Timothy Leary called “Tune in, Turn on, Drop out” without the psychedelics. Nature is the drug, and we all need a score.

While at the lake, give thanks, show gratitude for this time and space. Let all the negative feelings pass through, and be purified by the water’s energy. Water is a purifier, washing away not only the physical, but cleansing energies that bring us down.

Nature heals itself, and points the way for us to embrace the healing. Is lakeside living for you? Let me know in the comments below.