Before we owned a cabin, we looked forward in somewhat nervous anticipation at each summertime weekend forecast. Looking for that “perfect forecast” so we could make a day trip to a nearby lake with the kids, and the dog, and the boat. Too much wind, too cloudy, too cool, possible storms in the afternoon. All of these could ruin the perfect forecast and prevent a “perfect day” at the lake. Sometimes we made the trip anyway and an unperfect forecast still led to some pretty fun days.
Then we bought a cabin and the whole outlook changed. We no longer need a perfect day or a perfect forecast. Even on a bad weather day, there are often breaks in the weather when we can get outside and enjoy the outdoors. If it’s raining, sit under the awning or the umbrella. If there is a short break in the rain, go down to the dock and catch a few perch on the fly rod. A half hour break in the clouds and that’s plenty of time for a run on the Sea-Doos. Even when its a bit windy, there’s calm water somewhere and one can move chairs to the opposite side of the cabin for a wind break, or sit down in the firepit area surrounded by trees.
Winter gives us a whole new set of activities. Walks along the trails and gravel roads, ice fishing, building a rink on the lake, snow tubing down the hill and out onto the ice. When it’s a little on the colder side, a step inside the cabin to warm up and maybe a hot chocolate can fuel you for some more brisk outdoor activities. On some winter days we have built a fire and enjoyed our beverages outside. Even the wildlife seem to a part of the fun.
Give us a day of perfect weather and we have all we could hope, the weather and the time to do anything we want, to have a perfect day. But that doesn’t stop us from having great days, with activities mixed in to match what the weather gives us.