It's Time To Go Home From Our Home

 It's been a very quick two weeks since we arrived at our home away from home on the outskirts of Hackensack, Minnesota. And now we pack our gear and clean the cabin awaiting for the summer of 2024 when we again return. We've been coming 'Up North' for the past 29 years and with age comes change. I was 48 years old when we bought the cabin. A realtor friend from across Ten Mile Lake called us in Ohio and said, "If you want a lake place at a good price you'd better buy now." Thinking back on the phone call her 'good price' was $94,000. Today, it seems like a steal.

The reason for the cabin being for sale was the owner. He, a single guy, put salt licks in the front yard. He'd sit on the porch and shoot the deer when they came to do their licking thingy. The neighbor folks banned together and like Old West vigilantes they ran the guy out. 

We've made improvements over the years and some have been expensive but our cabin is now a home. Actually, it's Her Majesty's home; her Fortress of Solitude if you will. Every summer she comes up by herself for a month. I understand this. She needs to recharge her batteries after dealing with yours truly for eleven months.

I noticed one significant change in my attitude from days gone by. I don't need to be constantly entertained be it golfing, or fishing or carousing in the local beer joints which are aplenty. These days my favorite thing to do at the lake is to-------well, see for yourself.

I'll grab a chair and sit around the fire pit. It it's at night we'll have the obligatory fire. On most nights, because we're in north country, if you tilt your head back and look up you'll see literally millions of stars. They absolutely blanket the skies.

The Queen and I had a conversation this morning about our plans for next year and where we'll be. It's feasible we might be here because the serenity of living in the woods is overwhelming. It is important, however, that we do not trek to this part of the world until the last week of May for the following reason. I've included a photo of our cabin taken last May 15, See what I mean?

We hoping for safe travels. It's been a good two weeks.