Sometimes it seems like being at the cottage is all about people–guests, family, neighbours, friends (and, sigh, friends of friends) all packed in and creating a never-ending atmosphere of happy chaos. There’s something awesome about being the host with the most–but sometimes, there’s something equally awesome about stepping away from all the visitors and enjoying a little peace and quiet, all alone. Here are our top reasons why solitude at the cottage is a wonderful thing.
Go at your own pace
Want to sleep until noon? Or wake up at 4 a.m. and eat popcorn? When you’re on your own at the cottage, you call the shots. You can stay in bed, or spend all day sitting on the dock looking at the water. You can stay up until 3 a.m. reading mysteries, and not worry about turning off the light. Just maybe avoid the horror stories until you’ve got company.
Enjoy the peace and quiet
Happy chatter, music, and laughter are great parts of being at the cottage with friends and family–but there’s nothing like the thick blanket of calm that wraps around you when the talk stops and you’re left alone with nothing but the sound of the wind, water, and birds. The silence at the cottage reminds you that you’re far, far away from the city, and if you’re lucky, there won’t be a rogue lawnmower or stereo to remind you of civilization. Grab a glass of wine or a cold drink, sit outside under the stars, and reconnect with nature.
Do anything you want
Do you feel like you never get enough time to do exactly what you want? When you’re on your own at the cottage you can go ahead and spend eight hours straight doing a jigsaw puzzle. You can ignore the deck that needs staining (and the nagging voice that suggests you get it finished) or spend all day happily tinkering on projects around the property. Feel like dancing naked in the living room to the Rolling Stones? Go for it–just close the curtains if you’ve got inquisitive neighbours.
Ignore the rules of polite society
Go ahead–burp, pass gas, pee with the bathroom door open, wear nothing but underwear all day, scratch embarrassing places. When you’re on your own, you don’t have to be shackled by propriety. Let it all hang out! If you’re lucky and your neighbours are gone too, try a little skinny dipping–being naked in the water is pretty glorious.
Eat whatever you want
When you don’t have to worry about other people, you can abandon the “musts” of eating. Who says you have to have meat and vegetables for dinner? Eat pancakes at every meal if you like. Cheese and crackers is perfectly acceptable at 2 a.m. Try pie for breakfast. Go ahead and eat whatever you want, whenever you’re hungry. Chances are, you won’t be on your own long enough to develop scurvy or gain 20 pounds, so go ahead and relax about food for a little while. Eat healthy if you want to, but if you want to eat nothing but chips and dip, go for it.
How do you enjoy alone time at the cottage?
