How to keep cottage life simple
Many Atlantic Canadians have a home away from home, where we escape for weekends, vacations and, sometimes (if we’re lucky), the entire summer.
It’s quite common in these parts to have second homes in the woods, by a lake or overlooking the beautiful ocean. But how do we keep the transition from home to cottage a seamless one? And how do we keep our second homes from becoming a dumping ground for items we no longer want or need at home?
BRING ONLY WHAT YOU NEED
Treat your cottage as if you were renting it for a weekend. You want the basics and necessities, but not too much clutter and stuff that causes you angst. It’s OK if you don’t have every single kitchen gadget in the drawer. How many towels would there be if you were renting? Would the kitchen cupboards be stuffed to overflowing?
DECLUTTER AND DONATE
Don’t downsize your stuff by relegating unwanted items to the RV or cottage. I’m not talking about the well-used sweater that becomes a go-to grab for bonfires and beach walks. I’m referring to your unused kitchen items — think crockpots and serving dishes — that you’re just not using at home anymore.
They will be in your way in the limited storage areas of the RV or cottage and they will probably not be used there, either. Purge regularly. You’d be surprised how many local markets, non-profits and second-hand shops will take donations of used books, puzzles and games your family has outgrown. Once a year, we create donation bags of clothing, sleeping bags and towels that cottage guests have left behind.
PLAN AHEAD
I buy in bulk as much as possible for weekends at our cottage. The largest rolls of tinfoil for barbecuing and the largest pump bottle of soap means we won’t run out when the nearest store is 30 minutes away. If you grab that last marshmallow at the campfire or that final squeeze of barbecue sauce at the grill, be sure to put them on your cottage grocery list. I make a list on my phone so I won’t forget.
SET THE SCENE
Create a staging area at home where all the things that are slated for the cottage or RV will go. This includes items like laundered sheets, the items from your cottage grocery list, bottled water, campfire snacks, food coolers, etc.
COLOUR CODE
This seems somewhat simplistic, but my towels at the cottage are a different colour than the ones at home. My plastic food containers for leftovers have red lids at home and blue ones at the cottage. If I bring leftovers home from the cottage, the dishes make their way to the proper location. Once the container is emptied and cleaned, it goes to the staging area.
DECIDE TO DELEGATE
Don’t waste your valuable time doing things you really don’t like to do at your second home. Hiring a local teenager to mow your lawn or weed the garden for you before you arrive is an inexpensive way to feel organized when you walk in the door. You won’t feel like there is a long to-do list hanging over your head. Focus on the things you truly enjoy, like spending time outdoors, relaxing and having fun with friends and family.
Lisa Macdonald-Faulkner has been a professional organizer in HRM for almost a decade. She is passionate about helping people clear the clutter and get aboard the organized train. Connect with her about premove purges, estate organizing and your dusty boxes.