July 12th, 2025

For me, lake life isn’t just about the water, the sunsets, or the smell of campfire in your hair—though I love all of those things. It’s about connection. It’s about tradition. And it’s about finding peace in a world that doesn’t slow down unless you make it.

My lake life began at Lake Mississagagon, tucked away in the township of North Frontenac, Ontario. If you’ve been, you know—Mississagagon isn’t just a lake. It’s a feeling. It’s a rhythm. It’s a second heartbeat that only kicks in when you’re off the grid and fully present.

That journey started with a friendship I never saw coming. Years ago, I met Dee Lancaster at her cousin Sherri’s bachelorette party. We were two single girls invited to Stephen and Sherri’s destination wedding in the Dominican. Neither of us wanted to travel solo, so Sherri, knowing we’d get along smashingly suggested we room together. With only one night of meeting under our belts, we said, why not?

We had a blast. We laughed. We danced. We made memories. And from that trip, a lifelong friendship was born.

Dee invited me to Lancasters Resort that May long weekend. I didn’t hesitate. Before long, I bought into lake life—literally. My first trailer sat nestled in the back woods, full of bugs and bliss. Seven hours from home, it quickly became my slice of peace and my go-to destination.

Eventually, my parents joined. Then Ryan. And today, we both have our own trailers—our own little corners of Mississagagon where summer lives, memories are made, and stress melts into the shoreline.

For a long time, it was one of the few places I could go and completely disconnect. No emails, no updates, no endless scrolling—just trees, laughter, and the lull of the water. The internet eventually made its way there, but the lake? The lake never changed.

Over the years, we’ve raised our kids together—multiple families, sharing summers. They’ve grown up swimming off docks, roasting marshmallows, catching frogs, playing manhunt, and learning that joy doesn’t require a screen. They’ve built friendships and a sense of belonging that’s rooted in sand, sunshine, and shared stories.

We’ve celebrated milestones. We’ve supported each other through tough times. We laughed until we cried and cried when we needed each other most. And still, through it all—the lake stays the same.

That’s what lake life means to me.

It’s a constant in a world that’s always moving.
It’s a reset button.
It’s community.
It’s comfort.
It’s freedom.
It’s home.

I will always cherish Lake Mississagagon—for the friendships it gave me, the family it became, and the memories it continues to make. Lake life is more than a summer hobby—it’s a lifestyle. And I’m so lucky it’s part of mine.