WETSU South is now available to rent on Airbnb.
Even though we rented a cottage every summer, I never remember my parents talking about buying their own. It wasn’t even a remote thought that we’d have our own cottage – we didn’t have that kind of money.
But somehow, I always knew I wanted to have a cottage. One of my favorite things to do in my 20’s when living in a 2-bedroom apartment in Chicago was go antiquing – hunting for treasures. My Grandmother and my mom had a lot of antiques, and I loved a Sunday trip to the country to walk the rows of dealers. I also loved an estate sale!
On The Hunt
On these trips, I would find something at a good deal, buy it and say “this will be great for the cottage”…that I did not have. Over the years, I found amazing things…a ratan sofa for $35; a Crate & Barrel folding table for $10; a Chair for $25; a sofa for free; a linen cabinet in the alley…free; dishes, pots, pans, glasses, silverware; vintage oil paintings and cute prints. I’d spend my evenings repainting furniture white, for the [eventual] cottage.
Then in 1999 I went out with a realtor to just “look” in an area that was about 90 minutes from Chicago – New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside or “Harbor Country” as it’s referred to. I did not have a lot of money and I would have to refinance my condo for the downpayment and rent it in order to afford it. Still, I was undaunted.
Fixer Upper Beach House
We saw one place that was kind of a fixer upper – it was winter, and a pipe had recently burst, so someone was in there pulling up white shag carpet, there were mirrors on the walls and super modern furniture. It was a two-bedroom one bath, huge open great room/kitchen and what looked like could be an awesome three-season porch. It was part of an 8-unit Co-op which sat on 5 acres of beautiful land – just steps to the white sand beaches of Lake Michigan.
After thinking about it for a few days I kept saying to myself…”it’s kind of perfect”. And it was fairly affordable—they were asking $118K but I was sure I could get it down. I made an offer, and we finally agreed to $94K. When I took possession in April and moved in my accumulated finds from all my antique trips the only things I had to purchase were mattresses and some kitchen essentials – all that stuff that I thought would be “perfect for the cottage” really was perfect for the cottage.
Paradise, Just 90 Minutes from Chicago
It is small, but truly an awesome place – far enough from Chicago to be a get-away, but close enough that you’re not spending hours in the car on a Friday night.
Over the years, other friends ended up buying places in the area and we formed a tight-knit community that would meet at a restaurant Friday night, then spend the next day at the beach then dinner at someone’s house or just stay on the beach and do an impromptu beach dinner. Every season was awesome, but during the summer we would be at the Cottage every weekend. Even staying for a quiet, peaceful Sunday evening and leaving early on Monday to head back to the city to start the work week.
When we bought in Union Pier, my mom was afraid we’d never make it up to visit them in Traverse City. The truth is I love both places, but a 5-1/2 or 6-hour drive is not sustainable every weekend. We still managed to get “Up North” to Traverse City about three times a summer, and truly enjoyed the deep fresh waters of Long Lake, days spent on the pontoon boat and late, summer dinners.
WETSU! WETSU!
XO JT
