A few (literally two) doors down from our lake house rental is a beautiful and new home on a small piece of property. We’ve only been here ourselves, just over a month so I can’t say how long it was for sale, or if the house was a renovation of an existing house, or a brand new build.

When we first moved onto the lake we could still hear a little bit of work going on up there - either to the decks or within the house. And we’ve certainly wandered up the road and seen the house from the driveway, but hadn’t yet ventured further.

Last week the for sale sign came down. There’s no way that house sold for less than $450,000, so I don’t want to hear anyone screaming about the Canadian recession.

In fact even though we are 3 hours away from Ottawa and Toronto, most of the houses around here - even without lake access - are in the upper 300,000s - and, although I don’t know the value of this rental house, I do know it can’t be more than 15 years old, has been beautifully maintained and has one of the prettiest views around Jade Bay. I’ve heard stories of the gardens and can barely wait for the snow to lift so I can see what’s growing there!

Although I don’t know the new owners on the hill, or what they do for a living, I did hear them last night. I think they were celebrating their new home, from the hot tub. It’s the first time I’ve heard anyone nearby at night, lakeside or roadside, and I only heard them because I was outside at the time. Not a peep could be heard from within the house.

It’s such a quiet and peaceful spot here.