Last fall I reserved a small home in Hermosa Beach, California for a break from winter in March and I am writing this blog post with a view of the Pacific and the sound of the waves crashing. Being a real estate broker and not having a guaranteed income, it is hard to take time away from Alexandria but historically this is the time of year when showing activity is slower for lake homes so I felt a little more comfortable in being in a different time zone. I also have great partners at Counselor Realty that will step in for me if needed. And with the Internet, I am still working.
My location in California is actually closer to the Manhattan Beach Pier (the photo above was taken by me yesterday underneath it) than the Hermosa Beach Pier. If you are familiar with Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, right out my door is where the Strand at Hermosa Beach splits into two paths (one for pedestrians and the other for people on wheels) at Manhattan Beach.
Right across the road from where I am staying is the home of retired NHL player Marty McSorley. He, his wife and three kids have a beautiful beachfront home. Having played hockey myself, I looked forward to meeting him as I had enjoyed watching him and his Oiler teammates dominate the NHL for many years. But the only time I would see him outside is in the mornings and evenings when he is playing with his kids and I didn’t want to disturb him.
This morning the waves were smaller and the wind light so I went out for some time on my Stand Up Paddleboard. After finishing I passed by Marty’s and he was alone outside sweeping his driveway so I stopped to introduce myself. He is a very nice guy and I had an enjoyable talk with him. He told me last summer that he had rented a cabin at a lake in Ontario because life at the lake is tough to beat and he knew his relatives would visit and his kids would get to know their cousins, aunts and uncles better. I told him that is so true. I’ve heard it again and again from lake home buyers that a big reason they are looking to buy a lake home is to have a family meeting place. Speaking from my own family experience, it is 100% true. Buying a lake home facilitates getting to know your family better and build a collection of memories.
