There’s little doubt that the desire to obtain thorough relaxation is a driving motivator for those who purchase vacation homes in Lake Geneva. Heck, it’s a driving motivator for anyone who purchases a vacation home anywhere for that matter. We live in a stressed out world, in stressful times, and yet we do our best to maintain our composure and function as productive members of society while stress from our job, our family, our finances, our socialistic president, and the thought of another long Chicago winter tears at our insides. As Frank Costanza famously said, “serenity now”. It’s that search for serenity that leads many to purchase a vacation home in Lake Geneva. That search for balance that so many of us just cannot quite obtain. Our collective search for a less stressful life is a boon for the economy, as we go about our days trying to do things, to buy things, to spend our time doing things that just might make us a teensy little bit more relaxed.
Quick. Imagine a fall weekend spent driving around the suburbs. Maybe a trip to Williams and Sonoma to buy that new Shun knife you’ve been eyeing for months. Traffic is bad, but it’s something you’ve learned to deal with quite nicely. Perhaps a stop at a roadside stand to buy a few pumpkins out of the back of some guys truck (by the way, my brother from Riverside called me this week to tell me that in Minneapolis, the kids in old trucks claiming that the pumpkins/squash/corn are from their parents farm are lying. It’s one guy who orchestrates 20 or so trucks throughout the Twin Cities…) What was I saying? Right. You’re buying some pumpkins, then home for dinner. Nothing particularly stressful about that day. Nothing really, considering you stopped at Starbucks for a quick coffee and chatted with a friend for most of the drive. The scenery, relatively dull, entirely the same, but not stressful really. It was, all in all, a fine day in the suburbs.
Now pick yourself up, and plop down an hour north and imagine a weekend in Lake Geneva. Maybe the same trip to Starbucks. Maybe a drive to Gordy’s for lunch, hugging the lakeshore along undulating, leaf littered lanes, and perhaps a little shopping at Clearwater Outdoor in the afternoon. A quick stop at Pearce’s to peruse the produce, and back home in time for dinner. The drive was pleasant. The fall colors set against the deep blue lake were really impressive, and the traffic a drop in the bucket compared to the suburban drive. You’re back home by 5 in time to roast some squash and grill a few steaks lakeside. On the surface, there’s not much different about the weekend spent in Lake Geneva when compared to the weekend spent back home. Yet somehow, you’re more relaxed at the lake. More at peace. Considerably less stressed out. The activities on this fall weekend were similar, well, except for that Sunday morning stroll down the shorepath followed by breakfast at lakeside Scuttlebutt’s, but other than that, the procedures were the same. Yet for some reason, you just feel better.
There’s a reason for that, and we have the University of Rochestor to thank for the explanation. In a study conducted by the university, people were shown computer images of natural landscapes, including lakes and forests, and prairies. They were then shown images of man-made items, like roadways, buildings, and bridges. They were told to focus on each picture, to do their best to explore the setting with their mind. To imagine themselves in the picture. After the imagination exercise, they completed questionnaires about the importance of individual values, like the value of wealth and fame, or relationships and community and the improvement of society. You’ll never guess which group perferred what. The more involved the individuals were in the natural settings, the lakes and streams, and shorepaths, the higher importance they placed on relationships, community, and family. The ones that opted for the man-made images were more interested in fame, wealth, and in turn, eschewed community and family.
The study is not profound in any way, and most would have assumed the outcome. Natural surroundings that are visually stimulating, brings out the best in us. It appeals to those of us who value family and seek to find a balance in our lives. Natural surroundings just make us happier, and in turn, less stressed and more relaxed. Oh, and 2 inches taller, more handsome, and decidely slimmer, but those claims aren’t as easy to substantiate…
If we all understand that vacation homes aid in easing the stresses of every day suburban or city life, then it is probably also assumed that any old sort of vacation setting will do. Some people make big, egregious Michstakes based on the premise that location doesn’t matter as much as state of mind. To those people, I have to point out the recent AP Stress Index Study. It’s a very interesting study that measurs the unemployment, foreclosure, and bankruptcy rates of a county to judge the “stress” factor of those counties. It’s a really neat index, and I’m afraid it’s just another study that Michigan is going to have to cover up. Remember, I’m only providing you this information in hopes of helping you relax and de-stress your life. The Stress Index for Walworth County, WI, home to the crown jewel that is Geneva Lake? 10.32. Really quite good. Walworth County, I give you a warm, but sturdy, pat on the back.
It should come as no surprise that 4 of the most financially stressed counties in the US are located in Michigan. I personally can’t wait to hear Mr. Allen explain that in his next commercial. What might come as a surprise to those of you contemplating a Michstake in Harbor Country, is the stress index for Berrien County, MI. Their index measures a whopping 15.29, which puts them so far behind Walworth County that I feel badly for even bringing it up. I prefer to do my relaxing in a county that shares my relaxation goals, and for my money, Walworth County is the better option.
For now, try to see what you can do about embracing relaxation, and seeing what an important roll a vacation home in Lake Geneva can play in that goal. Your Lake Geneva-less weekends may seem peaceful enough, but not when compared to a true Lake Geneva weekend. As Loyd Braun accurately pointed out, “serenity now, insanity later”. See you at the lake.