Peaceful Lakeside Chalet

About Our Home

Ours is a rustic cedar-sided, cathedral-ceilinged open-plan chalet offering views of our Lake RomeRock cove, and parklike environsl. Our fifteen foot outboard runabout could be left in the water at dockside if you wish - where it would be available for sunset cruises, fishing expeditions, waterfront tours of the many residential coves - a feature of Roaming Shores - or (if you are energetic) water-skiing. We own a small (like a sunfish) sailboat which can be put in and pulled back out whenever you wish, as well. The home features thermostat-controled natural gas heat and whole-house air-conditioning and two wood-burning fireplaces (one in the kitchen/dining area of the great room and the other in the library area). There is a wood deck just off the great room accessed via sliding doors. There is a two-car attached garage, but it also contains that outboard runabout (if it's not in the water) and a workshop, another library of sorts, and lots of stowed stuff - so there is mostly only room for parking out on the driveway. Our fifth-wheel trailer and pickup truck will be parked there, too, but are not part of the swap. For transport - use the Buick. It's a wide, paved driveway - no parking problem - even with all the vehicles. There is a third 'bedroom', but we've converted it to a laundry room and it contains only a loft-style bunk bed for sleeping now. We use another bedroom as a den - dedicated to the home-theater system - it contains a queen-sized futon. The main bedroom connects directly to one of the two bathrooms and the laundry (third bedroom) off a hall accessed through the library-wall end of the great room. The house works well for the two of us, but could accomodate the five persons listed by utilizing all of the potential beds in the house.

Special Considerations

Cleaning, trash, and our plants: We'd ask you to keep the place clean while you live here. Trash disposal is weekly, at the street, on Monday morning. The trash bin needs wheeled to the edge of the apron at street-side by 8:00 for the truck to pick it up unfailingly. Any trash placed therein should be in plastic bags. As the bin is kept by us right beside the fifth-wheel trailer, in plain sight, not fifteen feet from the street - sometimes the guys will come and get it, even if you forget, but don't count on it. We employ an Amish housekeeper, of whom we think highly. Our arrangement with her includes that we pick her up and drive her home (about a 25 mile round-trip) AND that she brings along her three small children. She supervises them well - they are no trouble (actually kind of a pleasure). She waters our hanging plant in the library (using the library-ladder for access). If you wish, we can arrange a similar housecleaning for you (e.g., with the same arragements - though we would pay for it). Failing her services, we'd ask you to perform that task every two weeks - taking the basket from its' hook in the ceiling and giving it a watering in the bathtub - then returning it to the hook. KittyKat: Our cat is an indoor pet - that's what we think. He wishes otherwise. Even when a door is opened only long enough for one to pass through he is able to dash outside. Check to see if he is lurking before you go out, please (also when entering, look out). Never stand with the door open. A horrible fate might befall him if he gets out as he is not used to being on his own - he has survived 12 years to date, but there's always next time. He is friendly, not mean, but will likely hide-out until he gets to know you better. Then he can become a bit cloying - his favorite perch is on our chests (I'm not talking furniture). You, of course, don't have to put up with this behavior - set him down. He gets a bowlful of Purina Cat Chow everyday, please, and see that his water dispenser is kept full (it holds a gallon). His litter box needs changingt. We bag it in a plastic disposable shopping bag (such kept on the shelf of the laundry) and toss it in the trash bin. You'll know when it's time the same way we do. All this stuff is kept in the laundry/third bedroom. So that door should never be closed unless KittyKat is inside (and he won't like that - scratching on the door to get out - but at least he'll have what he needs in there). His name, actually, (think 007 introducing himself) is Kat - Kitty Kat. He is a good mouser. Recreation: Unless you are comfortable with, and familiar with, boats it might be best NOT to employ any use thereof. I'm thinking safety here. Official rules of navigation are enforced by lake-patrol law officials as well. Special rules, for Lake RomeRock, include that all coves are no-wake zones and even the main lake is a no-wake zone after dusk. That means go slow. Travel on the water is always to be in a counter-clockwise direction (i.e., even when water skiing the three-mile continuous loop that is available). Keep the near-shore to starboard (your right), but not too near. Twenty feet from shore is considered swimmers' area - one doesn't want to be pulling water-skiers at forty miles per hour where folks might be swimming. Other than those no-wake zones, the lake has no horsepower, nor speed, limits. Watch out for other boaters - unpowered boats have the right of way. Also, it can get pretty shallow close to shore. Though the lake is only 550 acres of water surface, it is still six miles long and has numerous, similarly-appearing, long twisting coves (hence the community name - Roaming Shores). it is quite possible to become disoriented, even lost, for a newcomer. One is never out of sight of shore (both shores) and even a storm will cause, at most, ripples on the water - never waves - but it could be embarrassing to need to ask directions of a passing boater or a shore-dweller. We are in a residential association (like condominiums - except all homes are single-family dwellings on individually-owned lots). The community property includes a number of recreation lots (for access to the lake by non-lakeside owners - not you, ours is lakefront property) parks, picnic areas, swimming pools, tennis courts, pavilions and a clubhouse. There are twenty-three miles of private, paved lanes - perfect for bicycling because there ARE speed limits (25 mph) and no traffic most of every day. All those lanes are residential, though hardly cookie-cutter in design. It is possible to complete a twenty-mile circuit by bicycle without any backtracking. Two miles from our home is an access-point to the Ashtabula County Greenway - a 70+ mile Lake-to-River hiking/bicycle trail - now paved for much of its' length. That's Lake Erie (one of the Great Lakes - a natural wonder in its' own right) and the Ohio River - famed in song and story. Fishing is an important activity. Any day during the season will find visits to our cove by boats carrying fisher-folk - often trying the waters right off our dock. Our neighbor across the cove has called ours 'the best bass-hole on the lake'. It's fun to watch from our swings, hammock, deck, or dock. No license is required, incidentally, for any person fishing off his own dock or shore (though a State-of-Ohio license IS required to fish from a boat). As official guests, you wil be considered as 'owners'. I think the plan will be to obtain guest-passes for you. You will need show them whenever using the community property, if asked by a gate-guard. You are likely to be asked when entering a swimming pool. You will never be asked while on your property. You will need a key for the tennis courts. The clubhouse is only open for community events - not for casual use. There are community docks at the beaches, the clubhouse, the Paradise Bay Cafe (a nice place for a beer or a light meal while being served at a table on the deck overlooking the Marina Cove), and the (privately-owned and operated) Rock Point Marina. Roaming Shores, an incorporated village separate from but entirely contiguous with the property-owners association population, has its' own police force that patrols the community and can be helpful in need. Use: The supplies and amenities of the house are yours to use; surround-sound home theater system in the den with its' satelite TV service, stereo system in the library, kitchen appliances and kitchen ware, tableware, books in the library, pianos (if you play), games, the pool table, the exercise bike, boats (as discussed) and (if we work it out) the Buick. The main issues there will likely be, once again, safety. Unless we can exchange with fellow bicycle tourists (who would swap bicycles with us, perhaps) we will likely take our bikes with us. Our Buick is old (2003 model year)but in good repair and reliable. On the deck is a nice umbrella table and surprisingly comfy metal rocking/dining chairs. There is a kettle-type fire/barbeque pit that, regretably, fills with water when it rains and needs to be bailed out. The hammock by the edge of the 10-foot cliff at lakeside is a fine place to relax, or nap. Use care getting in or out - you do not want to tip-out on the cliff side. No Use: The fifth-wheel trailer, and the pickup truck, parked on the driveway are not part of the exchange. You actually will need a car. Nothing is really within walking distance. The village of Rock Creek, with convenience shopping, the post office, a local branch of the county library system, a couple of restaurants and bars, and the elementary school is three miles down Hayford road. Jefferson, the county seat - but still a village for all that - is seven miles to the north-east. Chardon, Ashtabula, Geneva, Andover (all 'cities', but not large) are, each, about 25 miles distant at various compass points. For any real shopping, high-level dining, night-life, professional sports or other entertainment one needs head toward Cleveland, and its' variety of ethnic neighborhoods and suburban sprawl - a good hour west. There is plenty to enjoy RELATIVELY nearby, but one is decidedly NOT 'in town' here. We refer to more than one other car on the road with us as a traffic jam.

Nearby

Member since:	Jun 2012
Availability:	Depends on the offer
Prior exchanges:	0

1. We are a retired couple, nearing age 70, with three adult (and out of the home) children. The children will not be in the 'exchange party'.
2. Bob was a music teacher who is still actively involved in early music, dixieland clarinet, and choir-singing. Bettie's main interest is our children and grandchildren.
3. Earlier in our lives together we were avid cycle-tourists, and we hope to return to that - within the limitations age and health now impose.