My Future Lake house Playlist

A girl can only dream.

Illustrator: Khushi Sagar

Living so close to Canada’s Great Lakes my whole life, most of my summers have been spent exploring all the gorgeous wonders and sights they offer. From day trips to different provincial parks, bays, and coves, to the Lake Superior Circle tour, I don’t think I’ve ever summered too far away from the water.

I’d have to say that many of my earliest memories revolve around water. I think back to running down to the lake with all my cousins and any other kids in the area at the annual pow-wow, and evening swims when the water is warmer than the surrounding air. Water is everything and more, being that it is the giver of life, and it has always been a sustaining pillar to my summers growing up.

Luckily, even when summers transitioned from beach days and camping to working as much as possible, I managed to find the perfect job where I could explore waterways that people hadn’t seen for years. Not only that, but I have driven through all the small cottage towns in southwestern Ontario and walked the creeks that weave between the cute little homes. I can’t help but wonder what life would look like from within the walls and giant windows of these houses just parallel to beautiful bodies of water. I picture myself tanning with a book on a lounge chair in the middle of the day as I wade through rivers covered in bug spray and searching for invasive species.

I’m sure most can understand the picture I am trying to paint here, the perfect summer days and driving with the windows down. The cool breeze on your face as you watch all the houses fly by while dreaming about the future. Visiting someone else's cottage and enjoying the lingering sweet smell of fresh flowers and pine trees. An endless summer vacation. Wondering if it’ll ever be yours.

Now pair these daydreams with my obsession with music and need to create a new playlist for every possible scenario, and you get a whole collection of songs that from year to year, build the image of how I would spend my days if I had a house on a lake. From picking up new hobbies to dancing around the kitchen, I can see these songs fitting into my perfect hazy summer soundtrack.

Of course, my cozy mornings would start with sipping a cup of coffee while “Blueberries For Breakfast” by The Mamas and The Papas plays in the background. Basking in the warmth of the rising sun and leisurely getting ready for the day ahead. My afternoons would be filled with the likes of George Harrison and The Sundays - my favourite artists to have on shuffle while floating around doing anything or nothing at all. My day would be rounded out with “Peach Pit” by Peach Pit and “Saturn” by SZA as I watch the sky become painted with breathtaking shades of pink while the sun sets in the distance.

As yet another summer wraps up, I have hope that these dreams are getting closer and closer. Who knows what the future holds but me and my army of playlists are ready for wherever I end up - as long as it's close to some body of water.