#howilake

Many enjoy the lake through watersports - their families are all about wakeboarding, wakesurfing and numerous other such sports. But there are those who are not as interested in watersports and prefer to pass their lake days in other more relaxing ways, i.e. entertaining, reclining in a hammock on the dock, sitting in an adirondack chair on the porch with a great book, grilling outside, playing fun family games like corn hole, hanging out on the dock all day, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and a myriad of other ways.  This is relatable to our team who are all of different view points on how to enjoy lake life.  Some are longtime lake area visitors from nearby cities and some actually have the privilege of living lakeside.

​After observing constant flair ups on social media where lake folks seemed to air grievances on Facebook lake groups and get into long commentary and debate pitting pontoons vs fishermen vs wake boats, and part-timers vs weekenders vs locals, or grilling out vs heading off to a lake spot for a bite to eat, etc., The Lakeside Life team decided a mission for us to concentrate on would be UNITY. Unity in everything.  Unity in bringing folks together to celebrate EVERY kind of lake experience.  At least we could show how everyone does it differently.

But, a mission is one thing.  So, how to take things a step further? How could everyone learn to respect and love their fellow lakers even when they didn't "lake" the same way? Could we all open our minds and hearts to understand why others love the lake the way they do? The dream became about mixing cultures, lifestyles, interests, sports, and creating an understanding and respect for all the ways others enjoy a lake life best suited for themselves.  

Over time, the concept became the birth of the #howilake section of our magazine and social media. And, we are keeping in mind our small business owners and how for many of them, the lake is what allows them to make a living. We also like to imagine the people who were here when the lake first filled up behind the Lewis Smith Lake Dam by early September 1961, and how it has changed their lives and landscape over the years.

---

With all this in mind, we rolled out the How I Lake section of the magazine back in our very first sample edition released October 2017. Since, it has become a standard of our magazine as well as a social media hashtag.

Would you like your #howilake story featured in the magazine? Click the link here and fill out the form!  Let's show others how to lake in every way - it's ALL the right way! 

In the meantime, see you lakeside!  

Updated:  04/2020