What "Up North" Means To A Michigander

Once warm weather starts coming around in Michigan, the term "Up north" starts to get thrown around more than a Netflix password. For those just coming in contact with this piece of Michigan culture, welcome to the party. I'm hoping, for your sake, that you're hearing this hallowed phrase because you know someone who has a place "up north". For a Michigander, "up north" in the context of having property is usually a cabin or some other type of housing that can be, but is not always, on a lake. It's so much more than a dictionary definition, though.

Going up north is the pinnacle of treating yourself for many people in Michigan. It's a place so far removed from everyday life that it seems to be entirely separate from Michigan, itself. The drive is usually long, which plays a part in that. Beyond that, though, there's a change in the air when you get up north. Yes, it's typically colder, as geography dictates, but it's also not as heavy. During the day, the scent of the neighboring trees incorporates itself into the atmosphere. Your body almost seems to pull this air into the entirety of your lungs upon first getting out of the car, acclimating your body to the calm led by the breeze.

As night approaches at a cabin on the lake, the sunset becomes one of the most anticipated events of the day. Watching the rippling water imitate the form and changing color of the sun is accompanied by a distinct silence that covers the area in preparation for night. By time the stars come out, there's often at least a fire or two glowing softly in resistance to the night sky resting on the lake or the landscape.

As incredible as the area can be, one of the most important parts of going up north is the people you're with. When you don't go by yourself, you bring the people that help you bring on the good times. Also, sometimes people bring dogs, and everything just gets better from there. You have games, you have food and you also usually have some type of alcohol (not to be paired with the lake unless you're in a safe area with a designated sober person to watch you). Cornhole and cards (usually euchre) make an appearance about as frequently as bug bites do, and sometimes there's a boat involved. That means tubing and laying down in the boat while the soft rocking motion lets the clutter in your head wander off for a bit.

Whether it's on the lake or land-locked, "up north" is an escape from it all. Every time I find myself somewhere like that, the world kind of takes a back seat to relishing in the "up north" experience. I believe in balance in my life. Even the Romans did. In a certain style of housing, they had one part for business and one part for relaxation. When there's work, there must also be play. When there's stress, there must also be stress relief. In Michigan, the ultimate place for letting the work stay at home and treating yourself to a nice couple of days is found when you pack your car up and head for north.