I don’t have a cottage, or as around here a cabin, but a friend does that we use. She is single and inheirated it a few years ago. She got tired quickly of the constant upkeep (it is in a snow zone)–it felt like she never got to relax there. Her system seems to be working for her. What she did was do a signup genius account and invited about 5 families to use the place. The deal is that every person who goes up works one hour of upkeep for each day you are there. We do a family work afternoon. My kids LOVE raking the pine needles for hours. My husband has hung curtains, fixed the shower, etc. We love it. I will say her kids are less enthusiastic about other people using their beds.
That sounds like a unique and good idea, @TempeMom, assuming one’s friends work abilities and skills are up to one’s standards.
My BIL and his wife owned a condo in the same area as our shore house. We’d run into each other every month or two in the winter, and lots in the summer. Our kids loved seeing their cousins. But BIL and SIL split up a couple years ago and had to sell the condo (was hoping one could keep it.) So now we don’t often see them or the nieces. I wish they’d consulted ME first, lol–I’d have ordered them to stay together!