My Cabin: Safe Haven

In 1999, my husband, a friend and I were searching for a place that we could evacuate to during hurricane season. (We live in southern Louisiana.) We found a place near the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, in a little town called Independence, La.

The cabin was located at the end of a road, and it sat on top of a hill, surrounded by 20 acres of mostly wooded land with a creek running through the property.

The building itself was approximately 1,700 square feet with a concrete foundation. It also had its own well and a wood-burning stove. The main room, which consisted of a living, kitchen, dining and bedroom areas, was almost finished (the kitchen cabinets lacked doors).

It was the perfect place for us to use to shelter ourselves, our dogs and our families whenever we needed to escape.

During the next 15 years, we finished the main room and added a bedroom, a bathroom and a game room. We also planted any fruit-producing plant that would grow in our area. Now, each year we have fresh blueberries, blackberries, plums, peaches, pears and more.

Friends and family visit the cabin often, and we all enjoy barbeques, games of horseshoes and badminton, or just visiting.

And, when hurricanes like Katrina and Gustav hit our area, we have a wonderful place to stay and share.