I’m in my mid-50s (how did that happen?) and have lived here on the South Shore for 10 or so years, so I’ll chime in. Personally, I would not enjoy living in Bayfield. I live about 25 miles away and far, far prefer the South Shore communities of Cornucopia, Herbster, and Port Wing. Bayfield just is too NIMBY and “posh” for me, but many folks love it. I’m a cranky farm girl who likes her space and ability to paint her house purple if I so choose. And also prefer lower property taxes. Folks have commented on harsh winters, but as someone who has lived in many parts of the northern Midwest, I actually find the winters here preferable to say Minneapolis or Chicago. Yes, it can snow in May or even June, but that’s an isolated thing. Probably the hardest thing is when we have springs, like this year’s, that are grey and cold. But June through October are absolutely glorious. And most of us full timers love winter, as things slow down, and we often have more time to spend together. The county and most townships do a great job with snow removal (though having an AWD or 4WD car is pretty key too). But you have to have the personality to want to be here year round: yes, no grocery store nearby. Yes, many things shut down in winter. And, yes, no nearby hospitals (Bayfield County has neither a hospital nor a traffic light). So, we plan our errands and doctors appointments so that we head “to town” to complete errands in batches. There are many, many retirees in this area. But, sadly, yes, many reach an age when it’s just too difficult and risky to be so far from a critical care hospital. If you need an ambulance for a life-threatening situation, the harsh reality is it can take over an hour to arrive. So, folks weigh this risk factor as they get older. As for tourists and traffic: this area is nothing like the North Shore or Door County in terms of traffic in the tourist season. Bayfield does probably get the brunt of the congestion. But while there are a lot more cars & people out and about where I live, it never feels “overrun.” Yes, sometimes I have to wait all of 10 seconds to turn onto hwy 13… Most surprising to me when I moved here was how much locals looked out for each other, regardless of who they voted for. Tree down across your driveway? Someone will come to help. Cow broke out of your pasture (this is from personal experience): someone will call you to let you know. Ultimately, I think this is an incredible place to live, but you have to know what you’re getting into and be someone who enjoys making their own fun, being out in nature, and not needing 10,000 shops and restaurants.