Growing up most summers were spent at the lake and if we weren't at the lake we were getting ready to go to the lake. The lake has become the worlds most peaceful place for me, I have not a care in the world. So growing up it is no surprise my greatest memories were at the lake or on a boat. If you grew up going to the lake you'll relate with these 13 things.

1. Shoes on the dock.

I don't know how many times my dad yelled at us for not wearing shoes on the dock. All though walking on the dock felt like hot coals we did not care. We were at the lake and there are no shoes at the lake.

2. Life jackets...

Maybe it was just my parents but we weren't allowed near the water or dock without a life jacket. If we went on the dock without one you could forget about tubing that day.

3. Tubing.

Thumbs up to go faster and thumbs down to go slow. We had signs but dad didn't listen it was only fast. He'd love to see how long it'd take to flip my brother in the tube. While my sister and I, when we'd go fast, was non stop giggles. We use to think it was the funniest thing ever when the tube sucked your legs into the back and you'd get stuck. Oh and who could forget the fights about who gets to go tubing first.

4. Late night boat rides.

I lived for those!

5. Everyone has designated seats on the boat.

My sister and I had very specific seats on the boat and there was no changing.

6. Lunches in coolers.

For lunch, you can count on hot dogs or hamburgers with soda. Those were the best.

7. There is that one ice cream place that you go to every time you at the lake.

My families was Andy's ice cream.

8. You could read a map of the lake and knew the different rules before you learned about the road.

I knew exactly where the good coves were and you knew you had to follow the unsaid no wake zones by it. You learned about courtesy of fellow boaters before driving. On the rare occasion when you wanted to go to a new cove you could help dad read a map.

9. You know where all the good coves are and the party coves.

Speaking of coves, besides flying down the lake in the boat (at speed limit of course), going and swimming in coves was the best.

10. R.I.P. to all the things you have dropped in the lake.

But thank goodness dad had a tiny floatation device on his keys.

11. There is nothing more beautiful than a sunset on the lake.

12. When you drive past lake houses in the boat, saying which one is "yours."

13. All I need to say is when it rains on the boat...

There is no happier place than the lake.