Lake Norman’s shoreline rambles through Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba and Lincoln counties. The Catawba River meanders through the Carolinas for 450 miles, becoming the Wateree, the Santee and, finally, the Cooper River just before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston. But while architecture, good schools, and health care are important, they’re not what draw people to live on the lake. Lake living is about savoring the constantly changing panorama of wind, water, and light, listening to bullfrog serenades and the lullaby of gently lapping waves, or waking to bird songs or the honking of ducks and Canada geese. It’s the thrill of a telltale tug on the end of your line or stripping off your tie or high heels at the end of a long day and plunging into the cool, green water at one of two beach’s, or sailing into a brilliant sunset. It’s about Christmas caroling by boat and the smell of grilling steaks seasoned with the scent of engine oil aboard a gently bobbing pontoon boat. In fact, one of the first things most newcomers do is buy or rent a boat to experience those pleasures. There are nearly a dozen marinas that offer wet or dry boat storage beginning at around $1,000 a year. Many are also boat dealers. For those who want to be skipper for a day, Holiday Harbor and Kings Point Marinas in Cornelius rent all types of boats, from sailboats to pontoons.