My long-term plans were exactly as yours: Build a weekend cabin on the pond and retire to it "some day".
Well, my pond took so long to build that I'm ready to accelerate the process, sell my house, and live on my pond. I long for a simpler life, and don't need a big house any more. I've always loved log cabins, so maybe I'll buy a kit and roll my own. It couldn't be any worse than digging my own pond.
I would want mine real close to the pond, with a full-length porch facing it. The bullfrogs Could sing me to sleep every night.
