Life Remote: Working From the Lake

There’s something special about waking up at the lake and knowing your workday starts with a view of calm water instead of a wall. Earlier this summer, Jen and I packed up the dogs and headed to my parents’ place on Long Lake near Park Rapids, Minnesota — my hometown and theirs. They’ve built a beautiful life there, the kind that comes from decades of good choices, teamwork, and a shared vision.

Above their garage sits “the apartment,” a simple wood‑paneled room with a plywood floor, an old college couch, a bed on a raised platform, and a window AC unit that hums through the night. It’s not fancy, but it’s perfect. It’s the kind of space that reminds you comfort doesn’t have to be complicated.

We left Grand Forks after work on Thursday, July 2nd, so we could wake up at the lake Friday morning. The weekend kicked off with plenty of laughs and more than a few beers “it’s a bad day to be a beer” became the unofficial slogan. That night, Jen and I handled dinner: smoked chicken quarters, sweet corn, and my aunt Sue’s legendary cheesy potatoes. It tasted like summer.

The holiday weekend was a steady flow of family. My cousin Sam and her husband RG brought their sons. My aunt Sue and uncle Dave came by for a lake day with more cousins and grandkids. My mom, who is probably the source of my love for hosting, made sure everyone felt welcome.

And then the sun rose on Monday and “reality” set in. It was back to work.

Working remotely was new for my parents. They weren’t sure when I was “at work” and when I wasn’t, but they tried hard to respect the boundaries. My dad even popped out one morning while I was in a meeting to ask if I wanted Chinese food at 9:15 a.m. which made everyone laugh.

My work setup changed depending on the day. Internal team calls happened out on the deck in the cool mornings. Client meetings were taken from my dad’s office overlooking the lake. Most of my actual work happened in the apartment, partly because it was quiet and partly because it made it easier to keep track of the dogs.

Going from a four‑monitor, high‑powered gaming PC at home to a single laptop screen was a shock. I eventually figured out how to use my tablet as a second monitor, which helped, but it still felt like trying to do surgery with a pocketknife. The apartment’s Wi‑Fi struggled at first too, but my dad jumped on the problem immediately and extended their mesh system.

My daily rhythm settled into something that felt almost too good to be true. I’d start the morning with a swim with the dogs or a quick boat ride to try and catch a few largemouth bass. During one of those trips, I ended up rescuing a bat that had crash‑landed in the water. After that, it was coffee and emails on the deck, then into the apartment when I needed to lock in, or up to my dad’s office for client calls.

It felt different from working at home, in the best way. I was more relaxed. I had people around me. Jen had taken the week off and spent her time knitting while I worked, and she was always there to bounce ideas off of. The lake made everything feel lighter. But nature can also be distracting. When the water is glass calm and the loons are calling, it’s hard to convince yourself that spreadsheets matter.

Working from the lake is a stark contrast to my home office, which is in my basement with little to no natural light. My basement forces me to lock in. The lake invites me to breathe. Both have their place, but only one lets you swim before work, during lunch, and after you clock out.

We headed back to Grand Forks on Saturday, July 11th, sunburned, relaxed, and grateful. Working from the lake reminded me that remote work isn’t just about flexibility — it’s about freedom. Freedom to choose where you work, who you’re around, and what kind of view you want while you do it.

Tips for Working Remotely at the Lake

1. Set Clear Boundaries With the People Around You

When you work remotely, your team knows exactly when you’re busy — they see your Slack status, your calendar, your meetings, all of it. But people in real life don’t have that context, and that’s on me to manage. Just because I’m sitting in the kitchen answering emails doesn’t mean I’m off the clock or able to jump in and help with cooking. I had to explain that I can talk and work at the same time, but I can’t stop working. Once I set those expectations, the whole week felt smoother.

2. Build a Flexible Workspace and Rotate Based on the Task

The lake isn’t a single workspace — it’s a collection of them. Use the deck for internal calls, the quiet room for focused work, and the office for client meetings. Let the environment work for you instead of fighting it. A change of scenery can reset your brain better than any productivity hack.

3. Expect Tech Challenges and Solve Them Early

Going from a multi‑monitor setup to a laptop is an adjustment. Wi‑Fi might be spotty. Your second monitor might be a tablet balanced on a stool because that’s the only thing with the right height. It’s all part of the deal. Fix what you can early in the week so you’re not troubleshooting during meetings. And if your dad wants to extend the mesh network, let him — dads live for that stuff.

4. Lean Into the Environment Instead of Resisting It

You’re at the lake. Swim before work. Take a boat ride at lunch. Sit on the deck with your coffee. Let nature be part of your routine instead of something you try to ignore. You’ll work better when you let yourself breathe a little. Productivity looks different at the lake, and that’s kind of the point.

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