A few years ago, one of my co-workers wanted to work remotely for the winter. They received permission and spent 3 or 4 months in France, waking up early to work for an hour or two, skiing in the late morning and early afternoon, and then coming back to work more at night.

I was quite jealous. Mostly because with family, this wasn't an option for me. Don't feel too bad for me as I get the chance to slide down mountains plenty during the winter.

During the pandemic, we've seen various locales try to entice workers to come live there, spend money, and work remotely. It's not simple or necessarily cheap, as many countries require workers to provide their own health coverage. However, it's nice that there is flexibility from some locales, and from some companies. There are tax implications, so moving residences isn't always possible.

I love the flexibility of working remotely, which I've been doing for 20 years. While I get to Redgate offices 4-6 times a year and work with others, most of the time I'm at home. Occasionally at a coffee shop or restaurant around town, but not too often.

Recently, I took advantage of this to work remotely away from home in another state. I scheduled a week trip to see my daughter play volleyball in college. Extended a weekend trip to reduce flight costs, I ended up working near her campus for a few days while she was in class. Remote from a remote spot away from the home office.

Great for finding some balance in life, but not without challenges. I found a few instances where I didn't have all the data I expected with me. The ergonomics were different, with hotel and coffee shop chairs and desks not being as comfortable as usual. One small screen instead of 3 large ones, no wrist rest, searching out power outlets, and other small items remind me of how much I appreciate the space I've set up at home.

Still, I'm glad I was able to go and visit, without taking holiday. I'd have been on my own most of the time, so spending the day working wasn't distracting. I hope to do this more in the future, and I hope to see more of you doing this as well to better enjoy life while continuing to earn a living.