Pullman’s Joan Harris wrote last week to suggest that those Inland Northwesterners without lake places don’t understand. It’s no picnic. “I just got back from my lake home where I spent two days cleaning up the beach that’s been flooded since June,” she said. “I stacked wood, carried wood, cut wood, burned wood, raked detritus both days and am sporting aches in every muscle.” But she can’t say she wasn’t warned. “When I bought my place on Lake Coeur d’Alene, a neighbor said, ‘See those people out there on the lake enjoying themselves – those are my guests. I’m in here working.’ ” Well, that is a different perspective. Harris concluded, “My point being, don’t always envy those who say they are ‘going to the lake’ unless they are the guests”/Paul Turner, The Slice. More here. (SR file photo, of lake view from Harrison home)

Question: Even with all the work involved in maintaining a lake house, would you be willing to swap your current place for one?