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I went full nomad and it almost broke me

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Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#21

Post by overcast »

TeeWEE wrote: post #5
grecy wrote: post #2

I'm full nomad right now - driving my Jeep around Africa for 2 years - something like 80,000 miles through 30 countries over 2 years. [1] I'm absolutely loving it. I will never go back to full time 9-5 5 days a week. At this point, I don't even consider it life. Previously I drove Alaska to Argentina - 16 countries over 2 years and 40,000 miles. I also loved every second of that! [2] [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/afr…

Driving alone around in Africa is what you consider life? I know working 9-5 is not a good life. However working on something you love, in an environment with friends and family and fun, is a good life i.m.h.o. I always have the feeling nomads always need to shout of the roofs of "how much better their life is". However I do think, what you are doing is super cool. However seeing it as "this is the only life thats wo…

Honestly, it sounds more like just an advertisement for their "lifestyle blog". Just like everyone and their mother is vegan now, and has to make sure you know it every second of the day.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#22

Post by icebraining »

mosselman wrote: post #8
TeeWEE wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Driving alone around in Africa is what you consider life? I know working 9-5 is not a good life. However working on something you love, in an environment with friends and family and fun, is a good life i.m.h.o. I always have the feeling nomads always need to shout of the roofs of "how much better their life is". However I do think, what you are doing is super cool. However seeing it as "this is the only life thats wo…

It isn’t either or: you don’t need to work 9-5 in order to have a family and friends, the only alternative being driving through Africa. He just said 9-5 isn’t life and I think he is right. I work 9-5 and now that I am a father I will beging cut down work. I find it a lot more rewarding to see my daughter starting to crawl than building some software for someone.

If you don't mind me asking, how will you cut down work? Is your employer willing to just reduce your hours, or do you have other plan?

I don't plan on cutting back yet, but I'd like to know for the future, since I've never actually met a career professional doing so.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#23

Post by monort »

mark_l_watson wrote: post #13

Not to be rude, but moving once a month seems crazy to me. I thought that most countries give a six month visa. I would think that it would take me a couple of weeks to get settled: finding a place to stay, getting used to foraging for food and getting used to new types of food. Arranging good Internet connectivity. Also, moving every month would be expensive. EDIT: also, staying places 4-6 months would provide more…

There are almost no countries, that allow tourist visa for six months. Work visa usually requires a local sponsor. World is not adapted to idea of nomadism.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#24

Post by taneq »

empath75 wrote: post #3

I went backpacking for 3 months a while back, in the developing world and while the freedom is exhilirating, it does get boring and lonely from time to time. It’s easy to make friends while traveling, but they are very surface level friendships and when you inevitably split up and go your separate ways, it’s sort of heartbreaking because you’re alone and have to start over again. Not to mention that you’re essentiall…

Yeah, I'm the same. I'm glad I did the backpacking thing but it starts to do my head in after a while. I need my own "home base". Maybe with a big enough RV it'd be OK.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#26

Post by gexla »

monort wrote: post #23
mark_l_watson wrote: post #13

Not to be rude, but moving once a month seems crazy to me. I thought that most countries give a six month visa. I would think that it would take me a couple of weeks to get settled: finding a place to stay, getting used to foraging for food and getting used to new types of food. Arranging good Internet connectivity. Also, moving every month would be expensive. EDIT: also, staying places 4-6 months would provide more…

There are almost no countries, that allow tourist visa for six months. Work visa usually requires a local sponsor. World is not adapted to idea of nomadism.

The Philippines allows you to extend up to a year (longer if you jump through some hoops). That's multiple extensions, but you don't have to leave the country until you approach the 1 year point. After that, you can come right back.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#27

Post by ryannevius »

IMHO, there's a big difference between (a) working as a "digital nomad" and (b) trying to make an income while vacationing all over the place. I have had great success with the former, which allows you to save money with longer stays in each location. The latter means you're wasting more time moving (both planning your next move and physically traveling), are paying tourist rates often (for everything).

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#28

Post by cooervo »

TeeWEE wrote: post #5
grecy wrote: post #2

I'm full nomad right now - driving my Jeep around Africa for 2 years - something like 80,000 miles through 30 countries over 2 years. [1] I'm absolutely loving it. I will never go back to full time 9-5 5 days a week. At this point, I don't even consider it life. Previously I drove Alaska to Argentina - 16 countries over 2 years and 40,000 miles. I also loved every second of that! [2] [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/afr…

Driving alone around in Africa is what you consider life? I know working 9-5 is not a good life. However working on something you love, in an environment with friends and family and fun, is a good life i.m.h.o. I always have the feeling nomads always need to shout of the roofs of "how much better their life is". However I do think, what you are doing is super cool. However seeing it as "this is the only life thats wo…

I took 6 months sabbatical to backpack. And after the 5th month I was ready to go back home and live a more stable, quiet life. Being a nomad is not for everyone. It wasn't for me.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#29

Post by globcal »

I love the nomad lifestyle, in the US being a nomad was easy especially if you have a big vehicle (I had a bus) because once you pass the suspect screens that the police implement to get a green light in their system you are no longer harassed. Here in South America it is different most foreigners are treated very well backpacking or with a vehicle, if you know the language and present yourself well. It is very hard to be broken if you have all your wits, desire, motivation and determination, a person can go indefinitely with a laptop and a backpack without ever stopping or until you complicate it.

Re: I went full nomad and it almost broke me

#30

Post by throwanem »

grecy wrote: post #2

I'm full nomad right now - driving my Jeep around Africa for 2 years - something like 80,000 miles through 30 countries over 2 years. [1] I'm absolutely loving it. I will never go back to full time 9-5 5 days a week. At this point, I don't even consider it life. Previously I drove Alaska to Argentina - 16 countries over 2 years and 40,000 miles. I also loved every second of that! [2] [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/afr…

Good for you! You've clearly found a style of life that suits you very well, and that's something worth cherishing.

But the nomad style isn't for everyone, and its challenges are as unusual as everything else about it. Since Hacker News is at least tangential to those sections of the tech entrepreneur thoughtsphere where nomadism is extolled as the best and only thing, I think this is a conversation worth having here.

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