How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad • Hacker News Board

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#101

Post by hawkharris » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 6:35 PM UTC

pjbrunet wrote: post #98

hawkharris wrote: post #53

Alex, you're a very skilled storyteller. I enjoyed reading the post. I have one small piece of constructive feedback: your use of commas was a little confusing at times, and it slowed down my reading. Commas can be tricky, and I sometimes struggle with them as well. Here's a quick guide that I find useful: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

You didn't need a comma here: "at times and it slowed" Or here: "can be tricky and I sometimes struggle" Granted, you might want a dramatic pause or the comma might break up parts that could be misconstrued as together. Chiding Alex with superfluous commas? Generally speaking I recommend dropping commas where you can. Like you said, they're speed bumps.

You should use commas to separate complete sentences. That's what I did in both cases.

There's no need for either of us to be snarky. I told Alex that I enjoyed his writing and respectfully offered feedback.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#102

Post by graeme » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

devgutt wrote: post #87

toumhi wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or you could sub-rent your place for a few months in winter and rent a place in a warm country. No wealth required.

I always wonder if there is a website to organize this. I have my own house but would like to stay here only 3 months a year and move for other 3 places elsewhere (fixed places). It would be a good idea for a startup.

There's quite a few websites that handle house swaps. Airbnb is also a good option if you have someone to manage the place for you while you're away.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#103

Post by rdixit » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 6:41 PM UTC

I did this throughout India for 9 months. Reliable wifi access is a must and more difficult to secure than you'd think, perhaps. But by moving only every 2 or 3 months, I find there's a good balance between setting up shop, getting familiar with your environment, etc. and just getting shi* done.. YMMV

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#104

Post by pjbrunet » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 6:45 PM UTC

I don't think he mentioned safety or crime either. Law enforcement varies state to state, town to town. Off-limits neighborhoods, speed traps, tricky intersections where accidents are common, quirky customs and conventions. Gang colors? Towing! Some states left turns go first, in Texas left turns go last. Frontage roads in Texas are really crazy and we have life-threatening flash floods regularly. "Turn around, don't drown." Knowledge of local insects, snakes, animals, etc.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#105

Post by Lucadg » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:04 PM UTC

I worked online, run my "little Airbnb" and travelled/lived in more than 50 countries since 2001. The fact that your productivity suffers can be interpreted in a positive way: you CAN'T work too much because you are kept busy with the non-routine stuff. I absolutely love it and wouldn't change this for a 100% productive environment anytime soon. It's my protection against the work-a-lot-buy-stuff-you-don't-need routine. So I am forced to spend money in non trivial things as keeping the flexibility is expensive. When I need to get some serious work done I stay in Italy, Bangkok, Bali or Prague for a few months. It takes me a couple of weeks to settle in Bali, 1 day in Prague (I just need to rent an apartment), 1 day in Bangkok and more or less a week in other places. I also did a lot of backpacking (a few days in each place) and I agree that this greatly reduces the productivity. You have to find the balance which works for you, anytime, anywhere. Not easy, but it's there somewhere.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#106

Post by Lucadg » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:07 PM UTC

Vivtek wrote: post #14

kristiandupont wrote: post #5

Having been semi-location independent for 4 years now, I have come to a similar conclusion. The theory of decision fatigue -- that you get exhausted by making a certain number of decisions -- seems to be true to me. And the thing is that when you are in a new place, there is a large number of decisions to make about petty things like where is the nearest supermarket, where can I work out, how do I get proper internet…

Oh man, yeah, decision fatigue. I've been a freelancer (web work and later technical translation) since 1996 and we've moved, kids and dog and all, from Indiana to Puerto Rico to Budapest, at will - and the one thing that makes it difficult is that you're always asking, "Should we be staying here or going somewhere else now?" It never stops. The kids are having allergy problems? Let's move to the Caribbean! The Carib…

I'll be in Budapest for a week from the 8th of October with my wife. It would be nice to meet for a coffee and discuss our gypsy lifestyle problems :)

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#107

Post by handzhiev » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:13 PM UTC

wslh wrote: post #35

Vivtek wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh man, yeah, decision fatigue. I've been a freelancer (web work and later technical translation) since 1996 and we've moved, kids and dog and all, from Indiana to Puerto Rico to Budapest, at will - and the one thing that makes it difficult is that you're always asking, "Should we be staying here or going somewhere else now?" It never stops. The kids are having allergy problems? Let's move to the Caribbean! The Carib…

It seems like there is no perfect place. New Zealand or Australia? they are in a difficult time zone. One alternative is having two fixed locations and moving on winter.

I don't like the idea to escape winter. I was like this years ago, dreamed about being able to move to a hotter place during the winter. Now when I can do it, I don't want it. Coping with winter helps you learn things and makes you stronger. And winter has its good sides too (especially for the busy homesteader). It's a time to relax from the hot season activities, to enjoy different food and drinks, and so on. I like it. It's not my favorite time of the year, but I see no point to run away of it. And kind of regret people who hate it so much.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#108

Post by coldtea » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:17 PM UTC

graeme wrote: post #25

RyanZAG wrote: post #3

Far as I can tell, the argument here boils down to "can't concentrate on coding while traveling". When put in a simple statement like that it becomes very obvious that the statement depends entirely on the person. Many people have little difficulty opening up their laptop and forgetting the rest of the world for an 8 hour stretch, and this would be the type of person who would do well as a digital nomad. If you need…

One issue is that it can be hard to get an 8 hour stretch if your days are also filled with the minutiae of travel of decision-making. I find it very hard to get substantial work done on certain projects when I have even a few interruptions in my day.

>One issue is that it can be hard to get an 8 hour stretch if your days are also filled with the minutiae of travel of decision-making.

You settle down somewhere, even for 10 days or a week. After the first day there's no more minutiae of trabel or devicion making. Work 8 hours in your hotel/hostel/place/, go around/sleep the rest.

You're not supposed to travel EVERY day to a new place.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#109

Post by personlurking » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:25 PM UTC

raverbashing wrote: post #85

personlurking wrote: post #8

Being and having been a digital nomad for the past several years, it can become tiring having to switch up location and work setting so often. While living in Rio de Janeiro, I often wondered how people who are from there work in office buildings in the wealthy neighborhoods (which are a stone's throw from the beach), deal with knowing that fun and sun is literally 5 minutes away at any given moment, that people are…

"In Brazil, I was going out 4-5x per week! My average night out in Rio I'd spend about US$5, maybe $10" That is certainly not nowadays... Even though yes, this may be doable in some places still (if you keep yourself to drinks and maybe some food for sharing)

This is in the last few years up this year, so it is nowadays. It's easy to keep it cheap, but many people have standards of living which say that a night out should be at nice bars and clubs.

For example: Buses that run most of the night (roundtrip) - about US$2.75, Beers (four Skols from supermarket) - about US$3. That's US$5.75. Meet your friends near the beach, in Lapa, at someone's home or at some predetermined free event (of which Rio has many). Even if the beer is bought while out, the night's bill upon returning home would be no more than US$10. Plus when I lived where I didn't have to take the bus in order to meet people on most occasions, it was even less. In places where there were nicer bars, there'd usually be many people hanging out on the sidewalk in front of the bars and inevitably, there'd be street vendors selling food and drinks.

Re: How I thought I wanted to become a digital nomad

#110

Post by atmosx » Sun, Sep 15, 2013, 7:27 PM UTC

RyanZAG wrote: post #3

Far as I can tell, the argument here boils down to "can't concentrate on coding while traveling". When put in a simple statement like that it becomes very obvious that the statement depends entirely on the person. Many people have little difficulty opening up their laptop and forgetting the rest of the world for an 8 hour stretch, and this would be the type of person who would do well as a digital nomad. If you need…

There are two problems:

1) You might very good with text communications, as all hackers are. But your clients, especially big corporate players from which you'll land a $$$ job, might not be. And they will not level with you since they can have someone that fill their requirements.

2) Theoretically you can open your laptop while snowboarding at the French Alps and write the Linux Kernel. But it's certainly much more comfortable to do so in front of a 27" iMac sitting at home, with your cup of tea on the side your ergonomic chair and keyboard etc.

There was one time that I thought it was cool to being able to do all my payments and everything via ebanking while I was on vacation. Then I found it that it sucks big time, having to do job while others having fun.

However that's just me, it's like it's an absolute truth or anything. I'd just prefer to hand a job over to someone who I know has an office. Give him more chances to have established a decent work flow.