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Don't be rich, Live rich

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Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#131

Post by nomadznu »

mike_esspe wrote: post #52
motters wrote: post #34

It sounds nice if you can pull it off, but on the occasions where I've been continually moving from place to place I've found it much harder to actually get anything done. Continual travel adds cognitive and other entropic overheads which deplete your mental and energy real estate.

Yes, i have the same problem. Many times i thought, that i will build something while traveling, but that never happened :) Though as far as i understood, they solved this with going out as tourists only on weekends.

Yes we often sticked to the nine to five work template, doing the fun stuff in weekends and vacations. And off course, when you take the moped after work to go and see that sunset, that's also heaven for a few hours :)

Again GTD is a good way to make your way through work.

Also: when you're on the road, you won't need to go and see family and friends. You'll miss them. But a lot of time is free to do other stuff.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#132

Post by nomadznu »

smikhanov wrote: post #27
georgieporgie wrote: post #17

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

Sure. The bottom line is that nobody is interested in any serious stuff being done remotely. So those type of stories you usually hear from someone like these folks who did "online communications" and "freelance web design/programming", which is not serious by definition. Projects involving something like C++ have significantly higher chances of having a bigger scope, impact and different set of responsibilities from…

If that's the message you got from this, I guess you read it differently than what we meant. We're not saying this lifestyle is 'walhallah'. It comes with risks, costs, and you have to be 'strong' to do it. Hence the remarks we made in the presentation. But that's what we were willing to 'pay'.

What we meant to say by the presentation is that living the life as it is preached in modern (capitalist) society can be questioned.

For us, travelling is far more important than building that big career and earning a lot of money. Instead of living the life expected and waiting until we're 67 to do this while retired, we decided to do it now. For someone else their dream might be totally different, and the solution to that too. That's exactly what lifestyledesign is all about: designing your life as you want it.

Check out the Ted video of Stefan Sagmeister on mini-retirements. It might give you a different perspective :)

So I totally respect you view on travelling: I can imagine that many people think 'I don't want to work on a vacation'. But the main thing was: when you like travelling, and you want to do this now, it can be done.

*Saying webdesign or online communication is not 'serious stuff' is in a way hurting a bit. Ouch :) I mean: I've built my experience over the last 11 years. Saying it is not that valuable is, well, cannot really give a good reaction to it.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#133

Post by nomadznu »

Joeri wrote: post #61
smikhanov wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. The bottom line is that nobody is interested in any serious stuff being done remotely. So those type of stories you usually hear from someone like these folks who did "online communications" and "freelance web design/programming", which is not serious by definition. Projects involving something like C++ have significantly higher chances of having a bigger scope, impact and different set of responsibilities from…

It helps that they are from Belgium. Healthcare isn't an issue, because I'm sure they arranged for repatriation insurance ahead of time for anything serious, and once back in belgium getting medical treatment is cheap. Career and experience weren't affected, because a gap year doesn't matter much to employers. Passports similarly aren't an issue. I've been to south-africa, thailand and the US, and I never needed a vi…

Hi Joeri. From Belgium too I presume. It indeed helped we're from Belgium, regarding the insurances. On the other hand: for US citizens this way of living is even cheaper if they are paying health insurance in their home country. Because that's so darn expensive over there.

That's why so many people go to Thailand: health care is inexpensive and very very good when compared to the costs related to it in their own country. We had to go once: the total costs medicines included: 37 euro. I never took the bill to my health insurance to be reimbursed...

So the insurance thing is nice, but you have to compare it to the real costs.

As far as what you're saying on Belgium: we totally agree: We came back to Belgium in Feb, when it was rainy and people where still complaining... And suddenly it was Spring and well, heaven.

I myself have been living for 2.5 years abroad before this one year trip. Coming back to Belgium, Ghent, is always superb. We love it. And we found our home quite a while ago. It's Ghent. One of the most beautiful cities in the world.

But we love travelling too. And that's why we decided to do this trip: we didn't want to wait until we're retired to do what we love to do.

In our ideal lifestyle we'd do this each year for 3 to 4 months. Just like grandparents who skip winter in Spain, but our destinations would be a tiny bit different :)

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#134

Post by nomadznu »

aliston wrote: post #29
georgieporgie wrote: post #17

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

I was able to do freelance iPhone development. If you're already good in C++, it will give you a leg up in learning objective-c. Also, I could not agree more with the points about "working needs discipline." If you're staying in hostels, I would basically say forget it. I found it INCREDIBLY difficult to sit down and code when I was traveling around in hostels (like a tourist) and surrounded by fun people and things…

We would advise not to do this while staying in hostels. Hostels are way too much fun, packed with people travelling and having fun. One needs a work environment to get work done.

Our trick was: arrive in a city/location and stay in in hostel/hotel for a few days. Meanwhile drive around/ask around/do couchsurfing to get to know places/check the local craigslist. And find yourself an apartment to live in.

Couchsurfing helped us a lot to get to know locals. A co-office did the trick in Buenos Aires. It costs money, but sitting in a coffeshops costs a lot of lattés too. :)

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#135

Post by nomadznu »

rafski wrote: post #33

Not trying to take away from how fantastic and inspiring a story this is, what's with the "check for grants/subsidizing" bit? Is the ultimate advice "be from a wealthy country that lets you travel on welfare"? :)

In Belgium (and other countries in Europe) there is a gap-year remuneration. It's a bit like the mini-retirements Stefan Sagmeister is talking about. They are meant for this sort of stuff.

Next to that there are several ways to do what you want to do: like studying abroad, volunteering. We're not saying what we did should be 'copied', we're saying 'figure out what you want, and find a way to do it' A way that fits you.

And that's not the other thing mentioned on the comments.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#137

Post by jbrains »

georgieporgie wrote: post #17

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

I don't think it's about a specific technology: it's about a particular organisation and working group. If they're willing to work with someone who telecommutes, then perhaps they're willing to work with someone who works while they sleep.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#138

Post by jbrains »

smikhanov wrote: post #27
georgieporgie wrote: post #17

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

Sure. The bottom line is that nobody is interested in any serious stuff being done remotely. So those type of stories you usually hear from someone like these folks who did "online communications" and "freelance web design/programming", which is not serious by definition. Projects involving something like C++ have significantly higher chances of having a bigger scope, impact and different set of responsibilities from…

I'd say that any project where someone decides to spend hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars is pretty serious.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#139

Post by jbrains »

The most fun part of this lifestyle is being able to say "I'd like to go to Paris again this year", then finding work close enough to Paris to pay for going to Paris. By not needing to squeeze every dollar out of my trips, I can be much more flexible and enjoy the travel more.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#140

Post by jbrains »

irahul wrote: post #84

> Don't be rich, Live rich. Why not be rich and live rich. I get the "Live rich" part but that "Don't be rich" is unwarranted.

I think you're overanalysing a phrase written by people whose first language is not English. :) I interpret it as "Don't kill yourself to make money if you can live /like/ you already have it."
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