"You’ll Become Irrelevant." What a great observation, Chris. Our friends and family really can't relate to, and fundamentally don't care about, our day to day life overseas. After a South Pacific cruise last year we invited our Costa Rica neighbors over for a slide show and even I felt my eyes glazing over! Real engagement comes when we talk to people who have traveled to the same places. Swapping stories and comparing notes is a fun shared experience, exposition really is not.
That said, our homebound acquaintances appreciate the concept of us as relatively unburdened citizens of the world. They want to know how we make it work and, more importantly, whether it is a fulfilling way to live.
All this discussion is really interesting. I feel like maybe the disconnect comes from choosing a lifestyle that is so out of the ordinary. Most friends and family just can't process it. So there is no point of connection or understanding. I always get that 'what's your favourite place' question, and I never have an answer. It kind of misses the point, I think. It's a lifestyle, not a destination.
Now-- I'm not actually a nomad. I am fully entrenched in my home base. But when I do travel I move very slow. Staying longer, doing less, just being. Living in a place (as much as possible), rather than just visiting.
So back to the original point: other people simply don't get it. What? You spent 6 weeks in one place? When they find out you spent most of that time just wandering the streets and figuring out what to make for supper, they get bored. But I LOVE it!
I would also suggest that people prepare to change and be changed. My wife and I know we are evolving through this nomadic journey over the past 5 years. We are constantly learning and experimenting. As an example we are both detailed planners and thought we would have at least 6 months completely booked as we rolled forward. Today we only have confirmed places to stay out at most a couple months and are learning that flexibility adds to the experiences we want to have. It also allows us to meet up with other people who don't plan on a similar timeline. We have no regrets about our lifestyle and are looking forward to the adventures that are coming!
Oh, the irrelevancy issue. We are coming to the end of our first year as nomads and we are heading back to the USA soon for few months. I'm already feeling the fact that our lives just aren't that interesting to people "back home". I'm preparing for the disconnect when we are back. I think about how interested I was in other people's travels before I began traveling. Maybe that why I've had some disappointment in the lack of interest in my current lifestyle. But I guess it was the dream brewing in me that led to my interest in other people's travels. If people don't have that dream and they are content with their lives, then it makes sense that my nomadic life is not of interest. (((Sigh))) Thank God for the ability to connect with others now going forward who resonate with a life of travel!
I think you're right. Our interest in other's travels before we left was inspired by our own trajectory. I look forward to your thoughts after your USA visit.
Great post, Chris! I think one of my biggest worries besides safety is the nomad tax! I hate wasting money and making mistakes, but I know there will be lots of both. 😬
But here's good news, Kat -- the corollary to the Nomad Tax is the Wisdom Benefit, when you realize that the Uber is X euros more than the bus, but you've dragged your bag along enough cobblestone streets to know how happy you will be to spend the extra money! :-)
"You’ll Become Irrelevant." What a great observation, Chris. Our friends and family really can't relate to, and fundamentally don't care about, our day to day life overseas. After a South Pacific cruise last year we invited our Costa Rica neighbors over for a slide show and even I felt my eyes glazing over! Real engagement comes when we talk to people who have traveled to the same places. Swapping stories and comparing notes is a fun shared experience, exposition really is not.
That said, our homebound acquaintances appreciate the concept of us as relatively unburdened citizens of the world. They want to know how we make it work and, more importantly, whether it is a fulfilling way to live.
yes, true. I think they think our lifestyle is interesting, but what we do is not. It's an interesting paradox.
All this discussion is really interesting. I feel like maybe the disconnect comes from choosing a lifestyle that is so out of the ordinary. Most friends and family just can't process it. So there is no point of connection or understanding. I always get that 'what's your favourite place' question, and I never have an answer. It kind of misses the point, I think. It's a lifestyle, not a destination.
Now-- I'm not actually a nomad. I am fully entrenched in my home base. But when I do travel I move very slow. Staying longer, doing less, just being. Living in a place (as much as possible), rather than just visiting.
So back to the original point: other people simply don't get it. What? You spent 6 weeks in one place? When they find out you spent most of that time just wandering the streets and figuring out what to make for supper, they get bored. But I LOVE it!
I would also suggest that people prepare to change and be changed. My wife and I know we are evolving through this nomadic journey over the past 5 years. We are constantly learning and experimenting. As an example we are both detailed planners and thought we would have at least 6 months completely booked as we rolled forward. Today we only have confirmed places to stay out at most a couple months and are learning that flexibility adds to the experiences we want to have. It also allows us to meet up with other people who don't plan on a similar timeline. We have no regrets about our lifestyle and are looking forward to the adventures that are coming!
Yes, planning ahead is a double edged sword. We plan ahead, but leave gaps for the exact reasons you mentioned.
Thank you, Chris! Great points! One year into our nomad adventure, #9 is resonating with me in particular right now. ❤️
Oh, the irrelevancy issue. We are coming to the end of our first year as nomads and we are heading back to the USA soon for few months. I'm already feeling the fact that our lives just aren't that interesting to people "back home". I'm preparing for the disconnect when we are back. I think about how interested I was in other people's travels before I began traveling. Maybe that why I've had some disappointment in the lack of interest in my current lifestyle. But I guess it was the dream brewing in me that led to my interest in other people's travels. If people don't have that dream and they are content with their lives, then it makes sense that my nomadic life is not of interest. (((Sigh))) Thank God for the ability to connect with others now going forward who resonate with a life of travel!
I think you're right. Our interest in other's travels before we left was inspired by our own trajectory. I look forward to your thoughts after your USA visit.
Great post, Chris! I think one of my biggest worries besides safety is the nomad tax! I hate wasting money and making mistakes, but I know there will be lots of both. 😬
It’s an adjustment for us. We pride ourselves on hacking the system, and it hurts when nomad tax hits us.
But here's good news, Kat -- the corollary to the Nomad Tax is the Wisdom Benefit, when you realize that the Uber is X euros more than the bus, but you've dragged your bag along enough cobblestone streets to know how happy you will be to spend the extra money! :-)
This can be both true and false at the same time!
Chris--can you expand on what you mean by being both true and false at the same time? I'm not sure I follow.
While taking an Uber may be nice, reducing the size of your bag for future same scenarios could also be nice.
Ah...got it. Makes sense.