Comments on: Maybe I don’t wanna be a Digital Nomad http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/ All about Flashpacking Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:15:17 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Kim http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Kim Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:42:33 +0000 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/?p=595#comment-53 Great article. It seems like there is a very definite "us vs them" mentality in the travel bloggersphere and I have read some very pointed posts as to why LIP is the ONLY way to do things. Each person will have a method that suits them best. I like the structure of a job and knowing that my work happens when I'm at my desk and I can leave it behind when I'm on holiday (one LIPer commented that they had about 5 days in the last couple years of PROPER HOLIDAY ie not logging on and checking up). I am part of the infrastructure (I work in banking) that allows them to live in another part of the world to where they are paid and I "consume" some of their services. I'm not sure I'd do well as LIPer, but don't begrudge them their joy with their decision.<br><br>ps - If you're in SG drop me a line and perhaps we can connect. Great article. It seems like there is a very definite “us vs them” mentality in the travel bloggersphere and I have read some very pointed posts as to why LIP is the ONLY way to do things. Each person will have a method that suits them best. I like the structure of a job and knowing that my work happens when I'm at my desk and I can leave it behind when I'm on holiday (one LIPer commented that they had about 5 days in the last couple years of PROPER HOLIDAY ie not logging on and checking up). I am part of the infrastructure (I work in banking) that allows them to live in another part of the world to where they are paid and I “consume” some of their services. I'm not sure I'd do well as LIPer, but don't begrudge them their joy with their decision.

ps – If you're in SG drop me a line and perhaps we can connect.

]]> By: facebook-659277041 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/comment-page-1/#comment-43 facebook-659277041 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:48:22 +0000 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/?p=595#comment-43 Thanks for your candid post. I find the idea of a digital nomad attractive for all kinds of reasons but one: how much do the current work nomads, i.e. people who work for different international companies and work a couple of years here, then elsewhere, let alone real digital independent nomads contribute significantly to betterment of any place? Having worked in a global corporation and having spoken to people who never settle down anywhere, I have observed that such people barely ever develop a deeper engaged relationship with the place they currently work and live in. They usually don't care about what's going on in the place with environment, local politics, neighbours.... this sort of caring develops after some significant itme of being in one place. Think of how many G...ers in Dublin really cared about what was going on there outside of clubbing, pubs and some culture. I believe that if changes for better are to happen anywhere, you need a lot of engaged locals who feel for and know their place. With a bunch of disconnected international managers who usually just take and don't give back to the place they currently work in, no or little change is possible. Thanks for your candid post. I find the idea of a digital nomad attractive for all kinds of reasons but one: how much do the current work nomads, i.e. people who work for different international companies and work a couple of years here, then elsewhere, let alone real digital independent nomads contribute significantly to betterment of any place? Having worked in a global corporation and having spoken to people who never settle down anywhere, I have observed that such people barely ever develop a deeper engaged relationship with the place they currently work and live in. They usually don't care about what's going on in the place with environment, local politics, neighbours…. this sort of caring develops after some significant itme of being in one place. Think of how many G…ers in Dublin really cared about what was going on there outside of clubbing, pubs and some culture. I believe that if changes for better are to happen anywhere, you need a lot of engaged locals who feel for and know their place. With a bunch of disconnected international managers who usually just take and don't give back to the place they currently work in, no or little change is possible.

]]> By: Cody McKibben http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Cody McKibben Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:24:22 +0000 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/?p=595#comment-40 Good article! I look at it like this: you can be employed, you can freelance, you can be a business owner, but if your work is enabled by online tools and remote collaboration, then that puts the "digital" in digital nomad. Some people like to live abroad and teach English for example, for a year here and a year there. Some people like to remain constantly on the go, spending just a month or two in each destination. I'm an advocate of <em>slow</em> travel though, and I've been working on running my business from Bangkok for about 8 months now. I agree with you about getting to know a country better, and developing friends and colleagues wherever you choose to go. It makes this temporary place feel like home! :)<br><br>Thanks for a great article! Good article! I look at it like this: you can be employed, you can freelance, you can be a business owner, but if your work is enabled by online tools and remote collaboration, then that puts the “digital” in digital nomad. Some people like to live abroad and teach English for example, for a year here and a year there. Some people like to remain constantly on the go, spending just a month or two in each destination. I'm an advocate of slow travel though, and I've been working on running my business from Bangkok for about 8 months now. I agree with you about getting to know a country better, and developing friends and colleagues wherever you choose to go. It makes this temporary place feel like home! :)

Thanks for a great article!

]]> By: CathD http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/comment-page-1/#comment-39 CathD Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:46:45 +0000 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/?p=595#comment-39 Hi Andrea,<br><br>Great to have these sorts of discussion, isn't it? And I love that you're willing to start the discussion from a place of uncertainty. I think we're all uncomfortable with uncertainty, so we grab for the first thing that looks like an answer. Yet we're living in a world with more info, change and uncertainty than ever before - I think being able to tolerate uncertainty (and feel happy in spite of not knowing), and giving up the attachment to the idea that there are right and wrong decisions - for me that's an important life (& happiness) skill in this era. And uncertainty is a breeding ground for great ideas and personal shifts, so stay there if you can...<br><br>My thoughts about your decisions and my own: you could be happy anywhere. Being bored/ lonely/ under-stimulated/ over-stimulated/ or whatever else is about who you're being, rather than what you're doing or where you're living. A lot of LIPs/ nomads think that moving to another country will bring them happiness. Happiness is just a feeling and you can create that anywhere.<br><br>Knowing that there's no wrong decision, and that you can be happy anywhere, what would you choose to do, and where would you choose to live... for now?<br><br>Thanks for sharing,<br><br>Cath Hi Andrea,

Great to have these sorts of discussion, isn't it? And I love that you're willing to start the discussion from a place of uncertainty. I think we're all uncomfortable with uncertainty, so we grab for the first thing that looks like an answer. Yet we're living in a world with more info, change and uncertainty than ever before – I think being able to tolerate uncertainty (and feel happy in spite of not knowing), and giving up the attachment to the idea that there are right and wrong decisions – for me that's an important life (& happiness) skill in this era. And uncertainty is a breeding ground for great ideas and personal shifts, so stay there if you can…

My thoughts about your decisions and my own: you could be happy anywhere. Being bored/ lonely/ under-stimulated/ over-stimulated/ or whatever else is about who you're being, rather than what you're doing or where you're living. A lot of LIPs/ nomads think that moving to another country will bring them happiness. Happiness is just a feeling and you can create that anywhere.

Knowing that there's no wrong decision, and that you can be happy anywhere, what would you choose to do, and where would you choose to live… for now?

Thanks for sharing,

Cath

]]> By: Miss Expatria http://thetuxinbackpack.com/2009/05/maybe-i-dont-wanna-be-a-digital-nomad/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Miss Expatria Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:18:03 +0000 http://thetuxinbackpack.com/?p=595#comment-38 I think at the very least, we have the luxury of plopping down for a few months somewhere and testing it out. Take advantage of it! I think at the very least, we have the luxury of plopping down for a few months somewhere and testing it out. Take advantage of it!

]]>