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What are the top barriers holding people from moving around?

 

by @sten 9yr  | 39 comments

What did Andrew miss? Which frictions were the hardest for you to get over?

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I think for a lot of people, income or the right job is still the biggest barrier. And on top of that, basically having to be an American (which most Americans take for granted). For example, this week I tried using the site virtualvocations.com. When the roles says remote - anywhere, they still require you to have an American social security number, be able to do a US W2 etc.

Iโ€™m at a point where I could go very minimally nomad but iโ€™m also looking for better options (while continuing to build one of my own) but still this is an ongoing issue. The internet is still basically for Americans. I think people from other countries will understand that, from region blocks, trying to get amazon to ship outside of the US, youtube monetization (even though its less of an issue now) and now stuff like this. Americans lead the way, but itโ€™s still always Americans first and other countriesโ€ฆ ehh. maybe if we get around to it (usually never).

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Of course I donโ€™t know where youโ€™re from, but most Europeans would disagree with the statement about having to be an American to be a nomad! Not being an American may be an obstacle to working remotely for an American company, but the rest of the world does business, too! It doesnโ€™t matter what nationality someone is if theyโ€™re freelancing. Most of my work is for publishers/businesses based in Europe, and occasionally in other places, and being a British citizen has never been a problem for me. This applies to everything you mention in your post.

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Everything Iโ€™ve seen so far that lists remote jobs or gigs has been predominantly US employers. Feel free to correct and enlighten me. If the Euros dont require silly crap like that Iโ€™m more than happy to hear them out and if they do, hey maybe that Estonian e-residency might actually have a use after all? lol

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@kathrynoh 9yr

I think a lot of the time itโ€™s just not a priority in peopleโ€™s life. When you talk about your nomadic lifestyle and people say they envy you, it doesnโ€™t necessarily mean that want to pursue the same thing.

For example, if a friend got a brand new Ferrari, I might say the same thing but itโ€™d be half politeness, half momentary urge but the reality is that buying a Ferrari is not even on my list of priorities for life.

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This is so true. I donโ€™t have a blog, personal website or any sort of โ€œdigital nomadโ€ identity online, but people still notice from regular social media that I move around a lot. They always comment on the lifestyle in a bit of a wistful or even envious way, but that doesnโ€™t mean that they would ever really want to pursue the same thing, even if they won the lottery. Thatโ€™s the beauty of life; we are all different. Iโ€™m not sure how the world would function if 100% of the population lived this way, anyway. Itโ€™s anyoneโ€™s guess. I always tell people the grass is always greener. Being a nomad comes with its own set of circumstances and a different type of roller coaster ride but is not the epitome of โ€œthe perfect lifeโ€ that people think it is by any means. Just like anything else in life there are ups and downs and a sense of normalcy.

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Indeed. If we all did it the world would probably fall apart! (A somewhat bombastic but emotionally true statement. :smile: )

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Exactly! Society as we know it would not exist haha :wink:

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@psedillo 9yr

I would be totally cool with somebody giving me a Ferrariโ€ฆbut I completely agree with you.

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I havenโ€™t read the article at the link, but the block that immediately springs to mind is inertia!

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The major issues Iโ€™ve observed all boil down to one thing: FEAR

Many of the barriers for people who could theoretically go nomadic are just different interpretations of fear. Yes there are societal expectations, programming, family pressures, financial instability, job instability, the hassle of filing taxes, annoyances of planning trips, storing your stuff, fears of ruining your resume/derailing your career trajectory etc etc but the bottom line is that most people are terrified - be it subconscious or not.

That being said, one other barrier Iโ€™ve noticed is that people think they have to do this forever and they get intimidated. You can be nomadic as much or as little as you choose. You can go for 1 month, 1 year, 1 decade or forever. You can be nomadic for a while, then go back โ€œhomeโ€, then when you get the itch go travel again. You can always come back if it doesnโ€™t work out, so donโ€™t fret. Most of the people who are truly nomadic have probably been doing it full time for less than 1-3 years in most cases. No one yet knows the long term implications of this lifestyle because itโ€™s too new. Before we were โ€œnomadsโ€ we were just expats, but thatโ€™s a different, more stable lifestyle comparatively. I donโ€™t know anyone whoโ€™s ever regretting trying to become a digital nomad. When keeping everything in perspective, you may find that you really have nothing to lose; give it a shot.

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@levelsio 9yr

1,000 times this! This is the most important problem of this entire movement.

People see it as a black and white thing. Youโ€™re either at home in a 9 to 5 job, or youโ€™re a digital nomad. But thatโ€™s bullshit. Itโ€™s a gradient.

And the more this becomes mainstream, the more youโ€™ll see that.

I use a smartphone but do I call myself a smartphone user all the time? I drink sometimes, but does that make me a drinker? Many digital nomads are so self-obsessed with their activity and identity (I know, Iโ€™ve been there too), and that forces them to never give up on this and become perpetual travelers. Because if they go back, they would have lost the battle. But it doesnโ€™t make sense. The most healthy way to be a digital nomad is to do it in balance and not obsess. Travel for awhile, go home for awhile, have different places you call home etcetera.

I always thought the core of the digital nomad spirit was freedom. Ironically, that freedom means going home whenever you want is exactly that: your freedom.

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Yes!!! 100% agreed

I think itโ€™s natural for people to want to identify with a community or group, but we should all be careful of elitist or comparative tendencies. There is no road map or set of conditions one has to meet work for oneself remotely, while traveling. And there is no litmus test for success; itโ€™s personal. As much or as little as youโ€™d like to be nomadic, itโ€™s okay. If you are only โ€œnomadicโ€ one time in your life, also okay - many people go their entire lives without even owning a passport. Any amount of travel is a good thing, and only you can determine where you โ€œliveโ€ and how important the location is. All good!

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@libtuck 9yr

Perceived obstacles.

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@jonmyers 9yr

The biggest barrier to moving around - -

You, your mind and fear.

Same holds true for business and starting businesses.

Iโ€™ve heard it all and Iโ€™ve seen it all.

People who succeed in getting what they want, put the excuses aside, focus on themselves and fight through the obstacles.

Let go and go.

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@dfcowell 9yr

โ€ฆand a Thunderbolt Display, a 5K Retina iMac and a productivity penalty on working in coffee shops. :wink:

On a more serious note, thereโ€™s no barrier in this thread that can prevent a sufficiently motivated person from going nomad.

All of the mechanics of the nomadic life (taxes, visas, flights) can be solved by hiring an expert or putting in the hours yourself to learn about them. Earning an income is as simple as attaining mastery in something and marketing yourself.

If family and personal connections are such a barrier, maybe the nomadic life isnโ€™t for you - and thatโ€™s OK. You can still travel extensively while maintaining a solid home base, either in your country of birth or elsewhere. This community can sometimes come across as a little hostile towards people that arenโ€™t willing to ditch everything they know and travel. I donโ€™t think that attitude is necessarily intentional, but it exists and doesnโ€™t benefit anyone.

At the end of the day, being a full-time nomad means taking personal responsibility for every aspect of your life. Your fate is entirely in your hands - from earning an income to figuring out how to get healthcare when youโ€™re badly dehydrated with gastro at 4AM in a foreign suburb with no command of the local language. If you fail, thereโ€™s no guarantee that someone will be there to save you.

I think taking on that level of responsibility is the biggest barrier for a lot of people.

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Work is honestly an easy workaround. Possessions are mostly material items - also an easy workaround. A significant other is the trickiest, but hopefully less so with time as more people start jumping on the nomad bandwagon.

The toughest thing for me personally would be friends and family. Travelling as a group is not sustainable, realistic or completely enjoyable. You start to miss having a support network, people you can hang out with, people you can confide in. The internet helps greatly (as much as we like to whine about Skype sucking), but it still canโ€™t beat a face-to-face chat with friends.

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@magalhini 9yr

To be completely honest? At this moment, plain and simple fear.

I preach the nomadic lifestyle, yet I fail to practice it. I tend to read, and read, and write, and read, travel for holidays but in the end, I donโ€™t go anywhere for good out of sheer fear.

Iโ€™m a web developer who finally got a job working remotely from London, after moving out of Portugal 18 months ago. I moved because I wanted to experience the discomfort of being out there, simply traveling stopped being enoughโ€ฆ and Iโ€™ve done a pretty good job at it.

What am I waiting for now? Good question, I donโ€™t know. Iโ€™ve learned about the importance of having a routine, taking care of my health in terms of what I eat and the sports I do: I fear not being able to do this while being out there.

Iโ€™m an over-thinker: what if trying to plan all of my meals in an unknown city will take away all of my decision-making power and Iโ€™ll suck at making wise decisions in my day job, the ones that matter? I can come up with 500 what ifs like this. I realise they all come from the same place and most of them are not 100% rational; weโ€™re good at making excuses.

I donโ€™t plan on saving up for a house, and Iโ€™m addicted to the decluttering culture, so hopefully itโ€™s just a matter of time until I simply decide to just do it! But suffering from anxiety since a young boy, not knowing where Iโ€™ll be sleeping in 30 daysโ€™ time (which is actually true this very moment!) tends to consume my waking mind a bit too much.

So in the end, I guess my answer is:

A true lack of acceptance for everything unpredictable.

A partial acceptance doesnโ€™t suffice.

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@avermat 9yr

DO IT! :slight_smile: Hopefully you can find the inspiration you need here. I think fear, uncertainty, and acceptance is a constant battle for everybody (in one way or another).

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@magalhini 9yr

Thanks for the encouragement @avermat! Iโ€™m in the process of giving up my London life (which is not easy) and try to make it in Berlin, at least for a couple of months to see how it feels.

Itโ€™s bloody scary, especially when knowing that no matter what happens, my work (and its quality) will continue to have to be delivered even if I mess upโ€ฆ but the fear of it all actually feeds me.

Hereโ€™s to adventure! :smile:

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I love London, but after a year here it feels familiar & safe already, which makes me eager for a new โ€œadventureโ€. I wish I had a fully remote job like you doโ€ฆ My biggest problem would be to pick which country & city to travel to! :smiley:

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@onhebet 9yr

Top barriers are visas and laws. For example, when you see on tv people trying to cross Rio Grande, or climb the really tall fence on the border of Europe, or float in dinghy to the coast of Australia, itโ€™s not because thatโ€™s how they roll, itโ€™s because itโ€™s the only way they can move around. And there are far more people like that, than potential digital nomads, who just arenโ€™t sure they are doing the right thing.

Another barrier is xenophobia, racism and ignorance of the fundamental human rights.

As a world travelers, you are probably doing your part in the fight against xenophobia and dismantling nation states already, but if you believe that people should move around more, consider doing the following:

  • Always vote for political parties that stand for open society and freedom of movement.
  • Support organizations that are devoted to the open borders, asylum seekers, and immigrant rights.
  • consider boycotting countries that pull shit like this.
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@sten 9yr

I think there is a gradient on this scale from โ€œnever moveโ€ to โ€œfull nomadicโ€. The barriers are probably the highest for your first move to the unknown, and they likely actually reduce the more you move, because youโ€™re emotionally used to it, and technically youโ€™re set up better to get around. I believe even people who change their location once a year, or once in 5 would potentially live a happier, fuller life - so hoping to help & inspire those too.

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This is the point I wanted to make. Iโ€™m happy with the idea of having a base of some sort and going off and traveling for awhile and then returning. Itโ€™s not โ€œfullโ€ nomadic but I seek a life that is not strictly bound to one place or one office.

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@rob_maas 9yr

Children - finding a good school nearby for their children
Family - valuing family nearby, taking care of an elder/sick family member
Happiness/acceptance - just being happy where one is
Travel - bigger more expensive travel dreams, being nomadic doesnโ€™t always mean you arenโ€™t stuck in one place (for a while). You need money to go around and see other countries.
Gf - if love is too strong
Health/age - not everyone can travel freely (meds/physically etc.)
Integrating - staying long in one place can help you better understand its culture, people and language, deeper friendships.
Sports/interests - not every country is good for a specific sport such as running, some sports require more stuff to go around.
Community - thereโ€™s boundaries to the optimal size of a functioning community.
Work - If you think you can deliver better work from staying in one place, you can choose this over going nomadic. Even it this means youโ€™re less happy being there.

Nomads tend to evangelize their way of life in all its enthusiasm, which can have a polarizing effect. I think both parties should stay away from judgement. Thereโ€™s no right way really.

Iโ€™d like to go nomadicโ€ฆ

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@paulbohm 9yr

Stuff.

Living out of a carry-on works for some of us, but many people would like to have more items than they can comfortably take on a plane. I think caching, storage and shipping services could make this easier.

I have gear caches on most continents, but itโ€™s still a pain. I sometimes have to fly to a city simply to pick up the stuff I need in that region. Iโ€™d like to pre-announce that Iโ€™m going to be in Kuala Lumpur next week, and have my stuff shipped from Bangkok (where I store it) to KL and have it ready at/near my airbnb by the time I arrive.

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@bydorian 9yr
  • Uncertainty
    • Problem: โ€œWhat is gonna happen when I arrive in Thailand? What am I gonna do? What am I gonna eat? Who am I gonna speak with? โ€ฆโ€
    • Solution: Be open to whatever happens to you and adapt to any situation (eg: learn thai, eat thai, etcโ€ฆ)
  • Finance
    • Problem: โ€œThat looks expensive to travel there? And living there is expensive Iโ€™m sure? โ€ฆโ€
    • Solution: You can find cheap flights if you look for them, living is gonna be like 10x cheaper and with a better life quality
  • Work
    • Problem: โ€œIโ€™m doing something physical (eg: hairdresser, truck driver, โ€ฆโ€ or โ€œI have no skillโ€
    • Solution: You can learn and develop skills (eg: Coursera, Udacity, code schools, designer schools, etcโ€ฆ)

etcโ€ฆ

But yes, I agree with levelsio, everything comes down to social stigma: โ€œYou will be an engineer working for a big company, earning big bucks, having a wife, an house, a dog maybe, and you will be happyโ€ (or a lot of variations of that). And the fact that everybody repeats that to you since you are a kid to now.

(I took Thailand as an example, but it could be a lot of countries)

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@levelsio 9yr

I think the most important reason goes way deeper than the ones we think of first like discomfort while traveling, having to leave your job, missing your friends. The most important reason is that thereโ€™s a social stigma attached to not doing what is expected of you in a society.

Additionally, people have put considerable value on the concept of โ€œlocationโ€ historically. Think local tribe or village communities with 1,000 people with their own culture. These turned into cities in the 20th century with 1,000,000 people. However in the 21st century I think that community has become the internet with 7,000,000,000 people.

All the tension we face is simply a radical socio-cultural transition. Technology already changed to make โ€œlocationโ€ irrelevant, itโ€™s just that our minds havenโ€™t caught up to it yet. Thatโ€™s why people think itโ€™s weird what weโ€™re doing.

I was raised very free and my parents told me to do whatever I want as long as I was happy. Thatโ€™s awesome, but even I had extreeeeeeme issues with doing this and feeling the intense pressure of staying at home and fitting in instead. We talk about the โ€œnormalโ€ life a lot as nomads. Itโ€™s not an enemy I think, and Iโ€™m fine with that life if itโ€™s peopleโ€™s concious decision, but for most itโ€™s simply the social pressure to fit in.

Actually this year, my girlfriend was one of the most fierce opponents of this entire lifestyle. She said it was superficial, vapid, a fad and mostly that people needed real grounded roots in one place and you canโ€™t just travel the world and do whatever you want. She argued people need a home and that I simply needed to stop being so radical and just come home and get a normal routine. I think she was wrong and that she was simply communicating the traditional mindset most people still have. We nomads are communicating a very progressive mindset instead.

To make this personal, sheโ€™s not my girlfriend anymore and it was a pretty bad breakup. But itโ€™s interesting since it shows how a simple thought like this โ€œwork/live whereverโ€ can have such incredibly polarizing reactions from some people. Some become excited and want to do it too, others literally hate it and think youโ€™re attacking their entire (traditional) lifestyle. That confirms even more weโ€™re on to something special here. If it didnโ€™t polarize people so much, it wouldnโ€™t be as significant.

The thing with conservative vs. progressive debates is that you can usually defend both with strong valid arguments. But Iโ€™d rather be on the progressive side of the future.

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@rob_maas 9yr

Only some 40% of the worldโ€™s population has internet access, and this number largely uses it for the most basic needs. Plus thereโ€™s always the barrier of language. How many people can be in a functioning community anyway?

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@levelsio 9yr

Not sure if trolling, but:

2,100,000,000+ people speak English
1,000,000,000+ speak Mandarin Chinese
500,000,000+ speak Spanish
400,000,000+ speak Hindustani

Thereโ€™s 10x more demand for English schools and teachers than supply in China. Theyโ€™ll learn English, donโ€™t worry. Then you can add them and in half of the world will speak English.

China has 641,601,070 internet users, that do not use it just for โ€œbasic needsโ€. Ecommerce is huge in China. And they use it for a wider range stuff than Westerners.

If anything I hear the typical Western superiority from you.

There wonโ€™t be a community of 7 billion people. There will be millions of small communities. Like this one. The point is, we donโ€™t have to be in the same house, neighborhood, city, country or continent to talk to each other. Thatโ€™s not news at all, but people still struggle with that concept.

Location is dead.

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@rob_maas 9yr

Location is dead for some of us (and for me too), but hopefully not for all, this would mean no one would really care about a house, neighborhood, city or country (and its people, language, cultural heritage, and environment) cause theyโ€™re just moving around anyways and feel not bound to one location. Although location independency opens a lot of new opportunities for sure.

I am not trying to be superior or judgemental for that matter, just playing a little devilโ€™s advocate :-).

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@levelsio 9yr

Location is dead for some of us (and for me too), but hopefully not for all, this would mean no one would really care about a house, neighborhood, city or country (and its people, language, cultural heritage, and environment) cause theyโ€™re just moving around anyways and feel not bound to one location.

Why should they? What other than tradition and security makes those important? Why are you so โ€œhopefulโ€ they remain?

Why is national identity important? Itโ€™s ridiculous to identify myself with a place where I was born randomly. I for one am not hopeful that governments keep fighting wars in the name of national identity. Or that people fight each other for what their ancestors did thousands of years ago. Or that people get beaten up because they look different.

While local is becoming global, collective is becoming individual. So identity will be based on what you do, what you think. Thatโ€™s way more interesting than where youโ€™re from.

Again, nothing new here, but I feel we need to keep mentioning this until people understand.

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@rob_maas 9yr

Richness of culture, environment and language is what makes travel worthwhile. Itโ€™s the people with a strong sense of identity/culture/belonging to that work hardest to preserve this richness. I think opposed to a world full of lost people itโ€™s good some have a stronger feeling of belonging to.

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@loniklara 9yr

Well, itโ€™s interesting you say this is โ€œprogressive,โ€ because I think depending on how you look at it, one could also argue that itโ€™s โ€œtraditional.โ€ Before tribal villages, there were nomadic tribes. Of course, the worldโ€™s resources being limited now and all the lands being farmed or developed, we couldnโ€™t go back to this if we wanted to, not in the same sense anyway.

But itโ€™s true that people today place too much emphasis on having a โ€œhomeโ€ as a place, which almost always implies material possessions to fill up that space. With the economy and housing markets being what they are, people in metropolitan areas in particular work their asses off to afford tiny allocations of said space for hugely inflated prices, often having to get loans to do so. Especially around San Francisco, as most of you know, it gets pretty ridiculous.

So simply put, going back a little wouldnโ€™t hurt. Like carrying no superficial possessions, being content with having enough food to eat as opposed to overindulging, and rather than investing in material things, investing more in people and experiences.

As the saying goes:

Too many people spend money they havenโ€™t earned, to buy things they donโ€™t want, to impress people that they donโ€™t like.

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@skatkov 9yr

All my friends usually afraid to lose their jobs or afraid to travel with kids and family. I think this is less scary part of travels.

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@amy 9yr

Marina has a good point about people tending to overestimate obstacles and underestimate the opportunities and possibilities. They think itโ€™s impossible to find a remote job, get out of a lease or mortgage, donโ€™t have enough savings, or they will miss their family & friends too much.

Some simply donโ€™t want to move around. Theyโ€™re homebodies and love to just be in one area. Some people just love their city so much they canโ€™t imagine going anywhere else. An example of this is the typical New Yorker.

When my friends tell me theyโ€™re jealous of my lifestyle, I tell them they can easily do it too but they give me some bullshit reason about why they canโ€™t and itโ€™s because they donโ€™t REALLY want it. Theyโ€™re content just enough with their current life that they donโ€™t want to rock the boat and want anything more. Which is fine - nothing wrong with that of course.

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People tend to overestimate obstacles and underestimate opportunities, I think.

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@sten 9yr

People tend to overestimate obstacles and underestimate opportunities, I think.

Very well put. Conversely, weโ€™ve found talking to folks that when people finally do get moving then 2/3 of the time it is for the upside (get to more opportunities), and only 1/3 to reduce the downside (lower cost, escape something bad, etc).

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@grum 9yr

My main annoyances for travel are taxes and visas.

Taxes - They suck. When done properly, my home country wants to charge me, my host country wants to charge me and all the paperwork seems to be contradictory and built to penalise me for being a traveling worker. You either have to break the rules or be rich to not get ripped off.

Visas - the visa system was created in a time when international travel was mostly leisure or diplomatic. Today, its a mess.

Iโ€™m allowed a visa-free stay for 30 days because I was born over here but if I was born over there Iโ€™d get 180 days? Dumb. If I cross the border over land I get a 15 day visa but if I jump on a plane (which can cost less) I get 30 days? Dumb. I can apply for a visa in this country and can only get a single entry but if I apply in that country over there, I can get a triple entry? Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

Aside from those two things, living out of a backpack is pretty straightforward. Sure, there are complications but I just deal with them as they come. I think Iโ€™ve grown accustomed to things going wrong but when it comes to the above two issues, all I seem to be able to do is throw a hissy fit and yell at the digital nomad gods.

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@harris 9yr

โ€œThe Internetโ€ needs to be established as itโ€™s own country somehow, right? I have more friends on the internet than any one place in the world. It could have itโ€™s own taxes and itโ€™s own visas. If only.

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Read and participate in 14,117 discussions on Nomad List

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What features would you like to see on Nomad List?


by @levelsio 3yr 3 years ago  | 3 comments

Hi everyone,

I would love to hear what you'd like me to build next on Nomad List, or any other product/feature feedback ideas you have.

It's been 6+ years now but I'm in this for the long term and with the boost remote work got last year it's even more exciting to work on Nomad List than ever.

Current roadmap is here: twitter.com/levelsio/status/1363204985488572417?s=20 and pbs.twimg.com/media/EusS9PKXEAUR8xp?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

The next products/features I have planned:

- ๐Ÿ›‚ Rebase: visa, residency and immigration services for remote workers

- ๐ŸŽ“Courses: learn the steps how to go remote and travel/relocate

- ๐Ÿ› Gov liaison: diplomacy services to the governments to help us lobby for nomads and for them to attract remote workers

Thanks a lot!

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What are the best places right now in the Caribbean/LatAM? (Also cheapest flights/accommodation?)


by @orangutan3 3yr 3 years ago  | 1 comment

What are the best places right now in the Caribbean/LatAM? (Also cheapest flights/accommodation?) Asking from the US.

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List of Visa/Residency Information in Table/Spreadsheet format?


by @innovatelife 3yr 3 years ago  | 2 comments

As part of signing up for this website I was hoping I would come across a list of Visa and/or Residency requirements by country ideally in a table format to assist with decision making. Does anybody recommend any other websites that might present the information in this format (or Google Spreadsheet)?

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Most Walkable Neighborhood / City In The World ?


by @dannybooboo 3yr 3 years ago  | 1 comment

I love living in walkable areas of town. I can always find them. But now I'm wondering where in the world are the most walkable places? I'm imagining walk streets (no cars), zoning allowing both business and residential, parks or beaches ,etc.

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Any nomads in Arizona, US?


in Netherlands by @info132 3yr 3 years ago  | 4 comments

Hi guys,

After the Netherlands, the Bay Area, Colorado and being on the van life for 8 months, I am now in Sedona, AZ with a few other digital nomads. We are sharing a home here and are wondering if there are more like minded people in the area.

We do a bunch of hikes and campouts in the northern of Arizona. If you would like to connect with us, please do so :)

Val

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International number & internet?


by @leobassam 3yr 3 years ago  | 1 comment

Has anyone figured out a way to get setup with a virtual number and internet connection anywhere you go?

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Are there any tax issues I have to be aware of?


in Germany by @clara 3yr 3 years ago  | 0 comments

Hi everybody. I live and work in Germany and want to go to Canary Islands for 6 months to work from there. I'm going to keep my current job, just change the "home" in the home office part of things. Are there any tax issues I have to be aware of? I was reading about becoming a residence after 183 days, thus having to pay taxes there plus my employer having to register there. Does anybody know how it works exactly? Thanks a lot!

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Chiang Mai accommodation


in Chiang Mai , Thailand by @bertieb 3yr 3 years ago  | 0 comments

Can anyone recommend a good accommodation website for Chiang Mai?

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Is anyone travelling right now?


by @viktor 3yr 3 years ago  | 3 comments

Winter is coming and Iโ€™m feeling the ache of travelling after being stuck in the same place since the Pandemic started. Wondering if anyone is travelling right now? If so, where are you currently located and how is the situation where you are?

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Moving to Thailand for 6-9 months in August. Bangkok or somewhere else?


in Bangkok , Thailand by @andrea3018 7yr 7 years ago  | 14 comments

Hello Nomads,
I would like to move in Thailand for 6-9 months starting from August.
Iโ€™ll definetely stay in Chiang Mai as base for most of the time but Iโ€™d like to do the first month (August) in Bangkok or somewhere else.
What place would you recommend to visit first?
Would Bangkok be a good place to be during August?
I was also checking at the east coast isles but I got a little frightened out by the moonsoon idea but still, it would be cool to go to beaches and have some sun during that month :slight_smile: .
Would the moonsoons or the rain really be a problem?
Iโ€™ll move to Chiang Mai from september anyway but I would just like to start somewhere else since I have to wait for my girlfriend to come during september.

Thank you in advance for your advices,
Sorry for the bad english,
Andrea

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Which is the most viable location for a young couple moving to Seoul?


in Seoul , South Korea by @iamjamesrodgers 7yr 7 years ago  | 4 comments

Out of the 3 Areas which would be most beneficial for a foreigner moving to SK?
(If you have experience with areas specifically Iโ€™d love to discuss the specific schools that are offering her a position - Not posting that here for obvious reasons.)

My Girlfriend has received 3 contract offers in Seoul/Surrounding area:

i) Dobonggu
ii) Songpa-gu
iii) Bundang, Gyenggido

Background knowledge:
We love being physically active through sport and weight-lifting, love exploring food culture, need good Coffee and live very modestly in terms of going out/expenditure.

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Any experiencie airmailing your stuff to yourself when moving from one place to another?


by @chelocoach 8yr 8 years ago  | 5 comments

Hi there!

Iโ€™m going Nomad in about 3 months. Mainly Iโ€™ll stay in some places for at least 1 month, but Iโ€™m planning some backpacking trips in between movings. So Iโ€™m planning to travel carry-on only on this trips. But I also would like to carry with me some non-indispensable stuff that helps me to keep up with my lifestyle and work on the places where Iโ€™ll stay for a longer period. For example a blender, coffee and an Aeropress to prepare my bulleproof coffee. Also my guitar, some camera gear, a good quality screen to work, etcโ€ฆ

Except for the guitar, everything fits into a medium size luggage.

I know I can check in this stuff when moving. But if Iโ€™m going to backpack I donโ€™t want to carry this stuff around.

  • Is airmailing this stuff to myself a good option?
  • Any experience on this?

Iโ€™m a newby on this lifestyle so any advice is welcome :slight_smile: . Many thanks!

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Is anyone in Tenerife? I'm moving there for at least 6 months


in Tenerife , Spain by @andrea3018 8yr 8 years ago  | 9 comments

Hello Nomads,
is anyone in Tenerife at the moment? Iโ€™m moving there from the 1st of August and not getting out of it for at least 6 months.
Iโ€™m going to stay in Puerto De La Cruz.
Do any of you has ever been there and do you recommend this city to me? Or should I look for an apartment elsewhere in Tenerife?
Also, how do you find cheap long-term houses there? I would love one with a private pool.

Thanks,
Andrea

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Moving to Florida for tax reasons: DMV question


by @ileitch 8yr 8 years ago  | 15 comments

Hey all, this is a bit of Hail Marry, hopefully someone knows the answer!

So Iโ€™m โ€œmovingโ€ to Florida from CA because FL has no income tax. Iโ€™m using one those websites that provide a physical address and scan all your mail for you. For CA to be satisfied from a Tax perspective that I am in fact a resident of FL, I need to transfer my driverโ€™s license.

The downside is that my new address is out in the middle of nowhere, and Iโ€™d really rather not have to visit the county unless absolutely necessary.

So, does anyone know if itโ€™s necessary to transfer my license at a DMV in the same county as my new address, or can I do it from any county in FL?

Oh the joys of being a nomadโ€ฆ :grin:

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Advice on remote working, taxes & moving to another country


by @magalhini 8yr 8 years ago  | 4 comments

Hi there!

I realise this isnโ€™t the right way of asking for legal advice, but Iโ€™d appreciate some initial loose pointers on where to go and what to do.

Iโ€™m currently working for a company which is UK-based (full-time contract), where Iโ€™m paying my taxes, own bank accounts, and so on. However, being a remote worker, Iโ€™ve been working from Berlin this year and for personal reasons, I really donโ€™t want to move back to the UK.

So, being aware that I would need to spend at least 90 days in the UK if I want to continue to legally work, what are my options to avoid this entirely?

  • Should I register as freelancer in Germany and have my company employ me as a freelancer? Would this exempt me from the 90 days rule? If so, what would happen to my pension scheme in the UK?

  • Should, if itโ€™s possible at all, still be employed by this company (non-freelance) but pay my taxes in Germany instead of the UK? Again, is this wise and would it exempt me from the 90 days in the UK rule? (the company has no German affiliate)

Funny enough, I canโ€™t find an available accountant in Berlin to ask all of these questions, hence why Iโ€™m hoping some of you wise folks would point me in some direction :slight_smile:

Thank you!

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Any nomad freelancers moving from Elance to Upwork?


by @eduardocruz 8yr 8 years ago  | 13 comments

I didnโ€™t become a nomad, but I joined Nomad Forum to understand more about it. I have been freelancing remotely thru Elance for the last two years so I would like to know if there are other who have been impacted by their merge with Odesk and migration to Upwork.com. Just curious to hear more about it.

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Anyone have experience of using Uphold to move money around?


by @flyingscottie 8yr 8 years ago  | 2 comments

Recently heard of https://uphold.com/en and wondering if it might be a good option to facilitate accessing money from Canada while I am in Europe?

Does anyone have any experience in this? Would you recommend it?

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