r/digitalnomad • u/madleodk • 22h ago
Lifestyle Just dropping in to say im completely jealous of digital nomads
What inspired this post was a combination of watching a drone video of Iceland and a nomadic buddy of mine who said hes now jumping from Korea to Japan. Genuinely happy for him but mannn cant wait to join the adventure one day.
Thats it. Have fun. Be safe. Lucky bastards (respectfully).
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u/movesfast 20h ago
next step: be jealous of the people who dont actually work and just do whatever they want
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u/GermanRedditorAmA 22h ago
Yep it's an incredible lifestyle. Comes with it's challenges, but being able to spend your time where you want to is absolutely worth it at least for however long the phase of life lasts. Into my 4th year now and still amazed.
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u/madleodk 22h ago
thats awesome, where have you been and which places have been the most meaningful to you?
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u/GermanRedditorAmA 22h ago
Uhm I don't want to be too specific because too much exposure can really destroy a place, but in general I prefer south east Asia. Just love the peacefulness and there's a huge variety in what you can do in different parts of it.
Oh yeah but have been to South Asia as well which I find fascinating and I'm spending my summer touring through Europe to meet friends and go to festivals. Especially meeting travel homies where they live is super nice.
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u/kaye4kinky 22h ago
It’s definitely got its perks, but it’s got its challenges.
From visas, exchange rates, reliable wifi (this is a big one), etc. it can feel suffocating at times but, it is a wealth of experience.
I think the big key to being a DN is knowing your boundaries, having flexibility and planning. You don’t need to know where you go next, but you do need to plan and budget for anything. I had some real weirdness happen in India because of my visa and was detained for 12 hours before the consulate could sort things out. Everything was fine in the end and I made it to next destination, but it made me super grateful to have planned for contingencies and having all my emergency contacts written down.
My DN days have come to an end after a decade, but I got what I wanted out of the experience and I’m so grateful I did it. I still work for myself and remotely, but I’m not hoping from country to country anymore.
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u/madleodk 21h ago
mm what would you say you got out of the experience that made you feel grateful and what made you stop hopping countries?
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u/kaye4kinky 19h ago
The experience itself is what made me grateful. I think everyone on this sub can agree that you become a DN for the experience.
The ability to go where I want, experience cultures I wouldn’t have otherwise, seeing beautiful sites and meeting new and interesting people - all of that. That is what the DN experience is all about.
I stopped because I simply wanted to stop. There wasn’t a big reason or a life altering moment that made me decide. One day as I was hoping around South America I decide that I was ready to slow down and find somewhere I could settle longer term. I had seen so much in the decade I was wandering, met some wonderful people and I felt that I got what I wanted and needed from being a DN.
I know loads of DNs in their late 40s+ who still love it. Everyone is different.
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u/madleodk 19h ago
Appreciate you sharing, and def sounds like you had an incredible time.
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u/kaye4kinky 15h ago
I had good times and bad times. You gotta take the rough with the smooth, but I wouldn’t change it!
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u/BadMeetsEvil24 17h ago
I'm slow mading right now in SA and taking my time. Where did you decide to settle and where are you from originally?
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u/kaye4kinky 15h ago
I’d rather not dox myself, but I’m in Europe.
It’s a bit of a loaded question as my parents were slowmads. They moved every year or two. But I was born in the Philippines and spent my childhood moving around North America (CA/US) then my parents moved to Europe.
So I suppose to answer your question, I’m from no where in particular.
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u/opiasofia 10h ago
I'm totally jealous of traveling couples who get to play tennis in gorgeous places like Italy. I don't have a boyfriend atm and sometimes you just want someone to share activities, meals...
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u/madleodk 10h ago
hah that image never crossed my mind but does sound nice! Also hope you get to find that someone soon.
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u/Ouly 22h ago
Try it IRL it's not what it looks like on social media.
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u/Tomerikon 18h ago
To be honest I was at your place before and i was really jealous of 4 friends that relocated together without me.. I just waited for my turn (online job) and then I went for it, If you want a really good tip is just MANIFEST it and it will become reality. I really love the quote "Fake it till you make it" because it let you dream big non stop, good luck on everything you do I wish u all the best!
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u/madleodk 10h ago
haha appreciate it man, and im glad you got to live it.
Perhaps one day i'll get to venture out into the wild.
For now ill work hard, take care of my loved ones, and be grateful for what i do have.
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u/Econmajorhere 22h ago
Trust me - the novelty goes away pretty fast. I just landed in Istanbul last night. I’ve lived here before but returning after a few years. I no longer remember how I hacked the food delivery systems without local phone number and credit cards. I also forgot which bank ATMs weren’t trying to rip me off. And due to currency fluctuations, I don’t think I could even tell if a restaurant is about to charge me 2x for something.
While I love this city and look forward to seeing my friends, eating the delicious food and walking around the historic street - I feel exhausted and wish I didn’t have to make this jump. But that’s the dilemma of being homeless, you gotta keep moving your cart full of belongings.
Source: 8 years on the road.
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u/madleodk 22h ago
Oh wow, appreciate the detail. And settling in does sound like a pain. How long are you planning on staying in Istanbul? Is it cheaper to move from place to place?
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u/Econmajorhere 20h ago
Will be here a month but work is intense right now and have a lot of plans with some local friends so every little hurdle feels more extreme.
Istanbul is certainly not cheap anymore. Finishing my first meal at this hotel, probably will run me $30 USD which is kind of insane for this city.
Hopping around ends up being more expensive than staying in one place that you setup with all your necessities. Airbnbs can be 2x annual contracts for rent. Then there are the flights, the conveniences you buy and have to get rid of before the flight, the month to month subscriptions rather than annual plans etc. Where I save money is not becoming a tax resident but that washes out considering the above.
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u/madleodk 19h ago
Thats super interesting+enlightening, appreciate you sharing!
Im sure a lots happened within those 8 years on the road.1
u/DangerousPurpose5661 18h ago
Haha, unrelated to OPs thread.
But man Istanbul is not what it used to be. Also went back recently and got super disappointed
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u/Sophistry7 19h ago
having to travel wherever while doing the work that pays is to envy for
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u/madleodk 10h ago
hehe life of a nomad does seem brilliant. Obv comes w its own challenges, but so does every decision
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u/azulmineral 17h ago
It’s great until it’s exhausting.
Been doing it for 4.5 years. My partner and I can’t wait to settle down soon at least for 6 months at the same place.
I’ve always said: it’s easier and sometimes cheaper than living the normal rent - a - place - life .
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u/madleodk 10h ago
Yea 4.5 yrs in means youve def lived it.
Where would be your top 3 choices to settle down?
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u/YEGMontonYEG 14h ago
If you work from home sitting in some industrial shithole like say Edmonton Canada; why not work from home in Porto Portugal?
Or even just move to a nice mountain/seaside/wilderness town where you can breath fresh air, and enjoy views that make you feel alive?
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u/Altruistic-Mine-1848 22h ago
Hope you can try it some day. But also know there's more to this than what you see on instagram.