Can You Be Nomad Staying in Same Place

There is no doubt that a nomad, by definition, is someone who changes from place to place.  However, before rejecting this way of life, we should take a deep look into what being a nomad really means.  The major element of a nomadic lifestyle is change, but, more importantly, the awareness and knowledge the change brings.

So now the question changes: can someone achieve a high degree of awareness and knowledge while staying in the same place?

The answer to that is probably yes, although I’ve never managed to do it myself.  In a way, the traveling and change of location of a nomadic lifestyle is like a drug.  It allows you to break away from the monotinous routines we keep and confront situations that provoke increased awareness and expose us to new knowledge.

One of the key elements required in order to reap the benefits derived from a nomadic lifestyle while staying in the same place is having an increased awareness.  This is by no means easy to come by.  A nomad has it easy; he is exposed to a new environment and situations that require him to be receptive of his new environment.  Someone who is self-aware can, theoretically, become aware of small details that allow him create the change even if they are in the same place.  It is a combination of the way you look at the world and how curious you are in regard to the small details that make up the big picture (there is a saying in Hebrew that God is in the small details).

If you do want to be a nomad while not moving around, curiosity is key (and self-discipline is also quite important).  Discipline, in this sense, means pushing yourself into quite subtle changes (since youre staying in the same place).  You can do so by being aware of your environment and the “small details”, asking questions, and avoiding an automatic lifestyle.  Some things you can do are to :

• take new roads to get to places
• walk a lot
• get to know people and their thoughts
• maintain a high level of curiosity

Many people say that some of the best ways to travel are by reading books and, to a lesser extent, watching movies.  There is a lot of exposure available to information nowadays and you can actually learn a lot about the world from the internet and other easily-accessible sources.  One great way of tapping into this lifestyle without being a nomad is by meeting nomads that are traveling through your town.  One example of a source you can use is couchsurfing.com, a site which allows you to meet and host travelers that are in your area.  By doing so, you can live vicariously through their stories and experiences as nomads.

IN CONCLUSION, THE EASIEST WAY TO BECOME A NOMAD IS TO ACTUALLY BE A NOMAD, MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE.  HOWEVER, FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE ATTACHED AND UNABLE TO LEAVE, THERE IS STILL A WAY TO TAP INTO SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A NOMADIC LIFESTYLE BY FOLLOWING THE ABOVE ADVICE.