Living a Nomadic Lifestyle
A nomadic lifestyle may seem like heaven to some of us, but it can also be unrewarding and bitter. Just like everything else in life, being a nomad has some wonderful advantages and a few substantial disadvantages. In this article, we will discuss some of the main characteristics of the nomadic life. But first, we start with a short discussion of the current status and trends of the nomadic lifestyle.
The single major factor which affects nomads is technology which has two related impacts. On the one hand, the rapid pace of technological advance is decreasing the number of ancient nomadic people, since it produces more reasons to settle down. On the other hand, the internet allows people to work remotely and become Digital Nomads, a way of life which allows anyone to work online while enjoying the flexibility to constantly change locations.
Here are some of the major characteristics of a nomadic lifestyle.
- A nomad constantly changes locations, switching from one place to another. Most nomads have some kind of place that they can call home, which is usually where their family or childhood friends are located, but they wouldn’t spend more than a few months a year there. Nor would they settle down in a new home. For nomads “Change is home”. Not many people can stick to this lifestyle on the long term, since most of us need a little stability and a private comfort zone. Nomads have no real home they can feel comfortable in, and spend most of their time in someone’s else accommodation (i.e. a hostel, short rental, a friend’s place, or couchsurfing).
- The nomadic lifestyle is more important than anything else, including career, relationship, or assets. A nomad will avoid any attachment which forces her/him to be tied to a specific location. Once you have decided that your nomadic lifestyle is first priority, you will have to sacrifice to make sure it stays sustainable. Many nomads find the Buddhist religion as a good fit, since it focuses on non-attachment and letting go of everything you have. A nomad lets go and clicks an imaginary “reset button” as they move between locations.
- Avoiding attachments- A nomad breaks away from her/his attachments before taking the nomadic path, and stays away from attachments while living as a nomad. What is an attachment? Anything that keeps you away from realizing a nomadic life. It is anything you have (or actually, think that you have) and can’t give up on. The perfect job that is impossible to get once you quit it, the dog you love so much and can’t be left behind, the amazing girlfriend/boyfriend that will not agree to become a nomad. A quick interesting insight- if you have those, and feel happy, keep them. But if they are not perfect and don’t really make you happy, say goodbye to all your fake attachments and either find better ones, or choose the nomadic path instead.
- Nomads usually become quite smart, easy going and interesting people. The reason for that is clear, they are exposed to many lifestyles, cultures and constantly changing situations. This constant process of change is your teacher. If you are ready for it, it will make you a better person.
- Nomads don’t take life very seriously. Think about it. If you keep losing everything you had (friends, home) every time you change a location, then the basic understanding dawns on you: “everything is temporary and nothing is yours”. After you understand that, you can’t really take life too seriously, there is nothing to defend.
- Nomads travel light and have a minimalist mindset. It means that they consume experiences instead of accumulating Stuff. Life is short, and the only thing we are guaranteed not to lose is great moments experienced. Those of us who keep on over consuming and increasing their possessions will find it very frustrating to carry on their backs while constantly changing locations.
- Nomads usually travel slow. Even for the rare few who can live life without having a home, it is important to create emotional stability by staying longer in each location (usually 1-3 months) in order to establish routines and make meaningful friendships.
- Nomads are respectful, smiley and above all curious. If this is not the case, why would you choose a path of a constant change? Being positive also helps to mitigate one of the greatest disadvantages of the nomadic life, which is loneliness. We are all social animals, which means that without company, we wither and disconnect from ourselves. Since nomads have to keep on rebuilding their social circle wherever they go, being happy and positive is crucial. Regardless, one of my favorite nomadic quotes is “If you are lonely when you are alone, you are in bad company”. Nomads spend a lot of their time alone, and should enjoy it as well.
- Digital Nomads are trying to deal with the issue of lack of social life by choosing global locations that are Digital nomad hubs. This greatly increase the chance of meeting like-minded people.
- Nomad think and adjust fast. As a nomad constantly changing locations, everything is always new. You have to put effort in finding what you need, and probably can’t speak the native language. It means that you must learn to trust your intuition and make quick decisions.
There are many different types of nomadic lifestyles and each of us better customize their own. For example, with time, I have developed a set of nomadic routines and rules which I follow and adjust. Now it’s time for you to decide if the nomadic life is a beneficial experiment to you, and if so, just make it happen.
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Me , Bonnie and t.j my cat have been on the road for two years.We stop get jobs donate plasma and we get a place to live and we help out other people and we get the itch to see new beaches and new waves and enjoy God’s gift to us we love this lifestyle but it is hard sometimes we wake up and thank god for a new day and the hit open road again. For people who need help on the road we use 211 on our phone and we get help with food and clothes. We go to church and tell our story and we meet great people.
That’s very interesting to read, thank you for sharing since it is a totally different way of travel, very vulnerable and uncertain, that’s maybe the magic of it as well. Although I probably couldn’t do it, I hope it works for you, and best of luck to you and t.j
I’m 25 and a have excelled at the grind I’ve saved for a house and the future, but it has never set well with me, so I have bought a dual sport motorcycle and plan on leaving my apartment when it’s up in May, and traveling the US for a year maybe more. I want to meet new people and experience new situations, I plan to wild camp way off the path,and I’m a skilled mechanic to help me earn a little when I can, My question is what steps should I take when entering the nomadic life. what types of places to avoid when I first set out. and how do I keep from being taken advantage of, and I wanted to know if anyone carts a weapon with them for protection?
Sounds like an amazing plan! Unfortunately, my lifestyle is based on digital nomadism, which means travel while working online so my advice would not be much of use.
I think that the steps has to be with making sure you have enough money to sustain yourself once being on the road (shouldnt be hard if you only take a year off), and making sure you are spending time in places that make you happy.
I never thought about carrying a weapon, but I travel in a different and more stable style.
One thing you might want to consider, which is relevant for many traveleres, is a saying that i dont find 100% right, but it has some truth in it: “Happiness is only true when shared”. Maybe you should find a partner for the road. All the best!
Great article! I relate on so many levels. My son and I had been talking about selling everything and venturing off for about three years. In Winter 2013 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I had one brain surgery to remove part of the tumor but part of the tumor remains. This was absolutely the best thing that could’ve ever happened in my life. Dec 21, 2014 my son (was 12 years old at the time), sold everything and bought a mini van. We’re just coming up on our 1 year mark and I’ve loved it. Although doctor appointments keep a short string on our journeys. But we’ve been places we wouldn’t have otherwise visited. We’ve met all kinds of people and walks of life. I began homeschooling my son and I believe it has been a great life learning tool. My son previously attended a special education school and our nomad learning lifestyle has increased his self esteem, broadened his ideals and gave him experiences far beyond what a classroom ever could. He’s connected with other homeschoolers along the way and developed relationships that he maintains online and visits every few months. He’s volunteered at a ranch with horses, goats, chickens, mules, etc… swam in a creek in the Sierra’s with a bear about 10 feet away. He explains it as “one of the most beautiful experiences, both bear and human at peace with nature”. He’s saved a baby hummingbird from a river and nurtured it back to health.
I adore the relationships built along the way, connecting to strangers on a deeper level. Sometimes its a bitter sweet departure as we leave, a bit sad leaving new friends but moving onto the next adventure and along the path to learning.There’s always something new to learn. I think of it as a piece of our heart is sprinkled along the way.
My struggle lately has been a love attachment. Ran into a gentleman that took a big piece of my heart. The struggle as to when do I stop my nomadic lifestyle to settle down. My need to move on is very short compared to your article and others comments. My max is two weeks. I begin the nervousness and urge to move on. It’s interesting as I write this that my son and I originally stated we would give the lifestyle a year and then decide whether we continue. As the year mark approaches I wonder whether our journey has led us to a new home and a new adventure of settling down.
Toni,
This is incredibly inspiring, thanks for sharing.
I think you are living the nomadic life in a differently other (and probably better) than my own, as a digital nomad glued to my laptop..
I recommend you read my following article about the way I actually live my life, and maybe you can prepare your own version for it, mine keeps on changing, maybe yours should as well?
https://becomenomad.com/digital-nomad-case-study/
The idea is that you learn how to live this type of life, constantly adjust it, and understand yourself better through it. After 5 years, my pace of learning is the same, there is so much to discover about the right way for each of us to experience life. With that said, there is a right time to stop, and you better catch to it the minute it is time (you will probably know when time comes if you are honest with yourself)
In any case, looks like you are doing a great job in living life to the fullest, you wake up call is something most of us need.
Freedom is having nothing—
For a long time ppl said I’m this free spirited nomad kinda girl. (Not the slutty type either just to clarify)
I never really understood what ppl were seeing in me. Now that I’m bound by my child in a home with her dad, I realize…. Tho I love my child & nvr leave her, I realize I miss the part of being free. I’ve no relationship with her father, detached from the world, my family & not interested in living in our house. I often have thought I need to leave in order to live… But feel bad to think that cause of my responsibility to my child. I say my life’s on pause, because I’m here for her but when she’s 18, I hope to be able to roam free again. My love will NEVER stop for her. She’ll just be her own person, joining me if she wants.
Sounds good Janet.
However, I have to say I don’t like hearing people saying “my life is on hold”. Life is too short.
You have some constraints and attachments, but it can still be quite interesting. As someone who has the same problem (the travel drug in order to live), I recommend working hard on mindfulness and awareness. Google and practice those and you might be surprised of how you can have the same feeling, although staying in one place.
It’s very inspiring by the way that love is stronger than anything for you, I am sure you can combine those two!
What exactly is the job that you do for a living?
I wish to join this life style for the fact i think it to be the most natural way of living. I don’t like this cog machine idea that i have been born into. What joy in life is it to be born,raised, live, then die with no story to tell? no legacy? I want to live freely and see the earth how whatever god intendid it to be…..not staying put and working for something that will sooner or later die off anyway. travling will never die off.
agreed. Want and wish less, Do more 🙂
I am a nomad. I’v been living on the go most my life. Crossing the United States every witch way. From redwoods to the Joshua trees. From the coast to the high mountain. I’v seen every big city and small gems no one would know existed. This is the only way that makes sense to me. It’s the only way of living that is full of life and has meaning. But here in the US it is not easy. The government and society shuns it. It’s not an excepted way of living especially with children. People have their opinions of how they feel children should be raised and but that opinion out for all children. Americans have this silly way of thinking that their way is the only right way and the government, child welfare and law really have it out for nomadic families. It’s truly illegal in the US. Not surprising when looking into Americans past. If our government cannot keep track of you, then you are a threat of some sort. It’s kind of a Nazi way of thinking. As a young mother I had seen countless children taken from their families on the road by CPS. I thought; they must be doing something wrong and not wrong as in bad parenting choices. But wrong in they slipped up to let CPS catch them. I thought it would never happen to me and my children. We lived in a beautiful converted school bus with all the amenities an RV had. My children where fed home cooked meals with all sorts of fresh veggies and fruit. And my children are extremely happy and very smart. We unschool all day every day 24/7. My children where exposed to more enrichment and activities than any normal American family. Nothing could go wrong. We where living life full and happy. But that was not the case. Child welfare caught up to me. I guess it was only a matter of time. We too had a number on us.it took me an arm and a leg to get my kids back. Sold everything we had. Had to get on government assistance and now for the past couple years live in a crappy small prefab house in the middle of a city. Now scared and emotionally damaged My children are not happy. They do not like or understand the rules of an institution school setting where people fight and teachers are controlling, demanding and mean. All my children have been labeled as problem or educationally behind although they all by far pass the children in their classes. They are all in special schools for behavior kids although they do not have any aggressive behaviors. I was told they have never seen children that don’t fit into any category of services so the only alternative to the public school class is a modified behavior class. Ugh!!!!!!
So the question is,,,, where can we regain our peaceful happy life’s together where we don’t have to worry about being imprisoned and my children taken away by horrible legal kidnappers. Where is this place. Can we do this in Canada??? Is it legal there???? What are the stimulations? And how do I make it possible? We would love to create a network and nomadic family up north or elsewhere!
OMG thats horrible! It the SS# tattooed on our backs at birth, so that we can be governed & monitored for “their” needs & to keep us controlled” I so feel your pain. And see where America has gotten us…Idiotcracy at its finest! Public school no longer teach cursive writing—My child is taught by me so she can read anything cursive. Go back to homeschooling. Do it legally. I recommend online schooling as it gives more control to you as a parent as well as freedom. However you will always need to provide the State with info on your child’s progression (in relation to schooling) and such. Try PALCS, if you intend to live in PA. Have you heard the news on the loop hole for having tiny homes on wheels, gov has caught on and wants to tax it somehow. And of course they will find away. Such nonsense. All because of power & money. Every hear of Ethos? Best to google that. Honestly if I knew back then what I knew today, I would have been “Nell” (Jodie Foster movie), gave birth to my kid in the woods & stayed off grid. Good luck with everything!
Peace to all.
~J
Hi I’m 38, male, and known I was living a fantasy life for a very long time now… But it’s tough now because the more I find another place… I’m getting more and more attached with the co workers with whom I work with… I’m a Exhibitionist among one of the things.. I’m not gonna write my life on this post.. Not sure if beginning a Nomad is even rite or smart move or if I’m welcomed…. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks..
Steve,
If you find yourself getting attached to coworkers and friends, that’s very normal, but will make a nomadic path very difficult. Attachments are good for most people, and if you are happy with them, there isn’t a real reason to break them by moving from location to location
I’m not sure if you already answered this or not, since there are many comments that I didn’t go through, however I was wondering what would happen if you, for some reason, didn’t find a place to stay by nightfall? For instance if you moved on to a new city and got pick-pocketed. Do I need to carry a tent around? I’m an 18 year old girl and I’m tired of living a life where I constantly have to impress my peers around me by what I have and don’t have.
Hi Merry,
Yesterday, at 10pm I was stuck in a Belarusian town called novagudrok, since I missed the last bus. The terminal was deserted, other than a few drunk homeless people whom I gave money to. I sat down, drank water, and booked a place for the night on booking.com
As for pick pocketing, I am with a money belt, so you really need to be unlucky to be without anything after an armed roberry, never happened to me, and in other retrospective, escaping an armed robbery alive even without your belongings should be celebrated.
Don’t look for trouble and it won’t find you, don’t worry too much since it will paralyze you from doing.
As for your pears, and current life, you are 18, and it is still shaping. I know a lot of people living in one place without any urge to impress anyone. If you are in this position, it is not your city, or your life that have made this decision for you, only you decide on how you feel and what you do.
All the best!
Hello elid…
Always I dealt and I’m still feeling like I want to go back to florida(central florida)where I spend my last 4 to 5 years there and I love it the problems there is the ppl so rude and jobs sucks pay rate and used to jab 2 jobs so I can make it there that is the bads
The goods…the environment I log it
I love the ocean the beach
I love camping ect.
Now I’m in Texas austin and this is the 5 time I moved from other states like Indiana( ppl so weird unfriendly) lol here in austin
And I want 2 time to Florida Orlando 2 times try to make it but is hard..like I said
I never feel sooo diferents and sooo many personalitys and sooo ramdom(talking bout here lifestyles, personalities, cultures,
And ppl here some are friendly smile to you and said hi….other you can said hi and smile and the person don’t even looking at you sooo weirdunfriendly and serious
I said to my self( why this ppl are like that the other state worst that this litter capital here like florida.lol
Now i feeling empty again and planning to go back to florida or thinking to go up north like Oregon state that someone tell me about it.
I hope I read me and write back when you can
My email is:
elmozo74mas@gmail.com
Or I can read you over here too
-Hector.
Have good trip and God bless.
thanks Hector for sharing.
everyone of us enjoys different locations, so i guess you just have to find the ones that fit your personality.
all the best in your travels!!
My husband and i want to do this. We have a son we are already on the agreement to home school. We dont see the point of sitting at a desk looking at pictures. When he can go see things. We just arent sure how to survive this way. Any tips woukd be helpful. Please shoot me an email!! Rose.windham8@gmail.con
Rose, I am not an expert about traveling with Family, especially with Kids, I travel alone for years 🙂
I think the blog is full of tips, but also check out other blogs focusing more on the revenue side. What is your biggest concern by the way?
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Hei there. I am very interested in committing to the nomadic lifestyle . I am currently 17 and finishing off High School. I am sure that this lifestyle will suite me. I am just concerned about the financial status of this lifestyle. I don’t care about money or being rich. I just wonder what possibilities there are to make money on the go and which of them would be the best one. Is it better to study first, work for a bit, save money or dive in straight away. Also do you guys think that having a partner at that age who wants the same is a suitable travel buddy. I’m just concerned because we are still pretty young and I don’t want to risk that this is too early. Travelling alone or with him and hope on happy ever after?
Hi Rania,
I recommended to a few younger nomads to do one of those options:
1)Live a few years of the normal life, and then become nomad as you grow up and learn more about yourself and your goals.
2)Do a backpacking trip after you save some money for it.
I think that a nomadic path for someone as young as you is not recommended, you still have a lot of time, use it to build some skills and grow as a person before considering this lifestyle. In any case, that’s just my opinion, good luck!!
I tried this for a little while, but liked to at least have roots somewhere that I could always come back to, a bit like a boomerang I suppose. Being truly nomadic is really challenging, I give a lot of credit to those who can do this.
I like the boomerang parallel! everyone of us has our different psychology, and what is hard for one person comes naturally for another.