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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I’m 18 years old and finishing off high school in May. I have been interested in the nomadic lifestyle for about 6 months now and I was extremely determined to say screw college and start being a nomad next year. With guidance, I came to the conclusion that that probably isn’t the best idea. Especially considering how I have not even began to save up. I’m definitely going to school next year and plan for my nomadic lifestyle later in life but theres just one thing I’m not sure of. Should I go away to a university (which is what I really want to do) or go to a community college so I’m not in much debt when I start out my nomadic lifestyle? I feel if I go to a university I have a much better chance of meeting someone that can potentially be a travel buddy but if I go to a community college I’m saving so much money, I feel as if I’d have no worries at all when I start out my journey. Also, I don’t want to have to start paying back my college debt while I’m traveling. Do you guys have any input or experience on this?
hi,
if it seems like the nomadic life is what you want to do, then I think i would avoid student loans, and get good quality education without the debt and attachment it creates.
Education is great, accumulate it, as it will help you face challenges and make money when no big company will be sheltering you as a nomad. I would study as much as possible, with as little debt as possible. Ivy league unis are there for ego for the career people, but the debt and status it brings is of low value to future intelligent and resourceful nomads.
I would love to try the nomadic lifestyle but my issue is finding a job, I have like no experience that could get me an online job and my education stops at highschool.. Also I would more than likely have to live in a tent so I need to figure out how to not eventually look like the cliche homeless person and keep whatever clothes I do bring looking decent enough.
I still recommend to have a skill, or build a skill and focus on abundance instead of scarcity. Life is short, win it, don’t hide from it 🙂
what if he has a learning disability
I feel very lucky to have found this article. Thank you for creating. I finally asked at work for a 3 month leave of abscence that I will use to visit India. Deep inside I don’t want to come back to my current lifestyle after that, I believe this is the beginning for a change and those three months will become a year or five years, who knows. I don’t believe my boyfriend wants to join me, he’s afraid of loosing stability, but maybe after a few months he will join me. Is there a specific way to get organized regarding the routes, etc? are you living out of a backpack? Do you use Couchsurfing? How do you spot the places to stay away from with the world now having more political conflicts? Do you stay connected with your loved ones via Facebook or does that make you sad? Any other important tips you want to share? Haha sorry about so many questions!!!!
hey Alejandra, good luck in your new path! I work full time, so things I did in the past (couchsurfing, backpack) became Airbnb and a suitcase 🙂 Find your own style and experiment with what works. There aren’t that many places with a political conflict that will influence your travels (Syria, Iraq, Venezuela style) and then ones with low scale distress (Ukraine, Israel, Cuba, Colombia) are usually the most interesting places to visit. I do skype calls with my family and facebook/whatsapp with my friends, but it doesn’t really make me sad to be away.. Read many of the articles in the blog and I think you will find many answers.
What job do you hippies even have on here? Talking about being nomads and all, what exactly do you do for a living? Few jobs allow you to be a “nomad.” You just use my tax dollars to stay in motel rooms and smoke weed while I’m busy working my butt off. Some of you probably even steal.
I expect an answer, especially from you “Eli David” as you seem to frequent this blog.
comment of the year.
I love how you avoided the question as did others. You hippies sure are busy, huh? All that drinking and partying consumes a whole lot of your time.
100% not trying to be rude but I truly feel bad for you, that’s the problem with the world honestly. People like you who are so concerned about what EVERYONE else is doing. Honestly good for you, you work your ass off! Other people aren’t okay with living their life working 9-5, paying bills, and living a mediocre life with the same thing every damn day. Good for those people, I am so proud of them. They don’t follow what society tells them to do. Since you think the way you live life is the right way to do it, props to you, but some people don’t prefer that way of living, including me. I find it boring and I don’t want to be a walking robot, who follows what the crowd is doing just because that’s what I was told to do. You do you, and you work that job making 80k a year, but to some people, money isn’t everything to them, it’s about experience and seeing as much as you can see before you aren’t able to anymore. But congratulations! You’re just like every other hard working American in this country! I have no problem with anyone who chooses to live their life that way, but what I do have a problem is when people try to shit on the people that choose to do something else, great with their life. It is not YOUR life to critique. What also bothers me, is the fact you came on this page looking to say rude things to people, you have no place being on here if what you’re planning to do is diss what this website is all about. Like I said, not trying to be rude, but I was personally offended.
Well, Caroline, I don’t know if you turned off replies or something, but I can’t seem to reply directly to you so I’ll reply here. I don’t have a problem with you hippies living your nomadic lifestyles. Just don’t use my tax dollars for it.
Can I simply say what a reduction to search out somebody who actually knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know methods to bring a difficulty to gentle and make it important. Extra folks must learn this and perceive this side of the story. I cant consider youre not more well-liked since you undoubtedly have the gift.
Trying to use this piece in an essay I’m writing which is to define the concept of a nomad. Can you tell me who the author is that wrote this and what credentials they have writing about nomads? (even if their credential is that they themselves travel this lifestyle and consider themselves a nomad) Cheers!
hey,
Eli David, 7 years as a nomad 🙂
I’m heading that way in2018. I believe its my destiny after3 marriages not being stable and I tried so hard.I’m going yo follow my real destiny. Nomad but I’m on SS. And multiple myeloma how good is that. No not good but the cancer has taken a tow on my loved ones. Plus steroids are very bad for your brain. Wich is a combination of my treatment.any way no one loves me no more. I’m leaving on my HD and live as a Nomad. JR.
How does a nomadic lifestyle affect you financially? It must cost so much to do this, to travel around.. At a certain point you must be broke a’d thus completely homeless etc? That’s my only concern. Is it possible without money?
hey Wim,
nothing is possible without money 🙂
There are a few elements that actually make this lifestyle more sustainable financially than regular life, search for our “Cost Arbitrage” article for more information on that point
Nomads have a unique lifestyle that my brother wants to do someday and he needs to know that he has to avoid attachments to be successful. I think he will be more respectful and flexible if he gets travel advice from a nomad’s experience. This will be especially useful once he realizes that he needs to travel light and be minimalist as you said.
Looking hard into this. Can you do this with a car, bank account? I am a 100% disabled veteran and don’t like looking to others for help. Can this be something I can do as a 40yr old?
if he is able to move by himself without affecting others i would say go for it!! let life lead, don’t fall into the grind of having to commit to staying put. I feel i have lived both ways and wouldn’t trade either for anything, but the freedom of being alone and letting the feeling lead the way is truly being free.
Preach, Jon! There’s rarely a need to tie ourselves to a lifestyle we don’t want.
And Don – if you’re still reading this a year later, know that this lifestyle comes in many shapes and forms: https://becomenomad.com/different-nomadic-lifestyles/
^And those aren’t all-encompassing. If you want it, go for it, and make it uniquely yours!
nice work, keep up the good work.
excellent
Thank you! We appreciate these comments so much.
And hey, if you haven’t yet, check out our pod where we discuss much of the same:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/become-nomad-digital-nomad-lifestyle-and-long-term-travel/id1051084986