I’ve been a digital nomad for 5 months now, going on six. Its designed to be temporary; this was a test. An experiment maybe. Years ago I learned that living abroad was not for me. I realized that what you’re doing has to be better than what you’re missing back home and I’ve repeated this advice at nauseam. But after 2020, my perspective on time started to shift. I was gone from NYC for almost 8 months that year and did I miss anything? I came back and picked up where I left off. A lot changed but a lot was exactly the same. It made me rethink taking advantage of my remote work situation in 2022. I’ve never been crazy about spring and summer in NYC after June is unbearable. When I die, my hellscape will be a subway platform in August where my train never comes.
Its hard to say what was more difficult, adjusting to a 2-11pm work schedule or being alone all of the time. I couldn’t afford a work/live place and the cheap ones had waitlists. I got an AirBnB to myself so I wouldn’t bother anyone with late night zoom calls. It was cool to be in Europe but it was exhausting as well. Folding into the day-to-day was almost too easy, I forgot I needed to actually do tourism things as well. There were never enough hours in the day.
It was much harder to meet people than I expected, even in a nomad-heavy city like Lisbon. Making friends with locals was also tough knowing I’d be gone in less than 4 weeks, most people didn’t want to bother with me. The Meetup app was helpful and I’d recommend that to anyone doing long-term travel or who is living as an expat. Unfortunately I realized I don’t like expat meetups. They’re always awkward, forced conversation and its never my crowd. I always leave feeling disappointed and exhausted at best, weirded out by some oddball man at worst.
If advice was being asked I’d say look for a work/live community if you are going solo. If you’re traveling with someone then my advice is plan absolutely as much as possible before you leave. Its so much more stressful to plan once you’re there. Don’t forget to vacation. Order the wine.