Is anyone here a "digital nomad"?
 

I relinquished my apartment in Louisiana in April of 2015 and have been living out of hotels, Airbnbs and friend's houses since.

So far, I have lived/stayed in New York City, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico City, Medellin, Bogota, London, Paris.

I travel with 2 monitors in my luggage with my Macbook Pro and Das Keyboard.

https://i.imgur.com/E6srF0x.jpg

Many places in Central and South America are much more affordable than in the states and are much more fun!

Thread needs some Colombian women.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qim...7b53fcb839a1-c

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...irlsincolombia

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/f8...08aa4b2f08.jpg

http://www.happycolombianhunting.com...en-676x300.jpg

I'm just a mental nomad . . .

Colombian women

lucky guy :)

Our only daughter is going off to college in the fall, and I would like to travel a bit more. I can work from the road so this is my once in a lifetime opportunity to do it...

Ima group home nomad..

how do you keep the monitors safe?

You know you can get 15" usb monitors that take up a lot less room?

Up until late 2015 I spend most days traveling, not seeing home in California for more than 30 days total a year. Instead of hotels, I stayed in well furnished apartments and homes found on sites like Craigslist Airbnb, and Home Away.

Key is to travel light, and if you are going solo, have an outgoing personality to be able to connect with the locals.

First, I remove the monitors from the stands. I then pad each luggage case with tightly rolled clothes on a bottom layer. I wrap a towel around each screen to prevent scratches and place the screen face down on the layer of clothing, then more clothes on top (back of screen). I have taken about a dozen flights with the monitors successfully, except for one incident when the TSA inspected my luggage and did not repack them the way I had. The TSA agent placed my microphone (which is round and hard) that was in the same luggage underneath the screen which resulted in this:

https://i.imgur.com/szthwyP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/67xTsIX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SLcwKCg.jpg

I'll post some pics from my travels.

Here are some from our NYC trip in May 2016:

Times Square

https://i.imgur.com/pAK86AS.jpg

Yankee Stadium (Yankees lost and we missed the only home run before we were seated in the 2nd inning)

https://i.imgur.com/Eklkk4J.jpg

Hotel Room at Q & A Residential in lower Manhattan

https://i.imgur.com/6o80MCJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Olm2Ocp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CK21eLB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xuT1MJv.jpg

New York Stock Exchange

https://i.imgur.com/txJl4bz.jpg

Statue of Liberty

https://i.imgur.com/8ywlqBY.jpg

Helicopter Tour of Manhattan

https://i.imgur.com/KfrwFeW.jpg

Stage of American Psycho Musical

https://i.imgur.com/jP76Kjc.jpg

Cancun, Mexico - June 2016

Cancun Beach

https://i.imgur.com/1HfB5Xj.jpg

Remote Home Office

https://i.imgur.com/UVyy9Vv.jpg

Mexican Pesos

https://i.imgur.com/HGY96SV.jpg

Laundry done for 120 pesos ($6 USD)

https://i.imgur.com/0U5m9WD.jpg

Dancer at Cancun Nightclub

https://i.imgur.com/lVeOdbF.jpg

Chichen Itza Pyramid

https://i.imgur.com/HckyI7l.jpg

Tour Boat

https://i.imgur.com/ImfDNzq.jpg

Sombrero

https://i.imgur.com/VsYjqAz.jpg

Cohiba Cigar

https://i.imgur.com/i3SbWJ3.jpg

Tulum Ruins

https://i.imgur.com/35P9FBT.jpg

Already travelling for 7 years. I move between Asia and Latin America. Normally i stay everywhere a few months. I left nothing in my home country and all i have is in my suitcase. Working on 17,3 inch Laptop and have a back up 15 inch laptop. Just 1 suitcase with all in it, 18 kilos.

Stayed some months in: Mexico (Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Zipolite. DF, Cozumel), Brazil, Colombia, Bonaire, Curacao, Argentina, Surinam, Canary Islands, Bali, Thailand, Cambodia, and than shorter time more countries.

Met several older nurses in San Miguel Allende, all rented out their apartments they bought years ago to retire early in Mexico. They had more money to spent than living and working in San Francisco.

Now in Asia, will move to latin America in october. Not sure yet where. When i wasn't a full time traveller i also liked to backpack. was already in Playa del Carmen when it was just 1 street with 1 ferry to cozumel. And you could climb all ruins including Chitzen Itza.

When do you go to Asia?

Lol, i can see the building i was raised at in the yankee stadium pic

You can't be a real digital nomad if you are American since you still need to pay taxes at home.

Other than that enjoy the trip. Seems like you are having fun.

I am doing that since 1998.

Holy crap! did they reimburse you for the damage, or they went full TSA-y and just shoved a middle finger up your butt, like they did with me when they damaged my bag, because clothes are suspicious?

I wouldn't spent much time on it. First you get back 21% Vat by your company when you buy it, than it is deducted for the profit. So what cost a monitor in the end, maybe 100 - 200 usd....

If i loose my luguage i don't mind that much, you must put important things always in hand bagage. And when you arrive in Thailand you buy all your clothes new for maybe 100 usd and a new suitcase for 100 usd. Samsonite one time sent me new wheels for mui suitcase. Sent the pictures and serial number and got new wheels. Their lifetime service works :)

Been in SEA for a few years now.. Never looking back!

Not a nomad but I travel a lot. When I'm out for 30 days or more I miss my apt, when I'm home for more than 30 days I'm ready for the road. If I was younger, I'd do it.

I didn’t file a claim or anything. Probably a waste of time. Paid $470 for that monitor too. Just replaced it with a 23” LG monitor which is much lighter so I can pack more other items and keep under 50 pounds or 23 kilos.

In a few days I will try the office in nature experiment...lazybag and a laptop under the shade of some tree...I purchased a nice adventure bike recently and the plan is to work and travel for a few days and then go home and repeat when the weather is nice...this is nomad-ish...if it works I'll try longer tours...

Would you mind to tell me about your monitors? What type, etc?

I am looking for something along these lines.

Dell 27" Ultrasharp U2715Hc

Thank you!

Medellin surprised me, it's one of the coolest places I have been to, what was your thoughts on it? The property is so cheap there, you can buy a luxury condo for under $100k USD, 2-3 bedrooms, high floor with great views and building with pool, gym and all other amenities you could wish for.

I want to go back there but we have a 4.5 month old kid now so I doubt it will be anytime soon, I am gonna be going to mostly EU for the next couple years and exploring the Countries I haven't been to yet.

When I first started in this crazy biz (2006) I never left my New York apartment (then in Brooklyn) for four years. Then I got in my thick skull, after some success, that hey I could work from anywhere since, you know, it's all on the Internet! They have the Internet, like, everywhere! Never looked back. Now I travel 2-3 times a year for weeks/months at a time and still get my work done. Friends and family see me living the dream - and are totally clueless as to how I do it. LOL

My thoughts are that you must look at more places if you think that is the coolest place :) It is nice to visit, but i liked Cartagena more. Medellin most is happening in a few squares where all the foreigners and expat stay and locals go out. Always busy, pollution and many no-go areas. Except those squares where a lot of people work from coffeeshops. Staying some weeks is nice, living there isn't. A friend of mine lives in Bogota, he doesnt even go out after dark. But is was fun to go out there and see things. We saw a woman coming out of a girly bar with a knife in her shoulder. And in the 'gogo bars' there is only 1 stripper at the time! (In Thailand 20 - 50 :)

I think in most cases it is better to buy something in your home country and rent it out and rent something in the 'new'country. But depends where you are from.

You're a fag, right?

↑↑↑ Loves to suck uncut black dick, rarely sucks white dick unless it's uncut

Sounds nice, but you need a lot of batteries for that :)

Why do you ask?

Where in SEA? Thailand, Vietnam? Thinking of going there next year.

Medellin was absolutely beautiful, as was Bogota. We were there in February of this year. The women are stunning. Thankfully, my girlfriend has a lot of patience for my gawking :) Pot and prostitution is legal there (and cheap), which I like to think of as the ultimate equalizer :1orglaugh

Pretty fun there as well, good nightlife and plenty of casinos. Colombia is the most biodiverse country in the world with the most species of plants and animals. Food is pretty good. Ironically, Medellin has the best KFC and Taco Bell I've ever had in my life.

Some photos from Medellin:

Cable Car ride up the mountains

https://i.imgur.com/0Vv2sJd.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ACAohNi.jpg

Local wildlife

https://i.imgur.com/rb9TDmc.jpg

This restaurant chain Crepes and Waffles was life changing. We ate at most of the locations.

https://i.imgur.com/jhg8Vi9.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YYgnGe1.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/clnyXKJ.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/cBi9GBw.jpg

Baked goods

https://i.imgur.com/Px7FpPQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O8DfPwg.jpg?1

Purchased pre-rolled. Everyone smokes openly in the parks around town.

https://i.imgur.com/jTgIsEY.jpg?2

I'm a sucker for Krispy Kreme donuts

https://i.imgur.com/rJUfW5Z.jpg

Burger I don't remember :1orglaugh

https://i.imgur.com/t1GcwPD.jpg

Don't remember where or what this was

https://i.imgur.com/nkY7WKa.jpg

Had to walk off all the food in Medellin :)

https://i.imgur.com/5nvSwL2.png

Mountains

https://i.imgur.com/yyLn2KE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/s0z1jmz.jpg

Dunkin Donuts Everywhere!

https://i.imgur.com/rwW6vLl.jpg

Shopping Mall with retractable roof

https://i.imgur.com/SOjMxKQ.jpg

Botero Square

https://i.imgur.com/vQ5Thva.jpg

Birthday Lunch

https://i.imgur.com/q4EPfPT.jpg

Steak Birthday Dinner

https://i.imgur.com/2TslciL.jpg?1

nope :( enjoy man!

I envy you for all that traveling

I traveled every month for about ten years when I started in this biz. I really miss it. I am packing as we speak but going to Rio to check on my second home. Always an amazing time just too infrequent.

Yes, it is great. I now have a two floor concrete bunglaow, about 40m2 on an Island in Thailand. First floor living room with working desk and seaview. Second floor the bedroom with balcony and sea view, have fridge, tv, aircon. Sometimes monkey jumps on the balcony. Only 12 euro a day cause is low season.

I wake up and walk through a big green garden to the connecting restaurant for breakfast and dinner. Cost about 6 euro for a good (western) meal and 2,50 euro american breakfast. Can also on the street or cheaper restaurant for less or to the best restaurant that will be little more expensive. Than i walk to the other side of the street where there is a gym. Well, did it once and must look how many times i will go. Than i can walk to the beach in 10 minutes. Or use the motorbike i rent for 2,50 euro a day. When clothes are dirty, drop them off in the hotel and get them back clean for 2 euro.

There are several bars and restaurants, good western and Thai food. cause it is low seasons about 4 party's a week. You can go after backpackers, or the 'freelancers' that come out at night. ladyboys and girls, whatever you prefer. Here you have a sort of backpackers reggae vibe with bars with the same menu as coffeeshops in Holland...

Realy, you only have to care about keeping sites online and relaxing, the rest will be taken care of.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh . . .

OP: Dude, you're like Brian Dean... a digital nomad.
I'd love to adopt that lifestyle but I have a wife and kid.

This is what I do. When I travel I take a small Microsoft Surface Pro with a 16 inch US monitor. It's an AOC monitor, and comes with a protective sleeve. I can fit it in my carry on.

This is my set up on the road at a hotel in Burbank while at the ANME Founders Show last year.

https://content.screencast.com/users...07-13_1719.png

Here is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/AOC-e1659Fwu-...ds=usb+monitor

I did this for a couple of years in the early 2000's. I'm curious, do you speak Spanish? If not how did you find places like Mexico and South America for a non-Spanish speaker? I stuck to places that either spoke English or had a lot of English speakers like Norway, Australia, parts of Europe and the United States.

I only took a PC laptop with me with no extra monitors, although there were times I wish I had an extra and would have been more efficient.

He's looking for a date.

I didn't know Spanish or Portuguese when i started travelling. Bought books, use duolingo, and went after the woman. Having a Portuguese / Spanish speaking girlfriend makes learning go faster. Because hardly anyone speaks English in Brazil, you must adapt. I had some private Spanish lessons 3 hours a day in Mexico City for 6 weeks. But i want more lessons, cause now i am in Asia longer time and than you forget things. And i speak Spanish Portugues, when i am in Mexico they think i am from Brazil :)

My advice, learn Spanish / Portugues, that makes travelling a lot more interesting than hanging out with only English speaking people. If you don't speak Spanish and avoid countries that use Spanish language, you miss a lot. I looked it up and Colombia and Mexico use the most 'clean' spanish. take some private lessons there.

Before i became full time traveller i already went to Brazil and South America, not speaking the language. Didn't stop me from going there, with hands, a small dictionary you can fid your way. Now it is even more simple, use a translate app. People speak in your smartphone and you see what they said. You can take a picture from the menu and Google will translate it. But i prefer speaking the language. I stayed 2 years in Brazil, hanging out with Brazilian, than you will learn automaticly. In Brazil it is best to avoid regions where are many English speaking tourist. Much much much more fun when there aren't. In Brazil i know a place with many digital nomads. I went there years before. Than it was fun, now you have the white colony of western only going with western.

I speak a little Spanish, enough to get by. I know enough to order food and ask for the check at restaurants. "La cuenta por favor" means "The check please". Google translate works well enough if I can't articulate myself sufficiently. I can simply type out a sentence in English and read it aloud Spanish or show them my phone screen. I did this the first time I joined a Gym in Cancun and needed a 1 month membership.

I've learned numbers by playing Poker with Spanish speaking players. I try to learn a few new words in Spanish per day. More touristy areas allow me to not depend on my Spanish so much, as the workers can speak better English than I do Spanish. I've only had a couple mishaps of misunderstanding. My favorite was when I said to the bartender "Hey cabron, la cuenta por favor". I thought "cabron" meant "buddy", but it means "dumbass".

I greatly dislike working without the additional monitors. I'm much more efficient with them.

it may also mean buddy/ bastard, it all depends on the context and gow close u are to the person :)