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Location-independent/digital nomad lifestyle - ask me anything

VentureVoyager

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Like others have mentioned, some of the "digital nomads" are what I call "coconut cowboys" - guys living in Asia on $700 a month because it's a cheap, easy lifestyle. This is what drives me away from places like Chiang Mai (although it's not a bad place to be).
Yeah, CM certainly attracts these people, but I've heard this many times and can't understand one thing: why would it drive you away from this (or any) city? How would that affect you?
I mean, it's not like they harass you in public, throw eggs through your windows, or force you to buy their crappy courses, right? :) One could still live there and be able to meet amazing people more often than not. I spent two months there (will probably go back at some point), and I never felt affected by those "coconut cowboys" in any way. I would just do my job. I couldn't even tell who is who. After all, it's just people with laptops, so you never know if they generate peanuts from their "Ultimate Guide to Nimman" booklets, or $80,000 in profits a month. And why would you care anyway. It's not that there aren't tons of wantrepreneurs in New York, London, Tokio and everywhere else, right?

Now we've all been living together for 6 months. It's a solid group of about 5-10 of us.
How long are you planning to stay there? There's a possibility I will come to CM for December. Would be cool to hang out.

Hi again, thank you for the reply. I know, Greece is the same... and the words "offshore company" is "satanic". I'm connected recently with a German guy who lives tax-free and coaches about it. I'll book a session with him soon and per the info I'll get from him I'll act accordingly. If it is not a problem I maybe contact with you in the future and not immediatelly since I got nothing yet. Thanks again.

Sure. If you don't have anything built up yet, it won't be a good idea since their services are obviously not free. However, the Skype consultation with calculations is.
BUT if you "got nothing yet" why bother thinking about taxes, offshores, etc? Isn't it a distraction at this point?
 
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eagleye101

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Sure. If you don't have anything built up yet, it won't be a good idea since their services are obviously not free. However, the Skype consultation with calculations is.
BUT if you "got nothing yet" why bother thinking about taxes, offshores, etc? Isn't it a distraction at this point?

Well it's a long story. I had something.
I was a part of a digital coaching business with my gf. I was handling marketing, ads, growth plus techincal stuff and she was handling content and communication with clients together with a third partner we made a good team and grew a business to 90K in les than 8 month.
But things changed. We broke up. Things started to go south. Our deal was mainly done orally. So eventually the two of them decided that I'm not needed anymore and they hired a coach. I am now left out. Got my big lesson and now I'm trying to figure out wtf I'm gonna do from now on...
 

Fpm9

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Amazing thread, thank you for the advice!

I have two questions :

- When you were "back home" working on your business, did you have a target income in mind before moving to another country ? If so, how much per month ?

- Do you still own your appartment in Poland ? If so, do you rent out your apartment while you're away ?
 

VentureVoyager

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@Fpm9
No. I just focused fully on this business and I had no idea it would blow up with such a might.
My first goal was to quit the soul-sucking and underpaid job, but I had no goals per se, I was just curious where it would take me if I continue persistently.
Then I started making more and more every month, at some point my income suddenly multiplied by 4. It was a crazy experience, I couldn't believe it. I was thinking about going to the Phillipines, but then at some point I realized I was in love with my ex-gf and I wanted to continue the relation with her. This emotional realization happened during the time of the biggest income growth, which helped me do that.
So I started in January and on September I realized I was already making enough to move to southern France (where she had to study for one year). I was afraid that the income would not be consistent enough but it was not the case, and since the place was so much more expensive than Poland I became super motivated.
After the breakup, when I went back to my hometown, I didn't want to move anywhere, just to have a base to travel from. But by the end of the year I realized I wouldn't last there any longer. I just bought the ticket and boom, found myself in a different world.
So as you can see, I didn't start with the dream of being a "digital nomad" in my mind. I just wanted to quit my job and move out, then my next goal was to become a millionaire, and still is.

I still own the apartament and I don't rent it out, so I'm losing some money every month, but it's not much. I will look for someone to rent it to when I'm back to visit my family.
I was also thinking about AIrBNB but it's a small town of around 150k people so I don't think it will work. It was not a great idea, it would be much better to wait and buy one in a bigger city, where some of my friends are.

That's the reason I feel kind of homeless now, because I don't want to go back there. The lesson here: never make imortant decisions UNDER stress/shock/mental breakdown/depression etc.
Anyway, even if I rent it out, I would probably like to give the money to my parents since it won't be much for me and could be a nice help from them once they retire.
 
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GlobalWealth

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@GlobalWealth[/USER] Wow!
Of all the countries you've visited, which are your favorites when it comes to overall quality of life (meaning that you could move there for at least a few years and build your business from there)?

This is a difficult question since everyone has their own preferences.

I know @JasonR like southeast Asia.

Personally I prefer Europe, specifically eastern Europe.

I like Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary.

I also like Medellin, Colombia.




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Fpm9

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@Fpm9
No. I just focused fully on this business and I had no idea it would blow up with such a might.
My first goal was to quit the soul-sucking and underpaid job, but I had no goals per se, I was just curious where it would take me if I continue persistently.
Then I started making more and more every month, at some point my income suddenly multiplied by 4. It was a crazy experience, I couldn't believe it. I was thinking about going to the Phillipines, but then at some point I realized I was in love with my ex-gf and I wanted to continue the relation with her. This emotional realization happened during the time of the biggest income growth, which helped me do that.
So I started in January and on September I realized I was already making enough to move to southern France (where she had to study for one year). I was afraid that the income would not be consistent enough but it was not the case, and since the place was so much more expensive than Poland I became super motivated.
After the breakup, when I went back to my hometown, I didn't want to move anywhere, just to have a base to travel from. But by the end of the year I realized I wouldn't last there any longer. I just bought the ticket and boom, found myself in a different world.
So as you can see, I didn't start with the dream of being a "digital nomad" in my mind. I just wanted to quit my job and move out, then my next goal was to become a millionaire, and still is.

I still own the apartament and I don't rent it out, so I'm losing some money every month, but it's not much. I will look for someone to rent it to when I'm back to visit my family.
I was also thinking about AIrBNB but it's a small town of around 150k people so I don't think it will work. It was not a great idea, it would be much better to wait and buy one in a bigger city, where some of my friends are.

That's the reason I feel kind of homeless now, because I don't want to go back there. The lesson here: never make imortant decisions UNDER stress/shock/mental breakdown/depression etc.
Anyway, even if I rent it out, I would probably like to give the money to my parents since it won't be much for me and could be a nice help from them once they retire.

Amazing, thank you for the long detailed answer. Congratulations on your sucessful business. Its cool that your income was consistent and you were able to live in a more expensive country ( I currently live in France, I know some cities inthe south can be stupid expensive ).
If you own the apartment and you're done paying for it, I guess you don't lose much money ? Do you still pay your taxes in Poland ?
 

Mac

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VentureVoyager said:
I'll probably still be here for a while. Shoot me a mssg around that time.
 
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JasonR

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Yeah, CM certainly attracts these people, but I've heard this many times and can't understand one thing: why would it drive you away from this (or any) city? How would that affect you?

Because who you're around directly influences you. Chang Mai is not a bad place, by any means, and it's great if you want to be on your own there and get away from city life. I was there two months last year in my apartment, but I was in my apartment grinding. I also think Chang Mai has too many foreigners for the size of the city, and it's on EVERYONE's radar. By all means, it's a cool place, I just think there are better options in SE Asia. I'll never forget about it as it was where my world travel journey started...

This is a difficult question since everyone has their own preferences.

I know @JasonR like southeast Asia.

Personally I prefer Europe, specifically eastern Europe.

I like Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary.

I also like Medellin, Colombia.

To OP: I can make a list of my favorite places in SE Asia if you're interested. SE Asia has this "wild east" feel and you see and do things you really never see anywhere else in the world. The downsides of Asia can get to you (traffic, grungy feel in some places, the strangeness of it all), where I find it hard to be in Asia all year long. But I will always go back for periods of time - it's just too much fun.

I like Europe a lot, even Eastern Europe, but Eastern Europe is too cold for me in the winter (@GlobalWealth says I'm a pussy). Like he mentioned, Latvia and Hungary are really cool and aren't places many people go. I've never been to Lithuania...yet.

Medellin, Colombia is hands down of my favorite spots in the world for many reasons. Perfect weather, great food, cheap, beautiful women, and the country is beautiful. The downsides are that it's not a great hub for frequent world travel (Medellin airport is tiny), and you HAVE to know Spanish if you're going to live here. The Escobar era still makes most outsiders think Medellin is still dangerous (it's not, really), and it keeps a lot of the foreigners out.
 

GlobalWealth

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I like Europe a lot, even Eastern Europe, but Eastern Europe is too cold for me in the winter (@GlobalWealth says I'm a pussy).

You are...;)

Related to an early comment about relationships while living abroad, I meet many of my friends in my travels. I have seen @JasonR in 3 countries on 2 continents just in 2017.

Building and maintaining relationships are what you make of it. If you believe it is hard or impossible to have relationships with people while living as a dn, then it will be.

If you are intentional about maintaining your relationships, it gets more interesting when you can enjoy cool experiences and build memories together.
 

AgainstAllOdds

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I've been traveling all year and can't agree with some of you guys on the dating aspect. It's a lot easier to get girls, but at a much higher emotional cost.

There's nothing worse than finding a girl you really like and having to leave her because you're on your way to the next place. What attracted me to this lifestyle was the freedom that came with it. No geographic attachments. Just be where you want to be when you want to be. Starting a relationship takes away from that because it's most often limited geographically.

This lifestyle is amazing if you're just looking for one night stands, but if you want to have something serious then it's emotionally taxing.

Let me give you some examples:

Let's say you start your trip in Thailand and meet a great girl. Are you going to cancel the rest of your travels because you want to stay with her? Do you invite her to travel with you, effectively doubling the cost of your lifestyle and significantly altering the foundation of the relationship? Can you trust her? Or do you assume that she's just using you for money, status, etc.?

What if you meet a Chinese girl who has money, is smart, and has a relative amount of freedom... but you want to travel to HK or Japan? She can't go because she's been to HK twice this year (can't get a visa for a third time), and can't go to Japan because they make it incredibly difficult for Chinese people to get Visas.

What if you meet the perfect girl in London and fall in love? She has a life in London but you hate the city. She doesn't want to leave because the city gives her meaning. Do you settle down in a place that you hate? She didn't ask for these problems. She was going about her life. You came to her city and created these questions for her.

Happened to my friend: Let's say you meet a beautiful Russian girl, fall in love, get married, bring her to the States, apply for a green card, but can't get it since it takes years to get. What do you do? Do you have her live in the U.S. illegally and risk the green card process, change to a long distance relationship, or do you move to Shanghai, China because it's the only place the two of you are allowed to live together and can tolerate?

Happened to me: Let's say you meet an amazing girl that's nice, smart, beautiful, and has a great personality. Then as you're dating she gets diagnosed with leukemia at 24. Do you stay in her city and support her emotionally? Do you tell her 'sorry, I know we acted like we're dating, but you knew I was moving on', and then move on like an a**hole while hating yourself? If this was back home, then you'd have no problems taking her to the hospital or visiting her. But now you're in a place that you only planned to be for a month. Are you going to stay here as long as it takes and uproot your entire life? Stay here for years? Are you going to continue on but question yourself the rest of your life? You really like this girl but it's been too short to know if you love her.

This lifestyle takes away closure.

99.9% of people are closely tied to a location. Location-independence on the other hand is about freedom to be where you want to be when you want to be. Romantic relationships are about being with a person you love in close proximity.

All of the issues described above are workable, but definitely harder to deal with than falling in love back home where geography is eliminated from the equation.
 
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SquatchMan

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To OP: I can make a list of my favorite places in SE Asia if you're interested. SE Asia has this "wild east" feel and you see and do things you really never see anywhere else in the world. The downsides of Asia can get to you (traffic, grungy feel in some places, the strangeness of it all), where I find it hard to be in Asia all year long. But I will always go back for periods of time - it's just too much fun.

Not OP, but I've spent some time in SE Asia and am curious about your list.

My top 3 are: Hanoi, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City... in that order. Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng were lots of fun, but no way would I live in Laos. Definitely can relate to that Wild East feeling lol. I'm stealing that one.
 

JasonR

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Not OP, but I've spent some time in SE Asia and am curious about your list.

Here's a list of Asia - these are my opinions from actually living/traveling to these places unless otherwise noted

Favorites:

Bali, Indonesia - Bali, to me, is this mystical enchanted island. I came here for one month and stayed for over 6. I go back every year. If you like beautiful sandy beaches, amazing surf, cheap cost of living (super cheap), blazing red sunsets, and a bit of tropical heat Bali is the place for you. The western food here is amazing, and they have good local food as well (try Warung Bu Mi in Canggu). I learned to surf here, dive here, and have since named businesses after parts of Indonesia. Needless to say, Bali has influenced my life a lot. You may have to hunt here for good internet service, and if you stay in Kuta you may end up hating Bali. The downsides: traffic, riding a motorbike is dangerous, drunken Australians. The English here is good and the local language is easy. Do not miss Uluwatu, Mount Batur, Ubud, and the Tanah Lot temple. The best times to go are in Spring, Summer and Fall (April to November). Rain season is November to March and starting December it gets too hot for me.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - This city took some time to grow on me, but Vietnam is still a bit under the radar. The food is great (local and western), the city is culturally diverse and rapidly expanding, excellent business and expat community, good airport for traveling within Asia, excellent local labor pool, cheap cost of living. The downsides are: it's HOT all year, traffic is pretty insane, bit of a "dirty" feel thats common place in Asia (but not too bad), and the local language is very difficult. Vietnam is a very beautiful country: I did some epic motorbiking from Da Nang to Hue (the ancient city), Ha Long Bay/Hanoi, Mekong Delta, etc. I still want it to make it to Sapa one day (legendary Rice Terrace country).

Thailand - Whenever I go to Thailand I always have a good time, North, South or in the city. The people are very friendly, the food is great, very cheap cost of living, and typically internet is not a problem unless you're in the Southern Islands. I have grown to like Bangkok, however it's the hottest city in the world (average temperature year-round). I remember, one night, we were dripping sweat at 12 am - Bangkok NEVER cools down. Chang Mai - I like Chang Mai, but I can only stay there for about 1-2 months before I get a little bored. Lots of outdoor things to do, the ride to Pai on a motorbike is adventurous, the internet is typically good, food is great. Personally, I think there are too many foreigners moving in. You can live here on the super cheap, if you want to, but I still typically spend the same as I would in Bangkok - I'm not a fan of $300/month apartments but you can do it if you need to save money. Southern Islands: Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Phuket, Koh Pha Ngan, Krabi etc. - I've never seen a crazier place to party then Southern Thailand. I wouldn't go here to focus, but some of these places are a must see. The full moon parties happen on Koh Pha Ngan (and I think Phi Phi as well). The water and snorkeling in the Southern Thailands is also beautiful. Southern Thailand is definitely a beautiful, must see place, but when I was there the internet scarce but booze and bars were plentiful.

Places to visit (but not live)

Phillipines - One paragraph doesn't to the 'Phines justice, but if I had to sum it up: beautiful beaches, amazing diving, beautiful women, and shitty food and hit or miss internet. I don't think I could live here long term, but I've visited a handful of times. Check out Boracay, Palawan/El Nido, Cebu (city), and google for diving as there is great diving all over here.

Cambodia - Visited for 5 days to see the Angkor Wat. Easily the most lawless place I've ever been. I literally think you could get away with murder here, but I didn't feel unsafe either (the "don't be an idiot, rule" applies). Horse drawn tuk tuks, giant temples, shooting an RPG, and the killing fields are a must see.

Singapore - Easily one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to, I have heard only cities in Japan rival the cleanliness here. You could eat off the street, literally. A beautiful city that feels almost Utopic, but threatens to get boring after 4 days. The Marina Bay Sands and Botanical gardens are must-sees. The Public Transit (MRT) here is excellent and will get you anywhere you need to go. Expensive! Singapore is pretty expensive (food, drink, etc.) but surprisingly the 5 star hotels aren't bad. Fastest internet I've ever seen anywhere, and a big banking hub (but don't expect to be able to open an account here as an American).

Malaysia - Malaysia is one place I won't mind if I never go back here. I found KL and Panang to be super boring, I didn't like the local food (too sweet), and generally, many of the people were rude. The one exception for food here is that the Indian Cuisine is excellent as there are a lot of immigrants from India. I hear the diving in South Malaysia is supposed to be good but I'm not in a hurry to go back.

Laos - I've only been here very briefly. Very beautiful country but pretty boring. If you're thinking about Laotian girls - well it's illegal for them to date you. I'm not really sure why you'd go here unless you're motorcycling through or visiting the Golden Triangle.

China - I've been here on business several times, and I don't really enjoy China much at all. It's super hot, dirty, the food is either amazing or horrible (try Yunnan cuisine at a good restaurant). I usually stay in 5 stars in China and don't venture out much. However, their cities are MASSIVE and it's sort of neat to see but am always happy to leave. The people are genuinely rude by western standards. Sorry China, I want to like you but I can't.

Exceptions: Hong Kong - I really like Hong Kong even though it is relatively expensive and small. Hong Kong isn't really China (just don't tell the Chinese that). I've also heard great things about Taiwan.

On the list: Borneo, Papa New Guinea, Brunei, Myanmar, Timor, Korea - these are off the beaten places in South Easy Asia that I really want to visit. From diving, biodiversity, to relatively strange places most people never see (with the exception of Korea), I can't wait to go. There is a company that does tours in North Korea, and I'd love to that (a buddy of mine has done it), however you have to realize, if you are an American, there is some danger to the trip (don't tell any of the locals you're American - tell them you're Canadian if asked).

Hope this helps. If you have questions, ask away.
 

JasonR

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This lifestyle is amazing if you're just looking for one night stands, but if you want to have something serious then it's emotionally taxing.

Although I can see where you're coming from, I respectfully disagree.

Let's say you start your trip in Thailand and meet a great girl. Are you going to cancel the rest of your travels because you want to stay with her? Do you invite her to travel with you, effectively doubling the cost of your lifestyle and significantly altering the foundation of the relationship? Can you trust her? Or do you assume that she's just using you for money, status, etc.?

The answer is: it depends. I have extended my travel because I met a woman. I already had accommodations in another country, but it's just money. Personally, I don't see a problem helping a woman out to live the lifestyle YOU are accustomed to. I draw the line at financially supporting the person (ex: they don't do anything to contribute, financially, to the relationship) but I don't mind paying for some things such as flights, etc. Ultimately, it comes down to what you value more: constantly traveling, or perhaps you'll find someone where you don't mind compromising and rooting yourself somewhere - even if for half the year.

What if you meet the perfect girl in London and fall in love? She has a life in London but you hate the city. She doesn't want to leave because the city gives her meaning. Do you settle down in a place that you hate? She didn't ask for these problems. She was going about her life. You came to her city and created these questions for her.

She also opened herself up when dating a traveler (if you're being honest with her). I honestly don't understand this point - you either aren't going to spend enough time in London to fall for someone if you truly hate it, or you'd be willing to spend more time in London if this person truly mattered to you. If you know you're going to leave a place, make sure that's clear to both of you, and either person cannot blame each other.

Happened to me: Let's say you meet an amazing girl that's nice, smart, beautiful, and has a great personality. Then as you're dating she gets diagnosed with leukemia at 24. Do you stay in her city and support her emotionally? Do you tell her 'sorry, I know we acted like we're dating, but you knew I was moving on', and then move on like an a**hole while hating yourself?

This sucks that this happened to you, but if you were clear in the beginning, you shouldn't feel guilty that she became a sick that neither of you could foresee or control. Again, it comes down to knowing what you want.

If you know you're living the location independent lifestyle for the next year or two, make that known, and accept it yourself. You're going to be single for a while, no big deal. You may end up meeting an amazing woman, keep traveling, and then realize how much you actually miss her and end up making it work. Who knows...

To say that no woman can live the lifestyle we live - that's just a self limiting belief. Sure, MOST people have roots, and don't have the freedom we do, but you CAN find women that do. You just need to look in the right places.

Personally, I have many friends who are in interracial, intercontinental relationships and they are some of the happiest couples I know.

Yes, it can take some planning, some compromising, but every relationship takes work and effort.
 
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G

Guest06196

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There are plenty of third party shippers, 3PLs, warehouses, Amazon fulfillment, etc. that will happily fulfill your product. I have one friend who packed up his warehouse and left the country, and saved money by outsourcing his shipping/warehousing needs.

Hi @JasonR
Thanks for your post. I've been thinking about the same thing but how can we prevent fraud by fake manufacturers if I use fulfillment companies?

Their SOP would be taking delivery instantly and next sorting the items inside. But we're supposed to open and examine the content in the box before taking over and signing for the delivery. (horrible stories include receiving a box of scrap paper or a brick) (Remediation measures after signing for the delivery would not be worth the time and effort, even if successful.)

I don't think the fulfillment guys would do that for ya? Especially when you're not a big client so how do you or your friends handle this issue?
 

JasonR

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I don't think the fulfillment guys would do that for ya? Especially when you're not a big client so how do you or your friends handle this issue?

There are inspection companies (on shore and off shore) you can use, and I recommend you do.
 

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Really cool thread:) As someone who is excited to see Southeast Asia I'm getting a lot of value and motivation here, thanks guys.

I just started following SinisterLex here on the forum because copywriting seems like a really good way to start generating location-independent income while also learning valuable skills that apply to other business projects.

I started thinking... say I join Upwork and hone my skills as a copy writer, and some time from now I'm earning around $1500 per month from that skill. It sounds like you can live well for half of that in parts of Asia. What would be keeping me from moving to SE Asia for awhile, and setting aside the extra money I'd be saving to invest into other business assets? (like saving up to buy a small apartment as in G Alexander's GOLD thread here: GOLD - STOP Paying Rent: Live For Free or GlobalWealth's thread here: Notable! - Live Rent Free in Multiple Countries
 
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AgainstAllOdds

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Although I can see where you're coming from, I respectfully disagree.



The answer is: it depends. I have extended my travel because I met a woman. I already had accommodations in another country, but it's just money. Personally, I don't see a problem helping a woman out to live the lifestyle YOU are accustomed to. I draw the line at financially supporting the person (ex: they don't do anything to contribute, financially, to the relationship) but I don't mind paying for some things such as flights, etc. Ultimately, it comes down to what you value more: constantly traveling, or perhaps you'll find someone where you don't mind compromising and rooting yourself somewhere - even if for half the year.



She also opened herself up when dating a traveler (if you're being honest with her). I honestly don't understand this point - you either aren't going to spend enough time in London to fall for someone if you truly hate it, or you'd be willing to spend more time in London if this person truly mattered to you. If you know you're going to leave a place, make sure that's clear to both of you, and either person cannot blame each other.



This sucks that this happened to you, but if you were clear in the beginning, you shouldn't feel guilty that she became a sick that neither of you could foresee or control. Again, it comes down to knowing what you want.

If you know you're living the location independent lifestyle for the next year or two, make that known, and accept it yourself. You're going to be single for a while, no big deal. You may end up meeting an amazing woman, keep traveling, and then realize how much you actually miss her and end up making it work. Who knows...

To say that no woman can live the lifestyle we live - that's just a self limiting belief. Sure, MOST people have roots, and don't have the freedom we do, but you CAN find women that do. You just need to look in the right places.

Personally, I have many friends who are interracial, intercontinental relationships and they are some of the happiest couples I know.

Yes, it can take some planning, some compromising, but every relationship takes work and effort.

I get some of your points, and you can find women that accommodate this lifestyle, but it goes back to my point:

"All of the issues described above are workable, but definitely harder to deal with than falling in love back home where geography is eliminated from the equation."

Here's why I think it's harder:

If you want to find a woman that accommodates this lifestyle, then you'll be severely limiting your dating pool. And I don't think that it's a limiting belief at all. Just simple stats.

People that can do what we do fall into one of the following categories:
  • Entrepreneurs (Location independent)
  • Freelancers (Location independent)
  • Wealthy and traveling
  • Another exception to the rule
Those four categories combined are likely a fraction of 1% of the available dating pool.

This year I've gone on dates with women that included a lawyer, doctor, a girl working for the UN, and a product inventor/entrepreneur. All of these women were great, but tied to their location. The lawyer can't change jurisdictions, the doctor can't get a license in a different country, the girl working for the UN can't call shots at the UN, and the product inventor can't leave her team. Obviously with a bit of convincing and mindset shifting anything can happen, but that comes at the cost of uprooting their lives and identities.



Also I understand your point of being clear and setting expectations with each relationship, but even with complete clarity, your and her emotions work how they want to work. And in my experience and opinion, if you'd made a significant enough impression, then you'll be asked to commit at some point. At that point you have the question of committing (whether that be to location or a long-distance relationship), or risking upsetting that person by saying that you can't commit.

All I'm saying is that relationships are more emotionally taxing.
 

Jake

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There is a company that does tours in North Korea, and I'd love to that (a buddy of mine has done it), however you have to realize, if you are an American, there is some danger to the trip (don't tell any of the locals you're American - tell them you're Canadian if asked).
My buddies company in BKK does tours there but I believe it may all be going away soon. He just returned about a week ago. Said it's still a great place to visit...beer prices seem inline with Vietnam ha.
His company caters to the very high end (CEO / Celebs) but if you have any questions I can put you in touch.
 

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Really cool thread:) As someone who is excited to see Southeast Asia I'm getting a lot of value and motivation here, thanks guys.

I just started following SinisterLex here on the forum because copywriting seems like a really good way to start generating location-independent income while also learning valuable skills that apply to other business projects.

I started thinking... say I join Upwork and hone my skills as a copy writer, and some time from now I'm earning around $1500 per month from that skill. It sounds like you can live well for half of that in parts of Asia. What would be keeping me from moving to SE Asia for awhile, and setting aside the extra money I'd be saving to invest into other business assets? (like saving up to buy a small apartment as in G Alexander's GOLD thread here: GOLD - STOP Paying Rent: Live For Free or GlobalWealth's thread here: Notable! - Live Rent Free in Multiple Countries

The only person stopping you is yourself. If money gets tight, then you can teach/tutor English, work in a hostel, lead bar tours, sell motorcycles to foreigners, teach SCUBA, scam tourists in Bangkok (jk don't do this), etc. I met people doing all of those things.

And it depends on your definition of "live well" but you can certainly survive on $750/month in some parts of SE Asia. I wouldn't really call it living well, but people make it work.

For reference, when I was 20 years old I traveled all over SE Asia and I spent a month in an alright hostel dorm in Vietnam and was paying $7/night. My food was about $5/day and then I had to buy gas for my motorcycle.

I also spent way too much on beer. Lots of beer. Way too much beer. The trip was lots of fun though. No regrets. Would recommend/10.

You'll love it. I was you when I was younger. Debating if I should go travel or not and reading all the information I could. Then one day I closed my eyes and ordered my ticket. Best decision of my life and everything has worked out ok.

Sometimes I regret coming back to the US :(
 
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GlobalWealth

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I'd say narrowing the dating pool is a good thing.

You can play until you actually meet someone you want to spend time with and travel with who is also capable of matching your lifestyle.

It's not easy but it can also make you pickier.

Sent from my VTR-L29 using Tapatalk
 

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The only person stopping you is yourself. If money gets tight, then you can teach/tutor English, work in a hostel, lead bar tours, sell motorcycles to foreigners, teach SCUBA, scam tourists in Bangkok (jk don't do this), etc. I met people doing all of those things.

And it depends on your definition of "live well" but you can certainly survive on $750/month in some parts of SE Asia. I wouldn't really call it living well, but people make it work.

For reference, when I was 20 years old I traveled all over SE Asia and I spent a month in an alright hostel dorm in Vietnam and was paying $7/night. My food was about $5/day and then I had to buy gas for my motorcycle.

I also spent way too much on beer. Lots of beer. Way too much beer. The trip was lots of fun though. No regrets. Would recommend/10.

You'll love it. I was you when I was younger. Debating if I should go travel or not and reading all the information I could. Then one day I closed my eyes and ordered my ticket. Best decision of my life and everything has worked out ok.

Sometimes I regret coming back to the US :(

Nice experience man

I'm off to Asia in a few weeks for an indefinite trip. Thanks for the motivation!
 

biophase

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Hi @JasonRBut we're supposed to open and examine the content in the box before taking over and signing for the delivery.

I don't open the boxes before signing for delivery. If you get a pallet or box of bricks it's too late already you've paid for the goods a month ago.
 
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biophase

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Here's why I think it's harder:

If you want to find a woman that accommodates this lifestyle, then you'll be severely limiting your dating pool. And I don't think that it's a limiting belief at all. Just simple stats.

People that can do what we do fall into one of the following categories:
  • Entrepreneurs (Location independent)
  • Freelancers (Location independent)
  • Wealthy and traveling
  • Another exception to the rule
Those four categories combined are likely a fraction of 1% of the available dating pool.

This year I've gone on dates with women that included a lawyer, doctor, a girl working for the UN, and a product inventor/entrepreneur. All of these women were great, but tied to their location.

This is not just for travelers. I don't date doctors or lawyers. In fact, it's a turn off for me. It's not even the fact that they are tied to a location, but it's more of the high stress job and high number of work hours. That lifestyle doesn't mesh with mine at all. I don't mind someone tied to a location, but having 2 weeks of vacation a year is deal breaker for me.
 

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Inspired by @JasonR 's favorite places post earlier in the thread (good stuff, I agree with your choices 100%) - I'll take a few min to list my own before I start my grind today :)

But first - this --

I'd say narrowing the dating pool is a good thing.
You can play until you actually meet someone you want to spend time with and travel with who is also capable of matching your lifestyle.
It's not easy but it can also make you pickier.

I completely agree!

Of course, I'm at an advantage because I met my girlfriend of 4 years in the states, and we formed similar mindsets in regards to traveling/DN together.
It's been a great experience for us, but we had our fair share of hiccups while we were away - and even spent some time split up and single.

All I can say is this: I very much believe in having a TON in common with your life partner (if a life partner is what you seek).
I've done it both ways for extended periods in my life: partners with a ton in common, and others who "made up for my weaknesses"... or however you want to justify it. I think the downfalls of having too much in common are FAR outweighed by the pitfalls of not.

With a location independent mindset and lifestyle, it's critical you find someone who feels the same or who can quickly convert.
It's similar to religion in a lot of ways... you can settle for someone with a different mindset, but you know deep down you're F*cking yourself (and her... no pun).

Luckily, if you're FULLY exploring the community of like-minded individuals in each place you visit, there are some amazing people... and many of them are single.
This lifestyle can automatically do the hard part for you -- filtering. It's like going to church 24/7/365... KNOWING that everyone there has a critical component in common with you. (I'm not religious by any definition of the word, by the way) Rearranging travel plans to accommodate one another is a drop in the bucket, at least compared to finding someone you click with.

Anyway, my .02 on that. I guess, as with anything in this world -- everyone's experience is different, and YMMV.

Now -- My favorite places over the past 2 years.

----------Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Tao, Koh Lanta and Bali----------
All absolutely amazing in their own ways...
But I'm not going to spend time on these -- just see @JasonR previous post, or read one of the thousands of articles written or YT videos on them.

----------Macedonia: Skopje & Ohrid----------
Yep... somehow, by accident, these off-the-map spots made our favorite list last year.
We were sitting at a coworking place in Barcelona, trying to decide whether or not to stay for the following month.
After a bit of contemplation, I decided to open up SkyScanner and see what interesting "value" flights were available from "Barcelona to Anywhere in the World"...

There was a deal on Macedonia for roughly $19/USD one way on a local airline!
But the flight left in 1 hour, and we couldn't book it online!

My GF looked at me and said "Macedonia sounds like it could be cool..."
I looked at her and said "Totally agree! Let's do it!" -- and we grabbed our shit and jumped in the first cab.

When it was all said and done, we spent about 3 weeks total in Skopje (the capital), and 10 days or so in Ohrid (a little lake town on the Albanian border).

The govt. is corrupt as shit, but the country is pretty fantastic as a whole... especially for the value.
Cost-wise, it's a similar value proposition to Thailand -- inexpensive-but-nice lodging, cheap-but-good food, great internet and cell service, etc.

The nightlife in both cities was fantastic...
There are absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful women crawling all over Skopje (at night anyway... not sure where they hide in the daytime).
I'm not sure about the men. I guess I should ask my GF about these things so I'm informed from both sides :)

Ohrid is STUNNING.
It's on "Europe's oldest lake", and is a UNESCO Cultural AND Natural Heritage site.
Think: tiny cobblestone streets winding through a 2000+ year old castle-like town built on the side of a beautiful lake.
Coffee shops, bars/clubs/restaurants, water sports, and great [but very unhealthy] local food.
We paid about $24/nt for a loft apartment in the old city with this view:

rZb9Hi1.jpg


Yep...

We could have stayed there for a few months easily, and hope to make it back at some point.

Anyway, there's a lot more to write about Macedonia.. including the bad stuff (corruption, people are cold at first, etc), but I'd highly encourage you to go and spend some time developing your own opinion. My job isn't to shove mine down your throat!


----------Prague, Czech Republic----------
I can't say enough about this place, and don't need to... look it up.
Go there.
Try leaving once you're there ;)
Hands down the most beautiful city I've ever seen (likely due to the fact that the city received very little damage during WWII, as is almost all original and intact).


----------Shenzhen, China----------
Let me get this out of the way... I LOVE HONG KONG. It's amazeballs.
It's also currently holds the title for "most expensive city in the world".

So how do you get the beauty and geographic location of Hong Kong, without the ridiculous price tag?
Go a few mins away to Shenzhen.

Yes yes, it's behind the firewall of China...
Yes, it's a much newer city without a lot of the flavor of HK...
And no, it's no substitute for HK itself -- but it's within spitting distance!

Shenzhen rose up out of a literal pile of dirt in recent history, and was purpose-built to test China's new economic policies.
And it's a WONDERFUL city.

It's lush and green in many places, with awesome spots to live, work, shop, and play.
It's incredibly affordable, and feels really great from a value perspective.
The expat community is thriving there.
The locals seem to be happier and have all-around better attitudes than in cities like Beijing (or even Shanghai)
The business opportunities are massive in Shenzhen as well (big export and technology scene).

XZpIo15.jpg

(Going to pick up my DJI Mavic drone from their HQ store when it was released.. gives you an idea of what the public/shopping areas look like in town)

I would say Shanghai edges out Shenzhen for me only barely, and purely based on the sheer magnitude of the former (I love huge cities).
That being said, I think I'd rather spend an extended period of time working & living in Shenzhen, over any other "mainland Chinese" city.

Just pick up a decent VPN service (or three), if you want to stay connected to the rest of the world.
And if you plan on staying a while, a cell phone from Hong Kong will permanently get you around the firewall if you do it right.

There's a few of my favs... perhaps I'll do another list later!
 

Jake

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Let me get this out of the way... I LOVE HONG KONG. It's amazeballs.
It's also currently holds the title for "most expensive city in the world".

So how do you get the beauty and geographic location of Hong Kong, without the ridiculous price tag?
Go a few mins away to Shenzhen.
I absolulutely love Shenzhen. Not a fan of the firewalll but that just means I need to sit at a pub and use their VPN which they openly advertise..ha. The SSID I picked up while walking by was (FREE_VPN_BEER) or something similar.

Futian is the place, Shekou pretty cool as well.
 
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This thread should be #notable, there's some awesome advice and info in this thread. I can't comment too much because most of the places mentioned in this thread I have already been to and great points have already been made about them. It really all comes down to personal preference. I would hop around every 2-3 months from country to country.

For me, I didn't like Mainland China (I was in Tianjin, Beijin, Shenzhen and Hangzhou). I was in Honk Kong for a couple months all over (Wanchai, Central, TST). I enjoyed it for a month and then I was done. I have visited Taipei and really enjoyed the night markets, the food is so good! I couldn't live there though for more than a week or two. I was in Bali and fell in love immediately. My next trip is out to Phuket, maybe Kuta or Patong. Tokyo is also on my radar. Out of all the places I've visited in Asia, Bali takes the cake for me by a long shot. I could see myself spending several months there at a time and never getting bored.

As for the topic of relationships, you don't go to these places to date seriously and fall in love. Keep in mind, most of the locals will mind F*ck you and make you fall in love with them for the sole purpose of a one way ticket out. It's so easily detectable, but most guys are gullible, especially guys who have had no dating experience in their entire lifetime. If you're going to date and have fun, be honest with the person upfront and don't get your emotions twisted.
 
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I've never been to Asia and I'm far from being a digital nomad, but I live in a different city / country every 6 to 12 months since I graduated from high school.
Women / dating is not something that is involved in my life goals, and I won't give up my goals for some girl. Sometimes I meet a girl I like, but I know I'll be in a different country in a few months so I never get too attached.
 

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This is not just for travelers. I don't date doctors or lawyers. In fact, it's a turn off for me. It's not even the fact that they are tied to a location, but it's more of the high stress job and high number of work hours. That lifestyle doesn't mesh with mine at all. I don't mind someone tied to a location, but having 2 weeks of vacation a year is deal breaker for me.

+Rep

This post was short but succinct and significantly changed my outlooked. I need to change up my approach.
 
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Leo Hendrix

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Here's is your problem. You want a certain lifestyle but haven't attained any skills to enable it. You talk about slave labor on upwork, which most people call a job or freelancing. What's wrong with living in Bali and working on your laptop? If you won't even do that, then what do you expect?

Your mindset is keeping you from getting there because you haven't earned it or tried to earn it yet.

So go get a skill that remote people will pay for. Once you do that, you don't need to live off savings or make cash fast online.

Thanks @biophase

I was referring to my own situation of working as a medical transcriptor which would have translated to less than $1 per hour. NO shame in honest hard work.

You're absolutely right though so I just had to do an audit of my experience, skills and talent and begin from ground zero again. I found some decent paying work as well as some freelance and remote work positions I am applying for.

And yeah I am in South-East Asia, working from my laptop.
 

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Super interesting thread, really enjoyed reading through this.

I left Australia in May last year with a fat bank account and an idea for a product I wanted to develop for licensing. I remember excitedly posting on here about all the different countries I would be backpacking through, and @JasonR gently let me know it's better to spend at least a few months in one location if serious about it. True words.

Spent 3 months in Phuket at tiger muay thai getting fit again after a pretty grueling 4 year stint in oil and gas. Then Saigon for 3 months (I didn't like it so much though, I named my road "death street") then 6 months in Bali and now am in Hanoi.

Bali is definitely the best but I have been there about 15 times in the last 4 years so it's kind of a home away from home anyway, but it's different as an expat. Canggu is my favourite place in the world and has the best coworking space where I learnt a lot and made a lot of friends.

Here's a funny thing.. I'm better - much better - friends with the people I have met traveling and at coworking spaces after only a few weeks or months than I am with guys I worked with for 4 years in oil and gas. Friendships and even a love life are better starred for me in this area than if I was back stuck in Perth. I actually had a relationship break up with a girl I was with for quite a few years because she was afraid of taking a jump. And she was a shit hot programmer that could have made plenty working remotely and started her own thing 100 x easier than me. Life is weird sometimes lol.

Biggest thing I learnt is the difference between a "digital nomad" (by the way did anyone see that cringeworthy millenial viral video on being a DN? Puke..) working for someone else and an entrepreneur with their own business. Nothing wrong with working remotely but I know what I prefer.

Motivation can be a problem sometimes. Not a lot of people to talk to about what I was trying to do. But I found a great match for what I need in Hanoi. Really amazing city. I teach English to some pretty cool youngsters from 5-7 pm every afternoon. Gives me more than enough money to break even (and that's living in Tay Ho, the more expensive expat suburb) but more importantly something to give me a bit of a routine but still give me plenty of time to work on my project. I was losing it for a period there to be honest.

@JasonR your list is great, I really strongly suggest Myanmar for a trip, particularly the hot air balloon in Bagan. It's not all year round though.

As for the future, the only thing that gets me excited location wise is Sth and Central America. Particularly BA, Colombia and Guatemala. Would love to buy a van and drive down to Patagonia. That will have to be once the grind is done though, so may be in Hanoi for a few years.

One thing is for sure though, never gonna know what you come across till you bite the bullet. I could still be stuck doing manual labour (well paid, but shit life) on a hot as hell desert island in the middle of nowhere. I'm a completely different and much happier guy now though.
 
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