standing on the shoulders of the digital nomad innovators

sometime last week my friend, jason, sent me this article: Ditching the office to work in paradise as a “digital nomad” has a hidden dark side.

it seems like the overall thrust of the article is this: the digital nomad lifestyle is actually not that great.

ross, my jungle partner, and i think about digital nomad lifestyle (it fits into what ross calls the #5to9) a lot. we’re both actually really excited to try it out/we’re already doing it. 

i think maybe the above article is an example of first wave digital nomadism and what we’re doing/thinking about is part of the second wave. i think the following factors/thoughts are some of the distinctions:

• endless vacation is not the goal (it’s also a myth and actually a terrible thing); seeing the world and making your work better is A goal.
• travel in itself is not valuable. it’s all about what you learn and then do with the lessons that is valuable.
• community and relationships matter. travel is not a replacement for meaningful, long-term relationships (family, friends, lovers) and the benefits (and downsides) of community.
  
• traveling the world may feel urgent and important in one phase of life and totally uninteresting in another. one might want it in varying degrees at different points in time. i have many management consulting friends who would do anything for three months at home. i also have other friends would do anything to quit their jobs and travel for a year. as with most things, there is a balance, the balance changes over time, and the real highest value happens when people have the flexibility and ability to live life how they want at any given time.

so basically, the first wave of digital nomads did a lot of testing. maybe we’re a part of round two.

ps - there’s a particular phrase that floats around the queer world that seems apt here. “partnered/married but with a long chain…” do with that what you will. ;)