The secrets about being a digital nomad that no one wants to talk about

The secrets about being a digital nomad that no one wants to talk about

#digitalnomad #travel #georgia

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This upcoming August will mark my 5-year career as an official digital nomad. I don't call myself one, but for the article's point, today I will. 
The first two years I was working remotely, legally, all of my employers knew I was traveling, which is why I took the jobs, and then when I lost my online job to covid, I had to restrategize. 

So yes, five years, full-time-ish. I have never worked at the beach or anywhere near a beach. First, I do not like the beach, unless it is a beach on a lake or river, the ocean, no way, no how. 

I only go when someone else wants to go. Now I have worked overlooking mountains as I write this. Yet I am inside, away from the elements of the weather, because that is real life.

I do not fly first class, stay in five-star hotels, or have a company telling you how to be a digital nomad. Since most digital nomads market to the younger crowd, they sell a lifestyle. 
In reality, it is not anything like social media.
We travel by public buses.

The secrets about being a digital nomad that no one wants to discuss; let's move on, shall we?
If you are a solo traveler like myself, life on the road can get lonely, and you will spend almost all your time alone. 
I love to be alone, but I sometimes crave human connection. When this happens, I usually book a volunteer gig to interact with people who are similar to me and for me to make some friends. Then after a few weeks, I will spend about two months recharging.

While at a volunteer gig, the wifi is not always great, so my work almost always sacrifices. Luckily I freelance and work to reschedule articles or videos, but often when I volunteer, I might not pay for anything and do not make any money.

However, digital nomads are at the mercy of the wifi connection; sometimes, a volunteer site or a remote village I want to visit does not have wifi, and I have to decide. 

Usually, I will spend the month before working like a mad woman, so I can travel somewhere that I want to see. Most of my DN friends often stay in the bigger cities for this reason and will take a weekend exploring. 
I can not live in a city; my soul slowly dies. So I figure out ways to cut back on costs, and right now, I even have a wifi plan so I can still work and be in a remote village.

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We miss our families, or at least I do. 
However, most digital nomads who travel full-time go home often, at least once or twice yearly. I like living in a country closer to my family, and being on the other side of the world is challenging as I can not just hop on a plane and be home in a few hours. 

When I was living in Colombia, I was so much closer; I went home three times last year, and it was a quick, easy flight. As much as I love this part of the world, I am still determining if I could stay here for longer than a year because I miss my family, and that flight is pricey. 
I miss being in the same time zone as family and friends, even though most of my DN friends are in Latin America.

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A personal struggle for me is I would love to adopt a dog from the street; I saw a cutie last night and fell in love.

full article linked here

https://linktr.ee/saraaliceburdick