Digital Nomad Blog Carnival #7
24. Jan, 2010 
20 Comments
I’m this month’s host of DNBC, a traveling (from blog to blog) online carnival– a digest of the most recent month’s best posts for anyone who interested in the live-anywhere work-anywhere lifestyle (we call them digital nomads).
Money
I’ll start out this month’s edition with a piece I found on yahoo.com’s homepage this morning. US News’ 21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without (by the way, I love when a print publication writes something in a list format, which is so borrowed from the online world), which talks about all the stuff we used to spend money on before the economy went to hell and consequently, hey look, life isn’t so bad without $7 carmel-mocha-venti-whathaveyous and (gasp) putting things on your credit card with no plan of paying it off. In fact some people are saying the trimmed down lifestyle actually simplifies their life and frees them to focus on other things. A great reminder (or refresher) for anyone trying to scale down their own lives.
Real Life Education
Want to learn French? Learn how to sail a boat? Isn’t that a big reason why most people dream of traveling? It’s not the security lines at the airport, that’s for sure. It’s learning about another culture through whatever door appeals to you the most– and in this case, you can learn all of these things from anywhere. The School of Continuing Education from Brainpickings.org lists some of the more interesting online offerings for uncredited education. My favorite is the LaidOffCamp’s offering of “How to be a Digital Nomad.” Brilliant.
Technology
Just released this month, the super cute, very tiny Asus laptops just announced that they’ll be packaging the Boingo software on new releases. Boingo, if you’re not aware, is the wifi service used all over the place (like airports) but it costs about $5/hr to connect. I’m not a fan of pay-per-use wifi, but this deal includes a 50% discount for Asus owners, which might be just enough for me to trade in my beat down Dell and get one of those mini devices myself.
Fellow Nomads
Vicky Baker from the Guardian actually contacted me for this piece, so I have a little pride in knowing that one of her sources was recommended by me (they all had to be UK based). She wrote this great piece for the Guardian.co.uk, Escapees Traveling the World While Working Online. There’s some great profiles of folks (from all different phases of life) who have made the leap.
The New Vanguard
I love it when folks get together to create something great, something bigger than their individual efforts. Recently The Untemplater launched, a brand new site dedicated to the finer points of living the unscripted life. They’ve even written a manifesto, which despite sounding like something written by cave dwelling geniuses with at least slightly malevolent tendencies, is actually a collection of six case studies for living off-the-beaten path. Looking forward to reading more from this group.
Kill Your Online Life
Finally, I’ll leave you with this video from the Web 2.0 Suicide Machine. I’m not there yet, but there is something inherently appealing about simply killing off your Facebook profile, ignoring all emails and dismantling your online connections one by one. I don’t think it’s all or nothing– these tools make a lot of what I do possible– but I do sense that growing frustration (which I share) about all the ways the online world creeps into your daily life.
pic: Don Solo
I never know whether to refer to it as “digital nomad” or “location independent professional” – either way there seem to be more and more popping up.
Dark Nomad´s last blog ..5 Things You Don’t Want to Hear in a Third World Hospital
DN-
I know, I’m the same way. I don’t like either, actually. And there are dozens of other versions that people use as their personal brands, so it gets more confusing. Although I like Digital Nomad a little more because it implies far-flung travel, whereas LIP could just be a consultant living in an Hilton in Dallas.
Agreed… both LIP and Digital Nomad are not completely descriptive of the lifestyle many of us are living. I’ve seen ‘digital nomad’ frequently used for telecommuters working from the coffee shop around the corner instead of their cubicle… as well as full time travelers.
I’ve had anthropologists tell us that we’re ‘Fully Mobile Professionals’. But ya know, it just doesn’t quite have the same ring as say, technomad
Awesome list, Christine. Love that you found stuff outside the community that is relevant to the DNBC.
“something written by cave dwelling geniuses with at least slightly malevolent tendencies”? I guess I’ll take that as a compliment!
Great carnival, thanks Christine.
Cody McKibben´s last blog ..Untemplater Weekend Reading: Security Edition
Christine –
Thanks for highlighting Untemplater. I missed the launch. It’s a mouthful, but I think it’s an excellent example of how multi-author blogs will make a strong showing in 2010.
The synergies are there. Individual bloggers gain experience on their own, then come together in joint efforts to build platforms with greater reach.
And wow, when I saw all the authors they have listed, I was really surprised: http://untemplater.com/meet-the-authors/
It’s as though they’re building a self-sustaining community site (kinda like a Matador) for the lifestyle design niche. I have no doubt they’re going to be successful as a result.
Dave´s last blog ..Coming February 1: Travel Blog Success
I’ve been referred to as a flashpacker with a laptop. My head swirls with the definitions, since I’m new to this whole concept, but I’m sure I’ll find the right term for me. Great article and very useful resources. I’ve bookmarked Blog Carnival for a look-see later.
Nomadic Chick´s last blog ..Decluttering Update
Hello.
We have a blog about travel, and we would like to invite you to visit us and you can find to translate on the right side of the page.
Thank you very much, and we hope you enjoy.
http://www.viagemafora.blogspot.com
best regards
Antonio & Ellen
viagemafora´s last blog ..Edinburgh
Thanks for this cool, eclectic collection. I’m intrigued by The School of Continuing Education. Compared to a few years ago, worldwide online learning options are more exciting than ever.
Sonya´s last blog ..Going Greener In France
@Dave, thanks for the really encouraging words about Untemplater mate! And Christine, thanks for including it in your roundup. When life cools down for you, we’d LOVE to have a guest article from you!
Cody McKibben´s last blog ..Untemplater Interview: Seth Godin
Thanks for sharing all of the interesting links. I really liked “21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without”. I definitely find that while living abroad and traveling I can easily do without so many silly things I thought I needed just a few years ago. I hope my attitude will stay that way forever – even when I return back home to Cincinnati one day.
I really enjoyed The School of Continuing Education post! Great links in this Carnival!
Claudine´s last blog ..A Visit to Phi Phi in Thailand
Thanks for sharing the links. I particularly liked the 21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without article. The window shopping paragraph was my favourite!
Jenna´s last blog ..Academy Hostel is the Best Hostel in Florence Italy
My best friend and I struggled with this very same question when trying to apply a label to what she is doing- flashpacker, digital nomad, life untethered, homeless hehe
we sort of liked homeless :>) Anyway we are just in the infancy stages of creating her web presence where she tells her story about how she has chucked a 6 figure job for a life of greater fulfillment and adventure. We will be working on the naming dilemma ourselves! You can check out the humble beginnings at http://www.gypsychicktravels.com
Jennifer Nelson´s last blog ..Ning Networks and WordPress Integration
wow, lot´s of info to browse through! I really want to become a digital nomad! going to research more about it!
Adriana´s last blog ..you can’t live in it, but you can’t live without it
This is such a great roundup, Christine. It will be uber-helpful to others who want to take that leap and fun reading for the rest of us location-dependent people.
Whoa. That is a lot of stuff. You have such an enteraining style. I just love reading your work. I am going to have to put in some time to look at some of these really interesting links.
Arlene´s last blog ..Vancouver – Host of the 2010 Winter Olympics
I really enjoyed the format of this article, Christine. A nice concept, really well executed. The Asus info was particularly interesting. Well researched, thank you.
Ant´s last blog ..“So Profound!”
I read Vicky Baker’s piece not too long ago. Certainly inspiring! As is The Untemplater and “21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without” (we really need much less than we think – and it’s important to differentiate needs from wants).
Killing my whole online life is nothing I’d even consider though, but erasing little bits of it that no longer matter – of course. Our online worlds are constantly growing and, to get the most value from them, I believe we need to “kill” certain parts as time passes.
Erica´s last blog ..10 Ski Holiday Tips by bmibaby
I love the saying have laptop will travel, but then the downside to that is travelling with something that can result in work.
I read the US New article a while back and definitely fall into the category of doing without many things that used to be such common place. Crazy how quick things change in that regard.
WGR´s last blog ..Kid-Friendly Vacations and Hotels in the US
Digital nomad? Thumbs up. LiP? Meh! I gather that a lot of DN’s and LiP’s are actually earning a living and doing it enjoying themselves?!?!? What is this world turning into? Work is not supposed to be ENJOYED! It’s about suffering. Or maybe I was born 40 years too late.
I do appreciate the retirement bennies, however.
-td
TerryDarc´s last blog ..Namibian Photo Gallery