About becoming a nomad [2015/7/14]

I have started reading Medium and I like it. It definitely has better content than most blogs or news.

So few days ago, I ran across an article about living a nomadic life, traveling around and doing what you want.

Personally, I like the article and I recommend all of my friends and others to travel as much as possible and see the world so that they can expand their thoughts.

However, living a nomad life style is actually quite hard and there are downsides.

First, it is stressful. It looks fun but you have to plan a lot and be very disciplined. One bad move and you will be without your wallet and passport, specially in developing nations. Also, you may be too focused on having fun that you forget to work and run into a deficit. Trust me, it is cheap abroad but not free...Also, the stress is compounded when you have to adapt to a new place every time. Yes, you will be more experienced but still adaptation is not instant and takes time and effort.

Second, security concerns. Some places are outright violent and dangerous. Other places have hygiene issues. Also, your money is not safe. Lot of times, you have to cash in your hands. Yup, keeping money safe is not as easy as it sounds.

Third, loneliness and loss of connection. Making new friends is fun and mingling with strangers is definitely good. But as humans we need to strong connections and a support network. This strong ties are not usually available when you lead a nomadic life. Of course, modern technology such as Skype and Whatsapp can help but they don't substitute for human touch and being home.

Fourth, traveling itself can become the end. There are people who travel because they are obsessed with checking of places that they have been. Instead of having fulfilling lives, their lives are dictated by either impressing themselves or others. They feel the pressure to do things rather than enjoying. Many travelers confess of such sins. Pushing themselves to see and do everything in one site, making them stressed and even ill. So it is important not to forget the purpose, living a fuller life not checking off a list.

Finally, nomadic life can make you less responsible and less adaptive. This sounds very counterintuitive but it is often true when one has an exit option. Some individuals will just simply leave the place if they see issues. Instead of trying to solve the issue, they will just walk away. They just say, "Fine. I'll just go to another place." For instance, if there has been a dispute with a community or a colleague, instead of trying to work out, they will tell themselves, "Nah, I'll leave in three month. So whatever." Such behavior can lead to irresponsibility and actually make one less adaptive. This is a very sad yet real situation that happens. And this is what might have happened to your expat uncle or friend. They have great stories but yet they seem to be quite immature and cannot deal with issues quite well...

So should we not lead nomadic lives? No, no. I am not against nomadic life but just giving the potential risks so individuals can be better prepared. I think traveling, seeing the world, and nomadic life is good for most people for a few years, specially if they can avoid the downfalls mentioned above. Just be prepared and happy travels :D




From Snapshot Serengeti