The Nomadic Worker

In about two weeks I will move out of my student container. I graduated and I really feel that the student-container chapter has ended now. Ending my student status opens up new exciting entrepreneurial prospects. I can't wait! Although I have to make sure that I change some of that old student habits of me (messy financial administration and kitchen).

夏

Summer has started. In the Netherlands nowadays, that means that the rain is puring down and most people run for the airports. It's been a while that I spend my summer here and I can't remember it ever being like this. As I'm siting here - waiting for paperwork to get into Japan - I'm starting to feel 'the itch'. This is best described by this Australian girl:

It took me all of my first 20 years to leave Australia, finally ending up in Dili, East Timor in 2000. Since then I haven't wanted to stop traveling. Yet, as simply holidaying doesn't quite scratch the travel-bug's itch, I much prefer to live, work and play in the countries I visit. In my opinion, as insane as it can make you at times, cultural immersion is much more fulfilling than a postcard holiday.

I couldn't agree with her more. A big challenge of course is converting both your professional and personal life to a nomadic one. I think for us Programmers that's a lot more easy then for most people, but still, nothing beats face to face communication when working in teams. Yes, even that great service confabio.com doesn't quite cut it yet ;)

The Nomadic IT Worker

When I started thinking about my own situation at the moment I made a list of the minimal things I need to operate professionally:

• an internet connection with enough bandwidth for voice conference
• a designated object to lay flat and sleep/relax
• several food sources to get descent meals and a place where you can get the healthy extras like fruit
• rapid access to a shower for tropical countries

Of course this all depends on your lifestyle as it is now. For me that's pretty basic. The only thing I will really miss is having beers with my Amsterdam friends, but I'm sure they'll understand :)

I think there are a lot of ways that you can change your current lifestyle in order to be more compatible with the nomadic ways. For example:

• throw away your television (and use web-TV) even better would be to not watch any TV at all. Personally, I like to have a late night meal while watching some sci-fi on my laptop.
• use more travel friendly tools, like a normal toothbrush instead of an electric one
• find ways to get healthy meals without needing a kitchen or MC Donald's
• don't crave for things like a lease-car or other salary slave benefits

'Work Holiday' in Shanghai 上海

My first attempt to investigate this 'Nomadic Worker' idea will start this August. I will move to Shanghai for a month to combine working with experiencing life in the fastest growing industrial smokepot of the planet. Since I've only been in the south of China, I think the experience will be great.

More details will follow :]