49 contradictory thoughts that haunt or fulfill me as a digital nomad
Life was made for thinking
49 thoughts that pass through my mind as a digital nomad, many contradictory and antagonistic to each other.
I can no longer imagine my life any other way.
How long will I be a nomad?
The joy of always arriving in a new place outweighs the constant melancholy of goodbyes.
It's a botheration having to constantly think about packing and clothes.
At 32 years old, shouldn't I be married with kids?
The possibility that nomadism allows for living stories and encounters you would never experience otherwise makes it all worthwhile.
I love living alone, being alone, and traveling alone.
Without my friends' support, life would be much more complex. We are nothing alone.
Will I be a good uncle to my nephew being away for so long?
I can't wait for my nephew to grow up so I can travel with him.
What's my next destination?
Shouldn't I spend less on accommodation? My goal was to pay 30% less than I am currently consuming.
No, I save on other things. And I must remember that I don't spend on the internet, water, electricity, gas, taxes, or cleaning.
My family doesn't really understand my life. "But you don't have a home? What's it like living in an Airbnb? Hmmm, still don't get it. But okay," said my uncle at a family barbecue last weekend.
I can't stay at home for too many hours. I need to be outside. I need to be out.
I need to abstain from drinking from Monday to Thursday.
If I drink on Thursday, I must refrain from drinking from Sunday to Wednesday.
Although it's hard to measure, I've always had a spirit of traveling, of being away, which has now turned into nomadism, above the average of my friends and family.
I have no desire to live in any nomad paradise, like Chiang Mai.
But will I go through life without experiencing a place like Thailand?
Should I visit as many places as possible or choose a few I like and make them feel like home?
I love writing this newsletter.
Damn it. Tomorrow there's another edition and I still need to start writing. Haven't even decided on the topic.
After 12 years of being in a relationship, being single and becoming a digital nomad was the best thing to happen.
How do you maintain relationships as a nomad?
What if I fall in love with another nomad?
What if I fall in love with a non-nomad?
I need to live in Italy. I love the language, and I get along well with Italians.
I need to be a less nostalgic nomad to suffer less.
The past always comes back as an enjoyable memory or a torment.
Nomadism is freedom and autonomy.
I enjoyed having a fixed remote job. Predictability is also good.
Now I have time to do everything I want.
Should I spend less time commuting from city to city?
I became a nomad to satisfy an internal desire for change.
Life should be a perpetual pursuit of happiness.
There will never be complete happiness. I aim to be sufficiently satisfied.
What would my life be like if nothing had changed six months ago?
Where do I live?
To have a home is a bureaucratic act.
I don't spend a dime on pets. Because I don't have any pets.
It's easier to see friends when I'm a nomad. When I'm in São Paulo, I have a few days in the city. People make an effort to find a way to meet up.
No, Mateus, you can't take on another project. Decline.
Mateus, you need to do more things. Time is passing, what have you achieved?
Do I need to achieve something?
Is this post starting to sound like Chinese proverbs?
Do I have something original to contribute about digital nomadism and flexible work models?
Am I talking too much about myself here?
After all, this newsletter is about me.
To not take up any more of your time, dear reader, I'll stop here. If you're enjoying this newsletter, please leave a comment. It can be a suggestion, a critique, or a compliment. No Direction Home already has over 350 subscribers. My goal is to reach 500 by mid-year. If you like the content, please share it with those who may be interested.
While it's true that everyone has their own tastes, Chiang Mai has a lot to offer beyond its popularity among digital nomads. For example, its vibrant cultural scene, delicious cuisine, and stunning natural landscapes make it a great destination for travelers of all types. In my experience, Thailand as a whole is an amazing country to explore, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for adventure and inspiration.
I'm a sigle lady living rn Rio ate my mom's house still because of the pandemic. But now I am making enough money to travel as a nomad, rent a house or even make financial plans to buy one. This world is a crazy thing. I hope I enjoy myself and wish that to you. Keep writing :)