SIMONA ON ... UNDERSTANDING THE DIGITAL NOMAD COMMUNITY Q: WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF DIGITAL NOMADS? A: Digital nomads are probably the most bizarre and hard-to-categorize “profession” that exists in the modern world. Some nomads put in more hours than when they were in the office. They do this so they can enjoy the good life they’ve always dreamed of. Others embrace a bare-bones lifestyle in terms of cost and hours spent in front of the PC in exchange for free time. There are nomads who move frequently and others who have a permanent home base. Nomads who want to steep themselves in the world and others who travel to be seen enjoying themselves in the world. It is a large family spread around the globe that embraces every age, profession, philosophy of life and existential rhythm. “You could call digital nomadism one of the most interesting forms of democracy today!” Personally I like to stay long enough in each place to absorb its essence. I return to Italy a few times a year. Since buying my first one-way ticket to Thailand my needs have reduced even more. I’m even less interested in “things” and more in free time and loved ones. This ultimately led to the need to build a home base somewhere. ● Simona ● From Italy ● www.simonacamporesi.it ● Ghost-, SEO-, creative writer ● On the road since 2014 ● Currently in El Hierro, Canary Islands ✈ ✈ ✈ HOW I TRAVEL Q: AS THE ADMIN OF THE BIGGEST ITALIAN DIGITAL NOMAD FACEBOOK GROUP, WHAT TOPICS HAVE YOU SEEN COME UP FREQUENTLY? A: Some people are looking for support with practical problems. For example, families deal with topics such as school, vaccinations and the lack of a referring pediatrician. There are arguments, too, of course. Some people argue over who counts as a “real” digital nomad. To me, this is not a central concern. “The truth is that it’s a bit of a contradiction to try to define a movement born on the wave of freedom.” An example of more emotional topics that come up are the difficulty of feeling accepted by friends when you return home. It’s tough always being seen as “the stranger” and not being able to share experiences with friends. • Normally I stay at least a month in each place, but I usually go to the Canary Islands for 4-5 months. • Before leaving, I look up everything there is to experience in a location so I can balance time spent online with time spent outdoors. • In Airbnbs I first check the Wi-Fi strength, the comfort of the chair and desk, and the number of outlets near the desk. ✈ ✈ ✈ WHAT HOME MEANS “Feeling at home, for me, means being myself, feeling relaxed with myself and with the environment around me. It means having the most important people around: my partner, family, dearest friends. A few weeks ago, it even meant a special cat who stumbled across my path!” 27
29 Publizr Home