One of the first negative experiences and disadvantages I saw when I started traveling and living nomadically is the transience of relationships with others.
When you travel and live nomadically, transience and the dynamics of change are a constant. Some, of course, change their location more often than others. But it's not the change of location that bothers me so much as the rapid change and novelty of relationships with people.
You arrive in a new city and meet one or a few people, other digital nomads, travelers or locals, that you really like and get along with. If you're more of an introvert (like me) and not the person who talks to everyone at events, it sometimes takes longer to meet people and especially meet people you really want to hang out with. It takes a lot of time and effort to lay the foundation for a relationship.
Then, when you put in the effort and feel comfortable with the person, and, well, eventually, after a few days, weeks, or months, either you or the other person moves to a different place. Or you develop a romantic relationship and because your future travel plans are already set, you leave the place and the person behind.
Is that only negative? I don’t think so. There is also beauty in this kind of relationship as I see it. Even if they're sometimes short, they offer a great experience. You never know where you'll meet the same people again on your trip. You might travel somewhere together later because you had fun the first time. If you meet someone you like, and you can work from anywhere, you can always decide to come back or meet up in another part of the world.
And since you know you'll only be with someone for a limited time, you try to make the most of it, be more present and have as much fun as possible. This brings a new kind of spark to the relationship. We should be like that with all of our relationships, but sometimes that’s just not the case.
Of course there's also nothing stopping you from staying in touch online. I'm still in regular contact with many of the people I met last year in Bansko, and I'm still in touch with the people I met on my current trip. Online friendships and connections can also be useful. I've to say that I've met some great intellectuals online in the last year or two, and although I haven't seen them in person yet, I know they're doing great things, and it's good to be connected with them.
If you can't find like-minded people in your local environment, online interactions are just what you need if you want to work on big things and stay motivated. That's a big advantage - even if you live in a remote village, you can stay connected with some of the best minds in the world. Last month, when I was in Mendoza, I didn't connect with any entrepreneurs, builders, or creators and I was left with only online communities. Luckily, I'm part of great communities like Cabin and am currently in the Plumia Internet Country Cohort where you can share your experiences and meet great people from all over the world.
Our online personas and the connections we make are becoming increasingly important. Some say this eliminates the need or decreases the likelihood of people being in-person with others, but I'd argue that it paves the way for higher quality and more intentional offline relationships. In our increasingly transient lives, we rely more than ever on an in-person community and a supportive environment.
Speaking of community and supportive environments, I'm co-organizing an event in Slovenia this summer: it'll be a week-long adventure in rural Slovenia where we aim to create a regenerative travel ecosystem that provides meaningful and positive experiences for both local communities and travelers. At this stage, we're trying to understand your needs and interests so that we can work out a detailed program. For this reason, we have prepared a form to help us gage interest and prioritize participants, as space is limited. Here you can find more information and the application form. I hope to see you in Slovenia this summer!
Travel update
This was my last newsletter written in Argentina but already sent from Chile. After 4 months I'm leaving this country that has given me many lessons, surprises and beautiful moments. Apparently, I was also a very good guest, because they almost didn't let me leave. When I arrived at the bus station, I went to check in with the bus company. Argentina doesn't stamp your passport when you enter the country, they do it digitally. This sounds great in theory, but apparently, not everyone has access to this system because the lady from the bus company had no proof that I re-entered the country. She said I had to give her proof that I entered the country on December 29, when I came back from Chile and if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to leave the country for a few days until I went to the embassy, etc. Then I remembered that I had taken a photo at the border. There was a dog in the customs office and everyone was taking pictures of him. I felt a little silly for taking a photo like everyone else, but I'm grateful I did because it was enough to get me through the bureaucratic challenges and let me pass! Getting my lessons all the time - this lesson was: take lots of photos, even if you feel stupid about it. Hasta luego, Argentina! Off to new adventures.