Working Nomad … really?
A lot of people are dreaming about a life as digital nomads. The web is full of stories and videos that show how wonderful van life can be.
Working when and how you want, from wherever you like, while travelling to the most spectacular and beautiful places, completely independent, happy and relaxed as can be.
Compromises, compromises
Well …
I agree, it’s possible. If you are ready, willing and able to make compromises that I would never make.
First of all, it takes a bus with high, robust and reliable technical equipment. As we found out on our trip through Sweden, the most critical aspect is electrical power. If you want to work full tilt in your online business, applications need a lot of juice and you have to be well prepared for that.
Also, sometimes you might not find a good and stable internet connection. There are always „underdeveloped“ areas. Especially, if you prefer to get away from the beaten track.
And if you depend on satellites, the unpredictable weather can get in the way.
In order to compensate, you need more and heavier and larger equipment. If you install it, you pay not only a financial price.
You end up with a lot less room for other things you want in your bus. Be it a comfortable bed, a nice place to sit and space to store everything from clothes and tools to stove, food and water.
The way we furnished Big Paul, allowed us to sleep comfortably, sit relaxed and cook a meal. Our online work had to be restricted to the absolute necessary minimum.
Restrictions, restrictions
Well, get a bigger bus – you might say.
This takes me to the next compromise I would never make.
Big Paul was a unique creature on the Scandinavian roads. We were almost shocked by the overwhelming number of recreational vehicles and camper vans flooding the most beautiful areas.
And as it always goes with mass tourism – the more vacationers come the harder the laws and restrictions cut them down.
Twenty or thirty years ago nobody cared if you drove your bus to secret and unspoiled places. Very few went out and about, they didn’t disturb anyone.
Nowadays, they come by the million. Digital nomadism is hip. Vacationing in an RV is hip. All over Europe. The local people feel it’s just too much.
While Big Paul was still „under the radar“ and observed as a mixture of private car and mini truck, the big white monster vehicles were facing more and more bans and constraints.
The message was quite clear: Get out of here or better stay away completely.
With Big Paul we could avoid the fully packed campgrounds and other crowded places and go where the RVs weren’t allowed to go.
That gave us a lot of freedom.
So, does it make sense for us to work online while we travel?
Well, we would again boil it down to email and other minimalistic tasks.
We prefer to enjoy the trip. And do the main business work from our home office.
