Great points....I believe the real essence of being a digital nomad or just a nomad in general is being able to live where you want...when you want...sometimes that's at home for an extended period.......good stuff and welcome back.
I feel like I've never really understood why people put themselves into boxes like that. Why does being a DN need to mean constantly moving around? I'm of the mind that if you want to see somewhere new every 2 weeks then do it, but if you find somewhere you want to stay for 6 months, then do that. For me, the allure of the lifestyle is the freedom to be wherever you want to be, whether that's one place or many. Nice to see you uploading again :)
very well said. I agree, this idea that you have to be moving around all the time just because you are DN can be stressful. Nothing wrong with settling either. I also think it is interesting to have a bit of both, like having a place to go back to where you have your things, even if you live minimal and have a tiny house lets say. I know plenty of people that spend's 5, 6 months at home and the other months traveling, like a hybrid DN lol. It's about being flexible.
People don't want to hear about your adventures, they'd rather convince themselves you're just as bland as they are, because how dare you live the dream they actually all have inside but do nothing to realize ?
@@davlmt But seriously though, even when you're living and working in foreign countries, you still do much of the same "bland" or everyday stuff like laundry, cleaning the house, picking up the kids from school, working and grocery shopping. The only thing that's different are possibly the language, culture & customs or the natural environment.
@@davlmt Nope. I'm not in an "expat bubble". Never have been. I only know of 2 other people from my home country in the area. I speak the language and am fully integrated into the community and culture. My child attends the local schools and speaks multiple languages as well as the local dialect. Sure, I can easily drive to Austria to go skiing or Italy for vacation or Germany (to my house there) or take part in local events or go skiing or hiking in neighboring Kantons, but only when I have time to do so because I work, as do 100% of digital nomads and clothes have to be washed and kids need to get fed and homework has to get done no matter where you live.
I was a nomad for 5 years and it's fun but I just got so jaded after awhile. Now I have a family and a regular life and I really appreciate each little part of it. I still do my passive income and I spend my extra time with my wife and son doing fun stuff
For me, the ideal life would be moving every 3 months. Summer I would like to be on Mediterain, winter in Thailand, spring and autumn at home. Welcome back, Chris.
Hey Chris! My girlfriend and I discovered your videos exactly a year ago. You inspired us to start freelancing, and helped us through the tough times. Now we are finally in Koh Phangan living as digital nomads, and it feels amazing :) I appreciate the work you do with your videos, keep 'em coming!
I totally get what you mean about not being able to relate about people back home as much as before. It's a feeling that's hard to put in to words but I definitely felt that too and know exactly what you're getting at.
We've been nomadic for the past 12 years. Sometimes we return home for 6-12 months, but pretty soon we feel like traveling again. Now we're traveling full time with our two young kids. I do look forward to settling down sometime soon and growing a little garden. It's hard to stick to just one lifestyle, so we oscillate between traveling and a bit more "normal" minimalist lifestyle. 🌺 Heidi
I’ve returned home after being a nomad for 5 years. Totally relate to this. Feels like I’ve been in Narnia and home hasn’t changed, just me. Most of my friends have kids now and love their settled lives. I am torn between being a nomad and feeling settled; which ironically, is unsettling.
I'm just about at my one year mark of "settled life" after about four years of nomadism. I have very similar feelings as you. It's been great to recharge and work on some issues I was neglecting, but the road has been calling.
I was so happy when you stood up to wrap up because the whole time I just wanted to see your place! Looks great! I think it speaks volumes that you went somewhere that felt familiar to you when you started traveling again, instead of somewhere completely new! Shows you're ready to focus on what you feel is important. Cheering you on from the other side of the world! 😊
Welcome back Chris! Been following your journey for a few years now and I love how transparent you are about your own life and how you live it. Happy to hear that the year off was productive, but sounds like you’re enjoying being back in CM 🤙
Very good to see you back on RUclips. Your comment about people not being interested enough to ask questions - about something that was a life-changing experience to you - really rings true.
While raising 2 sets of twins I had no choice but to live the “settled/normal life.” Now my 4 kids are all over 18 and all I want is to keep doing the digital nomad life. Raising kids is very rewarding, but I’m most at home on the road, so this is it from here on out for me!
Thank you for sharing. In 2017 your channel was one of the reasons why I've decided to quit my job. 3 years later living in HCMC I realize that nomadic life is something that I love. Does it have problems? Sure it does! Is it magically making you a happy rich healthy superman? No, it's not! But it was one of those eye-opening steps that give you a perspective. After getting here I clearly see that I can move further from here. Thank you!
I'm also taking a break from digital nomad life back in Australia to focus on a few things and can totally relate to everything you said. Good to know I'm not alone!
Oh wow, I can relate SO MUCH to what you're saying about people not relating to your experience back home, not being curious or interested... It's definitely a struggle when you're location independent. Loved this video Chris! There's no ONE way of doing this - I've done the "moving every couple of months" and "staying 1 year in a place", it's all about following where your energy and curiosity leads you. :)
I just wanna make up for allot of lost years. I'm still so young and full of life and ended up all alone in my adult life. I had a taste of being a digital nomad when I traveled all of Central America and Mexico. I absolutely loved it and it was then that i realized this is for me and what I wanna do for the next 3 to 5 years. Life is just to short.
Hi Chris, thanks for this video, it really resonated with me. My boyfriend and I were also traveling as digital nomads for a year in 2017, but then decided to go back home to work on my career. Now we live in Spain, work remotely and occasionally travel for a few months; that lifestyle works best for us. Keep up the great content, and all the best from Spain!
It's Great to have you back on YT Chris. You're one of my fav digital nomad, straight forward and honest, not trying to sell something. I agree everyone is different, me and my now wife travel only part time now, but it's our balance that fits us. Hope to be back in SE Asia soon for a few months, it's a special place to us all.
Welcome back, Chris. I have been following your Vlog for a long time, and your video has inspired me to resign from my full-time job, which I can also travel a lot more. I'm sorry for your relationship, and also happy that the two of you can still be friends. However, do not forget that here is entering the burning season now. The air quality in Chiang Rai is still good. But I know that Chiang Mai is getting worse. I think you should move to the south in the next month, like Lanta island, Pha Ngan island, etc. Looking forward to seeing more your video soon!
You look like a new person but by still being the old you. We are always gonna support you whatever the choice. I remember watching your videos like over a year ago and dreaming of travelling, got my courage and have travelled almost for a year now- been in ozzy as-well (Brisbane is beautiful by the way) and now i’m here in Thailand too.. who would have known. Really glad to see you back and being happy!
I recently started this nomad/ RUclips journey and I have to say, it’s 1000x more exciting and fulfilling then staying put at home! With that said, there are definitely trade offs like you said. But then again I might feel differently in a few years 🤷🏻♀️
Nice to see you back, enjoy your videos, can really relate, I'm 47 and just came back from travelling asia and central america for over a year with my children. Most amazing year of my life and then get back and people are like 'oh ok, then tell you about there work day!! Now moved to czech republic and settled, but already getting frustrated not travelling!
4 года назад+3
Welcome back man!!! Chris, I missed your videos :D. Funnily enough, I was around there as a dn while you were back to Australia and now came back home for a few months to build a conference and some other projects related to remote work hee in Portugal. I absolutely love everything you said in this video as I am feeling exactly the same, nobody gets it, it's hard to relate with the locals the used to be my friends and it feels weird but it does have some advantages, I am back at volleyball for the year, and I love it. Keep it strong, at the end of the day it's all about happiness and fulfilment. ;)
It works for many and none for many too you need to understand what makes you more up. The peace is inside you rather finding outside all you need is change energy that is where digital nomad comes into the picture.
I'm a DN and I'm glad that my work has nothing to do with being a DN. It's just location independent, and I travel when I want, because I want to. I was on the road for about the last 3 years, am currently back in my home country of Canada working a summer seasonal job, and will probably take off again when it gets cold. I might come back again in the summers, as I actually like the seasonal job, and it's nice here in the summer. I still live out of my one bag, even though I'm "at home" 😂
Well done. It’s such an important point to make that you don’t have to tie your identity strictly to being either a nomad or a settled person. Holding on to a narrative like “I am a nomad and therefor I should be constantly moving around” only makes your mind more rigid and less adaptable to the rollercoaster called life.. this is something that hit me like a sledge during the COVID lockdown :D I’ve now learned that I can thrive in either lifestyle and combining them makes life even more fulfilling.
Welcome back, I really understand what you're saying.. People don't understand other people enough nor try. You're a good man! You're part of the reason I ended up in Thailand for a holiday last year, and I've been back 3 times already, I enjoy the pace of life there, I'm seriously considering a semi-permanent move over there sometime this year.
Hey Chris, I don't really use the subscribe feature. But I'm subscribed to you because I can relate to you. Especially when you mentioned going back and people just aren't doing anything new. They're doing the same thing over and over, it's boring. And I agree, normal life has its time and place and so does a digital nomad life. I think the biggest reason I'd want to go back to normal life is because of my career and earning more money. I can definitely earn a lot more as a developer if I settled in back home and went to a copy, did my 9-5, and hoozah. But I'm enjoying my life way more right now although I'm earning less. Looking forward to more relatable video!
Perfect timing for this video! I've started my digital nomad journey about a year ago and am back home now because my dad unfortunately passed away. I totally agree with everything you said, but was lucky enough to find a girl that also wants to live abroad / travel / sit still for a while at home sometimes. What I've found for myself is that I need to be able to limit the hours of work I need to do while traveling by a lot so I am now working to have better systems in place to make sure income keeps flowing in. Launched an agency a while back and am now looking for a sales rep to represent the business here (for face to face meetings etc) which I've found is very important here. It's smart to stop doing everything yourself at one point. Good video again, glad to see you doing good! You inspired me a lot and still do 😁❤
I've worked about 15 years in IT and even in a progressive country like NZ a lot of companies don't support workers with a DN mindset. Sometimes you need to forge your own path, which is what you've done - keep up the good work 🙌🏼
Love love love your last point. I know so many people who either never want to leave home or never want to come back home and it doesn't feel like there are many people in between. You can live abroad as an expat and also come back home to live for a while and then do it all again!
Hey man- really resonate with this. I lived in Costa rica Dec. 2015- May 2016, then San Diego for a year then St. Croix in Virgin Islands for a year then San Francisco for 7 months before coming home for a year and ready to go out again. I so agree with how coming back for that year has been wonderful, and how I also now approach life with a much more opened mind, and just accepting what is, and being humble to realize I don't always know what I will enjoy most or what will benefit me most. Anyway man, glad you got some more growth and yes I think it's great to hustle for some years and focus on different things, and glad you're following your passions and are travelling again. I also completely feel you with some people back home understanding and others just not. It's what separates and connects and it just is :) but I feel you! Anyway mate thanks for sharing and for what it's worth>> no matter which way you branch out or grow "chris the freelancer", I watch because I like chris-- and you being a freelancer connected with me when I was freelancing in Costa Rica and you being a digital nomad connected with me as I depart to Bali, and you being at home for a year connects as I moved home for a year>> what I'm trying to say is "you're never pigeon held to one thing" and your followers are most-likely your followers because we connect with you in all of your different stages and chapters of life so don't ever feel like you have to be one thing for us. Be you. That's who we follow and you'll continue to touch many lives!
It's great to see you back with another video. I have seen all your videos and I think what inspires me the most with your lifestyle is that you are location independent. It must be a very cool feeling to be able to live and work from pretty much any place, no matter if it is your home town, Chiang Mai or somewhere else.
Good to see you back on RUclips Chris! I have the same experience with people who find it hard to relate or even get curious about my life abroad. I've been living home in Poland for a year now but feeling the urge to change the location again :) Good luck with your travels!
Chris, we talked on snapchat often in 2017 while you were bouncing around, glad to hear you're back in CNX. I just left there a few weeks ago, in Samui right now but about to head back to BKK. I recently started my RUclips Channel a couple months ago and its rockin! I hope to meet you in person and maybe work together on something in the future. Welcome back bro.
I can relate to this video in so many ways. Came back to Australia from Tokyo in 2018 and went through the same thought processes and realisations. I'm moving to Bangkok next month and can't wait!
Isn't it funny how we put expectations on ourselves based on what we think other people expect from us? Congrats on rekindling your fire and welcome back!
Digital Nomad is a new kind of lifestyle. It will be one of the major parts of future society. Just 10 years before people can't imagine they can work remotely. Still most of our society doesn't know, but people are jealous of u, when u travel and earn good money. Also, u can spend a lot of time with ur family. We will never go back. So, it's the future.
I mean I feel you. My husband and I have dreamed of living a digital nomad life. We are able to do now, but the fact that we have to keep on finding destination to go, travelling, settling down is not really enjoyable and it really affects other aspects of our life, like our work, workout, eating (we dont really cook now) Sigh, if i tell someone else who work a normal job and want my life, they dont understand this at all.
i'm really wanna to be a Nomado for find myself by travels. now in japan, it's a small islands and also Bali i've been there . i really think that things will be different by where i am even doing same thing u know, so what u doing which is Nomado is so beautiful life style for me. so pls keep going Chris!! life is once! respect u!!
I Really Liked this video. The key point of staying open minded and doing what works best is a great way to live. People don't get the point you put about people not undertanding it when you're back home, It's frustrating at times but takes alot of perspective shifting. I'm really glad it's not just a personal thing, it happens.
I admire you for getting in touch with your inner self and traveling your own path, not that others want you to take. Also, you don't seem to be ego motivated which is a great spiritual growth achievement. I wish that I would have had enough courage to live like that. I did end up working many years as a kind of digital nomad traveling great deal for companies as an employee, but going the places they wanted me to go. Still had lots of fun. There is much to be said about enjoying another country on an expense report, he he, and not worrying about next client, just next assignment.
About to embark on my Digital Nomad journey on the 14th of April, I've been at 'home' for nearly 2 years and I'm tired of it. I want to buy a house in the next 3 years to have a permanent base.
Thank you so much for this message. I've been working abroad since 2014 but been home in USA since last May. This video was exactly the answer I was looking for. I had all the same thoughts and concerns as you explained. I'm definitely spending the complete year home then back to Asia to my "normal life". I wish you and I can talk more about this like via email or something. You definitely just impacted my life just now. Appreciate you my man. Hope to see you this year when I'm back in Asia. -Darrion
Great to see you back Chris, good to step back and look at your big picture, good luck with your future in whatever you do. You’ll be great at it! Just keep the content rolling!
Congrats on the new body!! I could see it in your shoulders. But in the comparison shot you really see how you transformed your body. Your hard work paid off!
Looking forward to seeing more videos, a great inspiration. I'm getting ready to head back out to Asia, just waiting for this virus thing to calm down - maybe another 2 months??. I think I have finally found a solid plan to support myself financially when I am overseas.
Great Video Chris. I can totally relate. I too live in Chiang Mai and have been a bit of a digital nomad since 2005. It would be great to get together sometime for coffee and compare experiences. Keep up the great work and continue having fun my friend.
the hardest step seems to be securing a steady income that can continue while living abroad. if that part is in place the rest is a matter of logistics of day to day living light
Chris your story is really great. You're doing what you want. I agree sometimes you must step back in order to leap forward. The last thing to worry about is what people think. When you do something outside the norm, people have a difficult time understanding what you are doing. You can explain it to them but they usually just have their eyes glaze over and try to change the topic. I am currently anchored to home now but looking and planning my life on the road in the future. In order to travel I want to complete my commitments before starting my new journey.
Thanks for being so open and real about this whole thing I totally feel you some similar things in life has been going on And enjoyed listening to your story Would be happy to see where you head next 💜
Great video, Chris. Really puts into perspective for me that there are so many options, and leaving the traditional lifestyle, and instead subscribing solely to a digital nomad lifestyle, also puts you inside a different box. Living your life the way that fits you, depending on where you are in your life at that time, is what it's all about.
Come and check out the Smokey Mountains and the land between there and the Rocky Mountains, here in the States. Stay away from the Cities on the Coasts. . . There's another set of America from L.A. and N.Y.C.!
I can super relate to feeling like a "failure" by going home... But yeah. dating is hard with people who really don't understand that part of your life. I remember having a similar-end feeling of not connecting, but the actual facts on the surface were so opposite!! I think I've had like so many dates that when I said "I lived in Bangkok" "I lived in Bucharest" - it became the ONLY thing the other person wanted to know about. To the point where I'd feel like I'm being grilled for 2 hours, and the date ends with me feeling exhausted and not knowing anything about the other person cause everything I asked (in the brief moments they didn't shoot questions) the other person- they'd reply with 1 sentence, like - it's not as interesting as living abroad, and continued their questioning. Saw you're back on Living the Life channel, happy to see you're back to your desired lifestyle with that achievement career-wise.
I totally understand! Sometimes you feel tired of traveling and you need to leave a normal life for a while. I stayed 6 months traveling and now I'm in home editing and working more to come back to the road.
Chris, Ive worked with digital nomads, or as I call them, remote team members, for about a year now. Ive had a TON of positive experiences working with folks all over the world. Right now I have one guy in Nigeria, one girl in UK, one guy in Moscow, one guy in UK, one guy in Belarus. I just posted a video about what its like working with digital nomads that have worked out really well. Typically when you have someone that wants a quick thousand or two thousand dollars for doing one or two tasks, you end up not working with them for very long. Ive found that those who proved their value early and EXCELLENT communication skills tend to be the ones Im shelling out 4-5k on a month. Dont think that just because you call it a nifty name, that its going to be easy. You need to provide value to the employer. As long as youre doing that, you can do it from the beach! haha. Hope that helps.
Really happy to see you back man! I think this is why I don't necessarily call myself a "digital nomad" and prefer the term "location independent". There are periods of time during the year when I am nomadic, specifically in the summer in the northern hemisphere. During that time I tend to bounce around a bit more in Europe but the rest of the time I find a place I like and chill there, whether that's back home in the US or in Mexico where I am now or Asia. It's all about having the freedom to go where you are pulled to go, if you want to be home with family, go home and be with family. If you want to be nomadic for 4 months out of the year do that. Working remotely and being able to do it from anywhere gives you the freedom to answer those calls. That's really it :) Welcome back man and I look forward to meeting up somewhere 🤙🏼
Wow. This is awesome, I can't believe I'm barely now seeing this 9 months later. I had wondered where you had been, I was subbed but I guess I missed the video. 🤦🏻♂️
I really liked your video. The part that resonated a lot with me is the part about people being unable to relate to you. I have visited the Philippines, Indonesia, Malta, China, Morocco, and Thailand. The average person in the US has not visited that many different countries. It feels weird for me to talk about average things like the local sports team.
Mate, that what you describe is not weird at all! Most folks can't really relate to this kind of mindset - I call it a mindset rather than a lifestyle. Don't be feeling weird of it ... it's just a different rhythm to your life. I'm now "settled" (4 kids and all that), but my rhythm hasn't changed. Even for settled people, this lifestyle works very well. Can spend time with kids whenever you want. Love your point about "limiting" yourself. However, you're not Chris the digital nomad. You're Chris the *freelancer* which works with or without travelling really ;) Anyways keep up the good work and feel free to reach out to me if you want some (kinda) insight on being a settled freelancer I'm happy to chat just to share some experiences. I'm doing this lifestyle for more than a decade now and have experiences to share and I reckon I've developed a really safe psychology around it too. Keep up the good work - stay free! ;) Cheerio.
Being a digital nomad is the best. You can build your own life, traveling to different countries, learning from different cultures at the same time earning like what you earn in the office-based setting.
Your idea of being living like a Digital Nomad is good in today's society. In the other hand being a Social Nomad like the Vintage punks should have some will power and no responsibilities. Main idea in living Nomad is having a partner of your deeds and ideas of living Nomad❤️
My man Chris, YOU'RE BACK! Nobody truly wants to be a nomad forever. Even the most successful digital nomads develop a home base after a few years. For someone who is a software developer, you travelled at quite a fast pace and it may have likely interfered with your work, or at least brought added stress to your schedule.
the only problem with traveling to me is to keep all your belongings in a suitcase, and constantly struggle with visas stuff and immigration that force you to go in and out of country regularly, wich leads to many room bookings, fly bookings, bus tickets etc. that is the main turnoff for me. if you would give me a 1year visa to thailand without struggle, i pack my bag today
Hope we can keep doing this in next 20 years :). Good point - do what you feel its good for you, be brave. But remember, we can not have all in this life, every decision opens new doors and closes another. Some thresholds crossed can not be recovered, It is just to not regret our decisions and life we do not have. With time only we see where we were going...
![The TRUTH about FULL-TIME TRAVEL 🏝 [Digital Nomads]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tx_-ZDqJMSY/mqdefault.jpg)
Great points....I believe the real essence of being a digital nomad or just a nomad in general is being able to live where you want...when you want...sometimes that's at home for an extended period.......good stuff and welcome back.
precicelyyy🙏
PS. we've just had an extended podcast on this over on my channel if ur keen to hear more:)
great points, probably the best long term life is a mix of fixed location and extended travel
I feel like I've never really understood why people put themselves into boxes like that. Why does being a DN need to mean constantly moving around? I'm of the mind that if you want to see somewhere new every 2 weeks then do it, but if you find somewhere you want to stay for 6 months, then do that. For me, the allure of the lifestyle is the freedom to be wherever you want to be, whether that's one place or many. Nice to see you uploading again :)
very well said. I agree, this idea that you have to be moving around all the time just because you are DN can be stressful. Nothing wrong with settling either. I also think it is interesting to have a bit of both, like having a place to go back to where you have your things, even if you live minimal and have a tiny house lets say. I know plenty of people that spend's 5, 6 months at home and the other months traveling, like a hybrid DN lol. It's about being flexible.
Yep... thats it
Super agree with this, the goal is just to have the freedom to do whatever you want
Having eachy feet and a lonely life style. Getting older and missed the boat of real life.
Welcome back, Chris.
I relate a lot to the "feeling weird" part when speaking with some people 😔
People don't want to hear about your adventures, they'd rather convince themselves you're just as bland as they are, because how dare you live the dream they actually all have inside but do nothing to realize ?
@@davlmt it may be true
@@davlmt But seriously though, even when you're living and working in foreign countries, you still do much of the same "bland" or everyday stuff like laundry, cleaning the house, picking up the kids from school, working and grocery shopping. The only thing that's different are possibly the language, culture & customs or the natural environment.
@@swissladydriver8980
You're describing the expat living the expat life in an expat bubble. Obviously not much adventure there.
@@davlmt Nope. I'm not in an "expat bubble". Never have been. I only know of 2 other people from my home country in the area. I speak the language and am fully integrated into the community and culture. My child attends the local schools and speaks multiple languages as well as the local dialect. Sure, I can easily drive to Austria to go skiing or Italy for vacation or Germany (to my house there) or take part in local events or go skiing or hiking in neighboring Kantons, but only when I have time to do so because I work, as do 100% of digital nomads and clothes have to be washed and kids need to get fed and homework has to get done no matter where you live.
I was a nomad for 5 years and it's fun but I just got so jaded after awhile. Now I have a family and a regular life and I really appreciate each little part of it. I still do my passive income and I spend my extra time with my wife and son doing fun stuff
For me, the ideal life would be moving every 3 months. Summer I would like to be on Mediterain, winter in Thailand, spring and autumn at home. Welcome back, Chris.
Hey Chris! My girlfriend and I discovered your videos exactly a year ago. You inspired us to start freelancing, and helped us through the tough times. Now we are finally in Koh Phangan living as digital nomads, and it feels amazing :)
I appreciate the work you do with your videos, keep 'em coming!
Hey, can I get your email? I would be happy to write with you I have the same plans but no idea where to start :D.
I totally get what you mean about not being able to relate about people back home as much as before. It's a feeling that's hard to put in to words but I definitely felt that too and know exactly what you're getting at.
Haven't seen a vid from this guy in a long time! Here before 1 mil views
Haha long shot but thank you!
We've been nomadic for the past 12 years. Sometimes we return home for 6-12 months, but pretty soon we feel like traveling again. Now we're traveling full time with our two young kids. I do look forward to settling down sometime soon and growing a little garden. It's hard to stick to just one lifestyle, so we oscillate between traveling and a bit more "normal" minimalist lifestyle. 🌺 Heidi
Case in point right here 👆 thanks for the comment!
You are still young. The older you get the more you want a 'normal' life, sleep in your own bed, be settled, be in a 1st world environment etc
I feel just the opposite bro and I’m nearing 50
I’ve returned home after being a nomad for 5 years. Totally relate to this. Feels like I’ve been in Narnia and home hasn’t changed, just me. Most of my friends have kids now and love their settled lives. I am torn between being a nomad and feeling settled; which ironically, is unsettling.
I'm just about at my one year mark of "settled life" after about four years of nomadism. I have very similar feelings as you. It's been great to recharge and work on some issues I was neglecting, but the road has been calling.
Good to see you back man...fitter and wiser 😉🙂
I was so happy when you stood up to wrap up because the whole time I just wanted to see your place! Looks great! I think it speaks volumes that you went somewhere that felt familiar to you when you started traveling again, instead of somewhere completely new! Shows you're ready to focus on what you feel is important. Cheering you on from the other side of the world! 😊
Thanks Tiff! The video was filmed at Coco Kala though (not my place 😉)
Welcome back Chris! Been following your journey for a few years now and I love how transparent you are about your own life and how you live it. Happy to hear that the year off was productive, but sounds like you’re enjoying being back in CM 🤙
Very good to see you back on RUclips. Your comment about people not being interested enough to ask questions - about something that was a life-changing experience to you - really rings true.
While raising 2 sets of twins I had no choice but to live the “settled/normal life.” Now my 4 kids are all over 18 and all I want is to keep doing the digital nomad life. Raising kids is very rewarding, but I’m most at home on the road, so this is it from here on out for me!
Great to hear from you again. Best of luck , and I hope we're able to continue tagging along on your journey! :D
Thank you for sharing. In 2017 your channel was one of the reasons why I've decided to quit my job. 3 years later living in HCMC I realize that nomadic life is something that I love. Does it have problems? Sure it does! Is it magically making you a happy rich healthy superman? No, it's not! But it was one of those eye-opening steps that give you a perspective. After getting here I clearly see that I can move further from here. Thank you!
One of the most thoughtful videos I've seen about living the digital nomad life. Nicely done, Chris.
I'm also taking a break from digital nomad life back in Australia to focus on a few things and can totally relate to everything you said. Good to know I'm not alone!
Oh wow, I can relate SO MUCH to what you're saying about people not relating to your experience back home, not being curious or interested... It's definitely a struggle when you're location independent. Loved this video Chris! There's no ONE way of doing this - I've done the "moving every couple of months" and "staying 1 year in a place", it's all about following where your energy and curiosity leads you. :)
I just wanna make up for allot of lost years. I'm still so young and full of life and ended up all alone in my adult life. I had a taste of being a digital nomad when I traveled all of Central America and Mexico. I absolutely loved it and it was then that i realized this is for me and what I wanna do for the next 3 to 5 years. Life is just to short.
Hi Chris, thanks for this video, it really resonated with me. My boyfriend and I were also traveling as digital nomads for a year in 2017, but then decided to go back home to work on my career. Now we live in Spain, work remotely and occasionally travel for a few months; that lifestyle works best for us. Keep up the great content, and all the best from Spain!
It's Great to have you back on YT Chris. You're one of my fav digital nomad, straight forward and honest, not trying to sell something. I agree everyone is different, me and my now wife travel only part time now, but it's our balance that fits us. Hope to be back in SE Asia soon for a few months, it's a special place to us all.
Welcome back, Chris. I have been following your Vlog for a long time, and your video has inspired me to resign from my full-time job, which I can also travel a lot more. I'm sorry for your relationship, and also happy that the two of you can still be friends. However, do not forget that here is entering the burning season now. The air quality in Chiang Rai is still good. But I know that Chiang Mai is getting worse. I think you should move to the south in the next month, like Lanta island, Pha Ngan island, etc. Looking forward to seeing more your video soon!
Thanks Thraprawin! I did not forgot. Fun fact: I’ve actually been in Chiang Mai through 4 burning seasons already :)
Refreshingly honest as always mate, really enjoyed that. Keep it up 😎
Really glad I found your channel. I want to be a digital nomad before settling down
You look like a new person but by still being the old you. We are always gonna support you whatever the choice. I remember watching your videos like over a year ago and dreaming of travelling, got my courage and have travelled almost for a year now- been in ozzy as-well (Brisbane is beautiful by the way) and now i’m here in Thailand too.. who would have known. Really glad to see you back and being happy!
I recently started this nomad/ RUclips journey and I have to say, it’s 1000x more exciting and fulfilling then staying put at home! With that said, there are definitely trade offs like you said. But then again I might feel differently in a few years 🤷🏻♀️
Nice to see you back, enjoy your videos, can really relate, I'm 47 and just came back from travelling asia and central america for over a year with my children. Most amazing year of my life and then get back and people are like 'oh ok, then tell you about there work day!! Now moved to czech republic and settled, but already getting frustrated not travelling!
Welcome back man!!!
Chris, I missed your videos :D.
Funnily enough, I was around there as a dn while you were back to Australia and now came back home for a few months to build a conference and some other projects related to remote work hee in Portugal.
I absolutely love everything you said in this video as I am feeling exactly the same, nobody gets it, it's hard to relate with the locals the used to be my friends and it feels weird but it does have some advantages, I am back at volleyball for the year, and I love it.
Keep it strong, at the end of the day it's all about happiness and fulfilment. ;)
It works for many and none for many too you need to understand what makes you more up. The peace is inside you rather finding outside all you need is change energy that is where digital nomad comes into the picture.
I'm a DN and I'm glad that my work has nothing to do with being a DN. It's just location independent, and I travel when I want, because I want to. I was on the road for about the last 3 years, am currently back in my home country of Canada working a summer seasonal job, and will probably take off again when it gets cold. I might come back again in the summers, as I actually like the seasonal job, and it's nice here in the summer. I still live out of my one bag, even though I'm "at home" 😂
what do you do?
Well done. It’s such an important point to make that you don’t have to tie your identity strictly to being either a nomad or a settled person. Holding on to a narrative like “I am a nomad and therefor I should be constantly moving around” only makes your mind more rigid and less adaptable to the rollercoaster called life.. this is something that hit me like a sledge during the COVID lockdown :D
I’ve now learned that I can thrive in either lifestyle and combining them makes life even more fulfilling.
Welcome back, I really understand what you're saying.. People don't understand other people enough nor try.
You're a good man! You're part of the reason I ended up in Thailand for a holiday last year, and I've been back 3 times already, I enjoy the pace of life there, I'm seriously considering a semi-permanent move over there sometime this year.
Great video, Thanks for fully sharing.
Hey Chris, I don't really use the subscribe feature. But I'm subscribed to you because I can relate to you. Especially when you mentioned going back and people just aren't doing anything new. They're doing the same thing over and over, it's boring. And I agree, normal life has its time and place and so does a digital nomad life.
I think the biggest reason I'd want to go back to normal life is because of my career and earning more money. I can definitely earn a lot more as a developer if I settled in back home and went to a copy, did my 9-5, and hoozah. But I'm enjoying my life way more right now although I'm earning less.
Looking forward to more relatable video!
Totally. You can always work hard for a period and then chill for a period. Nothing wrong with that either :)
Perfect timing for this video! I've started my digital nomad journey about a year ago and am back home now because my dad unfortunately passed away. I totally agree with everything you said, but was lucky enough to find a girl that also wants to live abroad / travel / sit still for a while at home sometimes. What I've found for myself is that I need to be able to limit the hours of work I need to do while traveling by a lot so I am now working to have better systems in place to make sure income keeps flowing in. Launched an agency a while back and am now looking for a sales rep to represent the business here (for face to face meetings etc) which I've found is very important here. It's smart to stop doing everything yourself at one point.
Good video again, glad to see you doing good! You inspired me a lot and still do 😁❤
Nice Luke! That’s a lucky to meet someone like that. All the best!
💕💕
I've worked about 15 years in IT and even in a progressive country like NZ a lot of companies don't support workers with a DN mindset. Sometimes you need to forge your own path, which is what you've done - keep up the good work 🙌🏼
Love love love your last point. I know so many people who either never want to leave home or never want to come back home and it doesn't feel like there are many people in between. You can live abroad as an expat and also come back home to live for a while and then do it all again!
Hey man- really resonate with this. I lived in Costa rica Dec. 2015- May 2016, then San Diego for a year then St. Croix in Virgin Islands for a year then San Francisco for 7 months before coming home for a year and ready to go out again. I so agree with how coming back for that year has been wonderful, and how I also now approach life with a much more opened mind, and just accepting what is, and being humble to realize I don't always know what I will enjoy most or what will benefit me most. Anyway man, glad you got some more growth and yes I think it's great to hustle for some years and focus on different things, and glad you're following your passions and are travelling again. I also completely feel you with some people back home understanding and others just not. It's what separates and connects and it just is :) but I feel you! Anyway mate thanks for sharing and for what it's worth>> no matter which way you branch out or grow "chris the freelancer", I watch because I like chris-- and you being a freelancer connected with me when I was freelancing in Costa Rica and you being a digital nomad connected with me as I depart to Bali, and you being at home for a year connects as I moved home for a year>> what I'm trying to say is "you're never pigeon held to one thing" and your followers are most-likely your followers because we connect with you in all of your different stages and chapters of life so don't ever feel like you have to be one thing for us. Be you. That's who we follow and you'll continue to touch many lives!
It's great to see you back with another video. I have seen all your videos and I think what inspires me the most with your lifestyle is that you are location independent. It must be a very cool feeling to be able to live and work from pretty much any place, no matter if it is your home town, Chiang Mai or somewhere else.
Good to see you back on RUclips Chris! I have the same experience with people who find it hard to relate or even get curious about my life abroad. I've been living home in Poland for a year now but feeling the urge to change the location again :) Good luck with your travels!
Chris, we talked on snapchat often in 2017 while you were bouncing around, glad to hear you're back in CNX. I just left there a few weeks ago, in Samui right now but about to head back to BKK. I recently started my RUclips Channel a couple months ago and its rockin! I hope to meet you in person and maybe work together on something in the future. Welcome back bro.
I can relate to this video in so many ways. Came back to Australia from Tokyo in 2018 and went through the same thought processes and realisations. I'm moving to Bangkok next month and can't wait!
Good onya Chris!
We watched your videos when we were dreaming of being nomads!
Early days but I can't imagine any other way
Isn't it funny how we put expectations on ourselves based on what we think other people expect from us? Congrats on rekindling your fire and welcome back!
Thanks Steve!
Great insight and video mate! It was a pleasure to meet you the other day, and I look forward to catching up again.
Digital Nomad is a new kind of lifestyle. It will be one of the major parts of future society. Just 10 years before people can't imagine they can work remotely. Still most of our society doesn't know, but people are jealous of u, when u travel and earn good money. Also, u can spend a lot of time with ur family.
We will never go back. So, it's the future.
I mean I feel you. My husband and I have dreamed of living a digital nomad life. We are able to do now, but the fact that we have to keep on finding destination to go, travelling, settling down is not really enjoyable and it really affects other aspects of our life, like our work, workout, eating (we dont really cook now) Sigh, if i tell someone else who work a normal job and want my life, they dont understand this at all.
i'm really wanna to be a Nomado for find myself by travels. now in japan, it's a small islands and also Bali i've been there .
i really think that things will be different by where i am even doing same thing u know, so what u doing which is Nomado is so beautiful life style for me. so pls keep going Chris!! life is once! respect u!!
Just randomly thought of your channel. Glad to see you’re back bro. Stay safe during these crazy times
Appreciate the perspective man!
Good discussion. I've been a "settler" for the last 10 years and I'm sooo ready to travel.
It's all part of the journey - lots of lessons and learnings here in this beautiful thing we call life. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Chris! Thanks for sharing and being open. I do agree with other comments, you seem much wiser. Chris vol2!
Good to have you back!
I Really Liked this video. The key point of staying open minded and doing what works best is a great way to live.
People don't get the point you put about people not undertanding it when you're back home, It's frustrating at times but takes alot of perspective shifting. I'm really glad it's not just a personal thing, it happens.
I admire you for getting in touch with your inner self and traveling your own path, not that others want you to take. Also, you don't seem to be ego motivated which is a great spiritual growth achievement. I wish that I would have had enough courage to live like that. I did end up working many years as a kind of digital nomad traveling great deal for companies as an employee, but going the places they wanted me to go. Still had lots of fun. There is much to be said about enjoying another country on an expense report, he he, and not worrying about next client, just next assignment.
About to embark on my Digital Nomad journey on the 14th of April, I've been at 'home' for nearly 2 years and I'm tired of it. I want to buy a house in the next 3 years to have a permanent base.
Thank you so much for this message. I've been working abroad since 2014 but been home in USA since last May. This video was exactly the answer I was looking for. I had all the same thoughts and concerns as you explained. I'm definitely spending the complete year home then back to Asia to my "normal life". I wish you and I can talk more about this like via email or something. You definitely just impacted my life just now. Appreciate you my man. Hope to see you this year when I'm back in Asia. -Darrion
Great to see you back Chris, good to step back and look at your big picture, good luck with your future in whatever you do. You’ll be great at it! Just keep the content rolling!
Thanks! I'll do my best
Congrats on the new body!! I could see it in your shoulders. But in the comparison shot you really see how you transformed your body. Your hard work paid off!
Looking forward to seeing more videos, a great inspiration. I'm getting ready to head back out to Asia, just waiting for this virus thing to calm down - maybe another 2 months??. I think I have finally found a solid plan to support myself financially when I am overseas.
Same here!
Welcome back to Thailand - we missed you. But the struggle is real. Went through the same thing too.
Great Video Chris. I can totally relate. I too live in Chiang Mai and have been a bit of a digital nomad since 2005. It would be great to get together sometime for coffee and compare experiences. Keep up the great work and continue having fun my friend.
the hardest step seems to be securing a steady income that can continue while living abroad. if that part is in place the rest is a matter of logistics of day to day living light
Chris your story is really great. You're doing what you want. I agree sometimes you must step back in order to leap forward. The last thing to worry about is what people think. When you do something outside the norm, people have a difficult time understanding what you are doing. You can explain it to them but they usually just have their eyes glaze over and try to change the topic. I am currently anchored to home now but looking and planning my life on the road in the future. In order to travel I want to complete my commitments before starting my new journey.
Thanks for being so open and real about this whole thing
I totally feel you
some similar things in life has been going on
And enjoyed listening to your story
Would be happy to see where you head next 💜
Great video, Chris. Really puts into perspective for me that there are so many options, and leaving the traditional lifestyle, and instead subscribing solely to a digital nomad lifestyle, also puts you inside a different box. Living your life the way that fits you, depending on where you are in your life at that time, is what it's all about.
Nice looking villa too bro. Really bright! 🙌🏼🤙🏼
Coco Kala - shoot location worked out really well!
Come and check out the Smokey Mountains and the land between there and the Rocky Mountains, here in the States. Stay away from the Cities on the Coasts. . . There's another set of America from L.A. and N.Y.C.!
I can super relate to feeling like a "failure" by going home... But yeah. dating is hard with people who really don't understand that part of your life.
I remember having a similar-end feeling of not connecting, but the actual facts on the surface were so opposite!! I think I've had like so many dates that when I said "I lived in Bangkok" "I lived in Bucharest" - it became the ONLY thing the other person wanted to know about.
To the point where I'd feel like I'm being grilled for 2 hours, and the date ends with me feeling exhausted and not knowing anything about the other person cause everything I asked (in the brief moments they didn't shoot questions) the other person- they'd reply with 1 sentence, like - it's not as interesting as living abroad, and continued their questioning.
Saw you're back on Living the Life channel, happy to see you're back to your desired lifestyle with that achievement career-wise.
I totally understand! Sometimes you feel tired of traveling and you need to leave a normal life for a while. I stayed 6 months traveling and now I'm in home editing and working more to come back to the road.
I hope I bump into you when I'm ready to start my digital nomad experience, it sounds like you have a lot of valuable experience to share 😊
Chris, Ive worked with digital nomads, or as I call them, remote team members, for about a year now. Ive had a TON of positive experiences working with folks all over the world. Right now I have one guy in Nigeria, one girl in UK, one guy in Moscow, one guy in UK, one guy in Belarus.
I just posted a video about what its like working with digital nomads that have worked out really well. Typically when you have someone that wants a quick thousand or two thousand dollars for doing one or two tasks, you end up not working with them for very long. Ive found that those who proved their value early and EXCELLENT communication skills tend to be the ones Im shelling out 4-5k on a month.
Dont think that just because you call it a nifty name, that its going to be easy. You need to provide value to the employer. As long as youre doing that, you can do it from the beach! haha. Hope that helps.
Happy to see you again! every stage of life brings us learning experiences and we need to push us more and more to discover what is best for us.
Really happy to see you back man! I think this is why I don't necessarily call myself a "digital nomad" and prefer the term "location independent". There are periods of time during the year when I am nomadic, specifically in the summer in the northern hemisphere. During that time I tend to bounce around a bit more in Europe but the rest of the time I find a place I like and chill there, whether that's back home in the US or in Mexico where I am now or Asia.
It's all about having the freedom to go where you are pulled to go, if you want to be home with family, go home and be with family. If you want to be nomadic for 4 months out of the year do that. Working remotely and being able to do it from anywhere gives you the freedom to answer those calls. That's really it :)
Welcome back man and I look forward to meeting up somewhere 🤙🏼
Thanks for the comment bro 😊
Wow. This is awesome, I can't believe I'm barely now seeing this 9 months later. I had wondered where you had been, I was subbed but I guess I missed the video. 🤦🏻♂️
Nice to see you back Chris 👍
I had started to feel like a complete loser as a DN and l was exhausted. Will do it differently next time! Enjoy!
I really liked your video. The part that resonated a lot with me is the part about people being unable to relate to you. I have visited the Philippines, Indonesia, Malta, China, Morocco, and Thailand. The average person in the US has not visited that many different countries. It feels weird for me to talk about average things like the local sports team.
Happy to see you back online Chris! Looking forward to more content.
Mate, that what you describe is not weird at all! Most folks can't really relate to this kind of mindset - I call it a mindset rather than a lifestyle. Don't be feeling weird of it ... it's just a different rhythm to your life.
I'm now "settled" (4 kids and all that), but my rhythm hasn't changed. Even for settled people, this lifestyle works very well. Can spend time with kids whenever you want.
Love your point about "limiting" yourself. However, you're not Chris the digital nomad. You're Chris the *freelancer* which works with or without travelling really ;)
Anyways keep up the good work and feel free to reach out to me if you want some (kinda) insight on being a settled freelancer I'm happy to chat just to share some experiences. I'm doing this lifestyle for more than a decade now and have experiences to share and I reckon I've developed a really safe psychology around it too.
Keep up the good work - stay free! ;) Cheerio.
Being a digital nomad is the best. You can build your own life, traveling to different countries, learning from different cultures at the same time earning like what you earn in the office-based setting.
Your idea of being living like a Digital Nomad is good in today's society. In the other hand being a Social Nomad like the Vintage punks should have some will power and no responsibilities. Main idea in living Nomad is having a partner of your deeds and ideas of living Nomad❤️
Welcome back, mate! I really missed your youtube videos. You're an inspiration!
Watching you from Germany..best videos on digital nomads lifestyles, you look an honest person
Really good points bro, relating to this a lot after moving back to melbourne after 3 years mostly in Thailand
My man Chris, YOU'RE BACK! Nobody truly wants to be a nomad forever. Even the most successful digital nomads develop a home base after a few years. For someone who is a software developer, you travelled at quite a fast pace and it may have likely interfered with your work, or at least brought added stress to your schedule.
Your genuineness and honesty is what makes you connect with us I guess :) You're doing great buddy!
finally, back brother
Nice to have you back Chris and some great insights and shared sentiments!
yeah it's really all about finding your balance and making it work somehow, glad you're back on the road though, welcome back dude :)
Don't attach yourself to a certain identity too much man. As long as you're doing what feels good, it doesn't matter what you do in life
the only problem with traveling to me is to keep all your belongings in a suitcase, and constantly struggle with visas stuff and immigration that force you to go in and out of country regularly, wich leads to many room bookings, fly bookings, bus tickets etc. that is the main turnoff for me. if you would give me a 1year visa to thailand without struggle, i pack my bag today
Definitely look into education and social visas. One year Thai visas definitely exist
@@ChristheFreelancerthanks for the answer :). i think you have to go in and out every three months even on such visas iirc.
bieeeber sarah yeah. Something like that, or have to request to leave each time you wanna go and come back in (re-entry permit, I think it’s called)
Hope we can keep doing this in next 20 years :). Good point - do what you feel its good for you, be brave. But remember, we can not have all in this life, every decision opens new doors and closes another. Some thresholds crossed can not be recovered, It is just to not regret our decisions and life we do not have. With time only we see where we were going...
Thanks so much for sharing this! You explained the trade-offs really well and how your priorities shaped your choices!