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Settling vs Nomading: Which Lifestyle Truly Wins?

yngmind

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Apr 26, 2020
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Most of us here on the forum have probably wondered about this at some point—what’s better, settling down or living a nomadic lifestyle?

Being a nomad seems cool because you can visit lots of countries and be there at the best time of the year. You can avoid the high-tax obligations but still live in those countries for a few months, enjoy the best they have to offer, and pay no taxes.

On the other hand, settling down gives you a place to call home, set up a proper workspace, and maybe feel more grounded.

It's hard to find one country to settle down in nowadays, so I personally prefer being a nomad. You can get the best from all the countries, but it does come with some sacrifices.

What do you think is better and why?
 
I lived in Dubai for three years and considered going back and signing an annual contract, but honestly, life is way more fun as a nomad.

You’d have to escape Dubai during the summer heat while still paying exorbitant rent.

Essentially, you're paying for nine months of use in your apartment, which makes it quite expensive. A decent place would probably cost around $5k a month when you account for that. The air quality is also pretty bad, which can take a toll on your health—and that’s something money can’t replace.
 
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Even with kids, it's possible. A friend of mine moves to a new place twice a month. He is married and has a child.
yeah its very well possible with kids, if the wife is into this ;). They will learn invaluable things being exposed to cultures and languages early on.

Hard to say which is better. Myself also have phases in this. A few years largely domesticated and a few years nomadic.
Eventually doing semi-nomadism, like 2 countries for many months / year but lets see. Flexibility is key.
 
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we (family) have a base which we love and hate at the same time for various reasons
about 6 months a year traveling in tropical places

a bit tired of this live style in the last 10 years, a bit annoyed by uncomfortable and dirty accommodations, broken amenities, resonating A/C and water pumps, barking dogs, loud neighbors, nosy caretakers, rodents, geckos, ants, mosquitos and no-see-ums ... no matter whether one pays 50 or 500 per night, there is always something wrong
flying is a headache, visa policies nonsensical, idiotic rules everywhere, constantly being a target of locals trying to extract money from me

yet we like this life style better than the alternatives

I'd love to settle down and live peaceful life but didn't find the right place where it's possible yet, maybe never will...
 
I'd love to settle down and live peaceful life but didn't find the right place where it's possible yet, maybe never will...
I hear you. I love the nomadic lifestyle, but I'm single and no kids (that I know of). I do have a place where I pay tax and store my stuff.

Many years ago, and only a few years into this lifestyle at that time, I came to the realisation that there is no shangri-la.

Every place has problems, it just comes down to what problems do you want to put up with.
 
Unfortunately I never quite made it to the point of living life as a digital nomad It is a lifestyle you have to adapt to in order to make it work The few years I spent living in other countries to avoid becoming a slave to my home country have given me a lot of valuable knowledge about different cultures and regulations

As a digital nomad I imagine you would need centrally and strategically located storage spaces for the things you cannot carry with you all the time You would also have to plan which countries you want to stay in and align that with your storage locations

Then there is the standard of living as others have already mentioned you will have to get used to living in hotels or Airbnbs which in the end can be just as expensive as a good hotel You constantly have to figure out how to access healthcare if needed and many small everyday things can become frustrating things you would not have to think about if you settled down permanently

So yeah I think it is a really tough choice and even harder if you have a family.
 
What I really appreciate when staying less than a month anywhere is that I really do not care how bad it is. I am not bothered about all the corrupt politicians, the broken infrastructure, the complete nonsense of the banking moneys the locals are dealing with just to make a local payment. I just look at it, laughing at it and then move on and tell those with me: "You know, they people are here everyday." And that's how I then disappear in an airport.
 
Regarding the place to store stuff.

Why not just store it in your home country? In the parents house for example.

I would love to be in my home country for 2 months a year at least.

That’s the time you can have an appointments with your doctors, complete health check ups, visit your family, meet your friends, enjoy the cousine you are used to.
 
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I would love to be in my home country for 2 months a year at least.

That’s the time you can have an appointments with your doctors, complete health check ups, visit your family, meet your friends, enjoy the cousine you are used to.
Sounds like you maintained your center of vital interests in that country…
 
Sounds like you maintained your center of vital interests in that country…

It think this question is heavily dependent on the person as it depends on your country and even the region within that country you are from.

I am originally from the south of France and there are definitely a lot of pros of going back a few months per year or living here. Most people do not have it as good as me from this perspective. If you're from Leeds, UK I guess this is less of a factor in your decision tree to live fully in the other side of the world and never come back.
 
It think this question is heavily dependent on the person as it depends on your country and even the region within that country you are from.
It’s only dependent on the judge. He’s the one to be convinced.
 
I think in most of the cases, it mainly depends whether they find you or if you are lucky under the radar. Not sure why Southern France should be easier than Northern Finland, but maybe he is trying to tell us that he will get lost among the tourists.
It’s only dependent on the judge. He’s the one to be convinced.

As long as you do not stay in France for >183 days, and the base of your personal life and business are not in France, they do not have a case against you.
 
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