Andrew, Emma, and Benji, it's both incredibly inspiring and heartbreaking to read this story. As a digital nomad myself going through some financial troubles at the moment, I have to tip my hat to you BIG TIME. It's weird for me to hate the feeling of financial insecurity, but not hate it enough to pursue a traditional job. I'm not saying that's how you feel, but I get some of those sentiments from this post. I guess I just want you to know that there's another digital nomad type going through this right alongside you and many others feel what you expressed in this post. Keep fighting the good fight.
Tom, thank you for the comment and for taking the time to share your story. It's good to hear from others like yourself striving to live a little differently - it can feel like a lonely road sometimes!
This was sooooo refreshing to read. I felt your struggle.
Would it make you feel better to hear that even though you're struggling, you're living a life that others dream of? Of course that doesn't pay the bills but it's maybe some validation that you're on a good path.
Have you been taking advice from my financial advisor again? If you see him tell him to keep my bloody money.... I don't need his advice..... keep up the great words
This one really resonated! After migrating from Australia to Austria for my wife’s work - just before the pandemic began - I very quickly became acquainted with financial insecurity and the struggle of unemployment in a system that is insanely difficult to navigate without the local language and bureaucratic know-how. As such, I sort of had the reverse experience - I was forced unwillingly into a frugal life but then had to accept my situation and try to find meaning and purpose in it. Lo and behold, that meaning came from finding ways to be creative, which naturally led to seeking inspiration from spending time adventuring in nature. I’m not going to lie - the last four years have been the hardest of my life, but man, I am immensely grateful for the person it has forced me to become. Thanks again, Andrew and Emma. This one really struck a chord!
A wonderful open and honest account and the reality and antithesis of what insta etc. often leads us to believe (van life, slow travel etc). I hope the financial burdens don’t stifle you’re inspiring creativity, more than happy to help out in any crowdfund towards a new exhaust :)
Thanks James, appreciate the comment. Interesting thought on the financial burden stifling creativity - I think sometimes it has actually forced us to be more creative, which I suppose is a good thing. A little more financial flexibility may have helped some of our creative projects flourish however, but who knows...
Ah guys, thanks for this open hearted and honest account.
As a fellow simple lifer, alas not quite matching your level of connection with nature, I know it's a perilous existence, full of hopes and disappointments.
But the thing is, this is the way it is supposed to be; you are doing it right, it's the system that is wrong.
Your digest landed in my inbox alongside this invocation of the Bolivian concept of Buen Vivir from Erin Remblance https://erinremblance.substack.com/p/buen-vivir which really demonstrates that western mainstream society is just one way of organising, and a flawed one at that.
Thanks Tim - I love this "you are doing it right, it's the system that is wrong". It definitely feels as though the system is rigged against anyone trying to live differently.
It certainly is perilous, but full of joy as well as hope!
Hey, thanks for sharing this, with all of its raw honesty. As much as I look to a simple life in nature with envy, I am still very much in a fast-paced, middle class existence. Still, I am familiar with some of these financial hardships and have been looking for ways to escape the wage slavery existence. More so in social media, but even in the Substack world, it is easy to see the highlights of other people's lives and begin to believe that everyone else experiences life like that all of the time. I'm not trying to say that I'm glad to hear of your struggles, but the reality check and perspective shift you present in this post are much appreciated!
I have to think that in living in close connection to nature, in writing, photography, and art, we are living and experiencing a higher level of life. It is a reward in its own, regardless of monetary returns. Your words here have guided me towards a more mindful appreciation of what I do have. Thanks for this!
Hey Erik, thanks so much for the thoughtful comment and for sharing some insights into your own situation. I'm glad the post resonated with you. I wanted to share a dose a reality and hoped it would help others to remember that what we see on social media is often not the whole truth. As you say, living in close connection to nature is reward on its own, regardless of monetary returns. That's a really important message for us - there is more than one way of measuring success.
Andrew, Emma, and Benji, it's both incredibly inspiring and heartbreaking to read this story. As a digital nomad myself going through some financial troubles at the moment, I have to tip my hat to you BIG TIME. It's weird for me to hate the feeling of financial insecurity, but not hate it enough to pursue a traditional job. I'm not saying that's how you feel, but I get some of those sentiments from this post. I guess I just want you to know that there's another digital nomad type going through this right alongside you and many others feel what you expressed in this post. Keep fighting the good fight.
Tom, thank you for the comment and for taking the time to share your story. It's good to hear from others like yourself striving to live a little differently - it can feel like a lonely road sometimes!
Poverty makes everything harder.
This was sooooo refreshing to read. I felt your struggle.
Would it make you feel better to hear that even though you're struggling, you're living a life that others dream of? Of course that doesn't pay the bills but it's maybe some validation that you're on a good path.
Have you been taking advice from my financial advisor again? If you see him tell him to keep my bloody money.... I don't need his advice..... keep up the great words
Thanks Andrew and Emma!
This one really resonated! After migrating from Australia to Austria for my wife’s work - just before the pandemic began - I very quickly became acquainted with financial insecurity and the struggle of unemployment in a system that is insanely difficult to navigate without the local language and bureaucratic know-how. As such, I sort of had the reverse experience - I was forced unwillingly into a frugal life but then had to accept my situation and try to find meaning and purpose in it. Lo and behold, that meaning came from finding ways to be creative, which naturally led to seeking inspiration from spending time adventuring in nature. I’m not going to lie - the last four years have been the hardest of my life, but man, I am immensely grateful for the person it has forced me to become. Thanks again, Andrew and Emma. This one really struck a chord!
By the way, I'll take out a paid subscription when I have the money 😉
May your blessings always continue to outweigh the struggles 💚 and thank you for always being a blessing to me
I think this is an important post to give everyone a sense of reality but also a sense of why that reality you have created is so beneficial.
Thanks Vince! That is an extremely succinct and accurate summary of what I hoped the post would be. Thank you.
A wonderful open and honest account and the reality and antithesis of what insta etc. often leads us to believe (van life, slow travel etc). I hope the financial burdens don’t stifle you’re inspiring creativity, more than happy to help out in any crowdfund towards a new exhaust :)
Thanks James, appreciate the comment. Interesting thought on the financial burden stifling creativity - I think sometimes it has actually forced us to be more creative, which I suppose is a good thing. A little more financial flexibility may have helped some of our creative projects flourish however, but who knows...
Good idea crowdfunding for the exhaust - cheers!
Ah guys, thanks for this open hearted and honest account.
As a fellow simple lifer, alas not quite matching your level of connection with nature, I know it's a perilous existence, full of hopes and disappointments.
But the thing is, this is the way it is supposed to be; you are doing it right, it's the system that is wrong.
Your digest landed in my inbox alongside this invocation of the Bolivian concept of Buen Vivir from Erin Remblance https://erinremblance.substack.com/p/buen-vivir which really demonstrates that western mainstream society is just one way of organising, and a flawed one at that.
With faith, hope and love.
Ted/Tim x
Thanks Tim - I love this "you are doing it right, it's the system that is wrong". It definitely feels as though the system is rigged against anyone trying to live differently.
It certainly is perilous, but full of joy as well as hope!
Hey, thanks for sharing this, with all of its raw honesty. As much as I look to a simple life in nature with envy, I am still very much in a fast-paced, middle class existence. Still, I am familiar with some of these financial hardships and have been looking for ways to escape the wage slavery existence. More so in social media, but even in the Substack world, it is easy to see the highlights of other people's lives and begin to believe that everyone else experiences life like that all of the time. I'm not trying to say that I'm glad to hear of your struggles, but the reality check and perspective shift you present in this post are much appreciated!
I have to think that in living in close connection to nature, in writing, photography, and art, we are living and experiencing a higher level of life. It is a reward in its own, regardless of monetary returns. Your words here have guided me towards a more mindful appreciation of what I do have. Thanks for this!
Hey Erik, thanks so much for the thoughtful comment and for sharing some insights into your own situation. I'm glad the post resonated with you. I wanted to share a dose a reality and hoped it would help others to remember that what we see on social media is often not the whole truth. As you say, living in close connection to nature is reward on its own, regardless of monetary returns. That's a really important message for us - there is more than one way of measuring success.
Thanks again and good luck on your journey!