Ramblings: Go nomad big, or go small

Should you be a digital nomad in a small town or big city?

When choosing a place to venture to with your new digital nomadic life, you need not be restricted to big cities. Maybe you feel like there are more employment opportunities in the big city, maybe it will be easier to pick up work.

Perhaps, this may be true. But you’re a digital nomad. Don’t overlook remote working and taking up the opportunity to stay in a small town instead. 

Big cities might have a lot to offer, but small towns can offer some things that you might even know you were looking for.

I’m going to walk you through a couple of benefits that we have living in a small coastal town in Italy – population circa 10k.

• My neighbour brings my parcels upstairs to my door.
• The courier knows who we are and will call us to find out where we are in town for drop offs –  no need to stay home all day for deliveries.
• My son talks to all of our neighbours on the balcony – for the days you can’t be bothered going out to be social. You can always rely on one of your neighbours to be hanging out their washing!
• You can walk everywhere!!
• My neighbour caught my son running out of sight in town and entertained him until I arrived.
• Kids get to trick-or-treat in all of the shops, no need to go door-knocking.
• My son has an ‘arrangement’ with every cafe in town, whereby he gets something ‘gratuito‘ – a biscuit or something along those lines. While I do buy coffee we have established that this is not really necessary. He also has a similar ‘arrangement’ with the Panificio/Bakery.
• My son has been to my neighbours apartment to have strawberries. Subsequently our own strawberries are now inferior and it is requested that be served “come Maria” – with lemon and sugar. 
• I haven’t wrapped a gift in two years, the local toy stores does all of the wrapping free of charge. PS They’re doing a roaring trade!!

Sure, you will encounter some limitations – we have no real shopping available to us, save for pricier boutiques. But we’re only 30 minutes by train from a bigger city. To be honest our train trip from suburban Melbourne into the city was longer!! 

Regardless though, yes there are compromises. But in my opinion the benefits far outweigh the limitations.

It also really helps with being a minimalist if you have limited access to everything. You start to ask yourself if you really do need it. And with the ease of online shopping, it doesn’t really matter how far away from a store you are.

Ramblings: Children, the secret to expat life

I think back on the last two years, I congratulate myself on being a ‘successful expat‘ here in Italy. I’m here, I’m still here and I’m staying here. I don’t want to leave.

Then I stop to consider why the biggest threat to expat life, particularly in a smaller town, hasn’t yet struck me. I’m talking about loneliness. Sometimes expat life can get lonely, and the thing calling you home – your friends and family – that’s hard to replicate abroad. That sense of home, belonging and comfort.

So why aren’t I searching for that now. Two years later…

Funding my digital nomadic existence

The life of a digital nomad, bliss and happiness. Right? No worries in the world, just great food, great photos and constant sunshine. 

But how can you live the carefree life of a nomad for as long as your heart desires?

The good intentions of being a digital nomad quickly fade away as you become victim to the same pitfalls as a static life. 

Cleaning up Italy’s garbage

As a foreigner Italy’s garbage disposal procedure can be annoying, confronting and at times down-right stinky.

When confronted with the idea of having to walk my household garbage down the street to the nearest garbage bins I was immediately taken a back. The thought of parading my garbage across the piazza for all to see and assess was a little overwhelming. That was my feeling several years ago anyway, when I first moved to Florence.