DIGITAL NOMAD
[dɪdʒɪt(ə)l ˈnəʊmad]
People who work remotely, usually in foreign countries, and earn their living online with the help of wireless digital technologies.
If your cubicle feels like a cage and the daily commute leaves you drained, watch out. It might not be long before you decide to ditch the office grind in favor of the digital nomad lifestyle. You know, banging away on your laptop poolside somewhere exotic, a mai tai in hand. This way of living is not just for tech heads anymore: nowadays, pretty much anyone whose main worktool is a computer can lead a location-independent life. But hold on, don't hand in your two-weeks notice just yet. Let us point out the multiple flies in the ointment. It's not all fun and games for a digital nomad. For one, they have a lot less stability. Forget regular wages, social security, health insurance; forget vacation, too. Most digital nomads have to work practically around the clock to sustain themselves abroad. Many take up a part-time job to build a financial cushion for lean times or to legalize their stay in the host country. Yes, they travel a lot, but not having a permanent home base means no constant comfort zone or long-lasting relations. Working poolside or at a trendy hangout is not a given, either: the Wi-Fi is almost always much better somewhere less glamorous. Like in the modest apartment on the outskirts of town you'll have to share with a few roommates. Sooner or later, all digital nomads face the ugly truth: being free costs a LOT of time and money.
