The Tech-Enabled Digital Nomad Life
Meet David & Lily. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, these two newly-married, seasoned travelers were looking for adventure after two years of rural, lockdown life. Their fully remote, work from anywhere jobs led them to ask, “If we could be anywhere, where would we go?” Their answer: Everywhere. At the beginning of 2022, they embarked on the ultimate wanderlust challenge: visiting all 50 states in 365 days, truly putting the “digital nomad” lifestyle to the test. We checked in with David & Lily this summer for a “halfway through” look at their journey.
What is a Digital Nomad?
Pandemic remote work only catalyzed the already growing trend: digital workers taking their laptops and careers on the road. Innovations in communication technology make it so people don’t have to choose between travel and work. People who capitalize on this freedom and travel from location to location are referred to as digital nomads. As the COVID-19 pandemic raged on and work-from-home lacked a finish line, more and more people envisioned working from a more exciting locale. Whether a short-term month in a new city or a longer-term stay abroad, the number of digital nomads has surged to 15.1 million in 2021, with year-over-year growth of 50% since 2019. To further the appeal, Millennials prefer to spend their hard-earned money on experiences rather than possessions. Countries looking to grow their tourism, bolster their small-town populations, or drive business partnerships are capitalizing on the trend by offering digital nomad VISAs, providing relocation services, and improving wifi connectivity to villages. Next time you think you’re stuck where you are, think again! If you’re among the nearly 22% of the population who will be remote working by 2025, consider an adventure like the Brimhalls.
Digital Nomads: Be Prepared
While the concept might sound idyllic and simplistic, don’t be fooled. Being a digital nomad has its pitfalls. Fortunately, those who have gone before are quick to share their wisdom. For David and Lily, research was key to the success of their journey. “We’ve been dreaming of this since we were teens, so we researched on and off for years. I definitely researched ‘worst case scenarios’ so I could prepare myself,” laughed Lily.
They spent nearly three months in focused planning for their cross-country trek, covering everything from routes to special events, equipment, emergency preparedness, and gear. Their vehicle of choice is a 1992 Ford Airstream B190 which sports a small kitchen, sleeping area, and full bathroom. Reliable internet was a top priority for the Brimhalls, as David often works while Lily drives. They invested in a Jetpack Hotspot so they could work from anywhere as they traveled.
“It takes nearly an hour of planning per day on the road,” said David. To help guide them, they use RoadTrippers which guides travelers to “off the beaten path” attractions in their proximity. They also accounted for iconic experiences like concerts from their favorite bands, special events (like Mardi Gras!), and seasonal attractions (think fall colors in New England).
Technology Specific for Life on the Road
Where do you park if you need to stay the night somewhere random? What if you need to empty your RV’s tank? How do you find the most RV-friendly communities? Digital nomads got savvy and solved their own problems with innovative apps and networks.
David and Lily found the most success with membership networks like Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome. Harvest Hosts is a network of breweries, wineries, farms, and museums that permit RVs to park overnight in their lots in exchange for patronizing the business. Similarly, Boondockers Welcome allows RVers to reserve nights in people’s driveways; think “couch surfing” for concrete slabs. Campendium has guided them to RV parks along the way for convenient dumping and charging, while a traditional KOA membership has ensured that they have a spot to do laundry, take a long shower, and experience air conditioning if they need it. When in doubt, an Anytime Fitness membership works at any location in the country if you need some exercise and a shower.
The Best & Worst Thus Far
“You better believe we’re making a definitive ranking of best and worst states on this trip,” said David. Who better to rank all 50 states than someone who has visited them all in a short span! But clearly, experiences in each state influence perception. For example, breaking down on the third week of their journey and being stranded for three weeks (several of those days in a town with only eight people) quickly tanked the ranking of Nevada, understandably. Top states thus far are Colorado, Tennessee, and Montana.
However, both David and Lily admit that loneliness sometimes gets the best of them. “I love meeting new people,” said Lily, “but we don’t get to see close family and friends.” For David, the monotony of pandemic work-from-home life further propelled his desire to pursue this trip. “Remote work during the pandemic was mind-numbingly boring. Every day was the exact same,” he said.
Even though they have run out of power more times than they want to admit, had mechanical issues, and been forced to change their route time after time, they love their life on the road, especially the people they have met along the way. Initially, they kept a digital account of their journey, but it became too time-consuming to keep up. “We got too busy living our experiences to post about them,” said Lily.
As the calendar turns to October, they have just a few more states left in their journey. They will head up the New England coast in time to catch Mother Nature showing off for fall and then hop on a plane for their final two states: Alaska for Christmas and Hawaii for the New Year.
“It sounds cliche, but every day is a new adventure,” said David. “It’s been 263 days thus far, and that’s how many stories we have to tell.”
