CHAPTER 17

Digital Nomad Nation: Rise of a Borderless Generation

The Call to Action

“And suddenly, you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”

— Meister Eckhart

While listening to the history of the nomad nation can be scintillating, and hearing the story of wanderers turned global tribe can be entertaining, all of the opportunity that this adds up to is lost without action.

Your action.

If this tale of the birth of a nation, tiny travels, and billions of adventures that made it, and the invitation it is sending you now set your heart abuzz, it is time for you to join the digital nomad nation.

Any way you can. Wherever you can.

As satisfying as it is to quit the world, taking what you can fit in a backpack, and leaving the world behind as your one-way flight ascends from the runway – you don’t have to do that to join us. I hope one day you do escape. Until then, there is still an invitation for you to join in the adventures.

Just like the sarcastic yet charming words of Anthony Bourdain can transport our senses halfway around the globe, and a Thai restaurant lives its mission as a cultural emissary immersing us in the tastes of Bangkok, the nomad nation is ready to whisk you away on the journey if your heart lets you heed the call to adventure.

Even if you are already on the road, buried in this story is a call to recognize the untapped potential in your journey and the transformation happening in the nomad nation so that you can consciously commit to the best of both.

No matter where you are or who you are, this is your invitation, your call to join the adventure of digital nomadism and the Digital Nomad Nation.

How to join the Digital Nomad Nation

The Digital Nomad Nation, its success, and continued enrichment of the world around us wouldn’t be possible without a handful of specific types of members – digital nomads, aspiring nomads, policymakers & government officials in host countries, and local support & allies in host countries.

…for Aspiring Nomads

You don’t have to drop everything and buy a one-way ticket tomorrow. But you can start today.

Here’s how to take your first steps:

Research the Digital Nomad Lifestyle to understand if it is for you and how

Soak up stories, recountings, trip reports, and objective perspectives of digital nomadism from nomads on the road – by following online communities and seeking out content that shares the highs and lows of life.
Understand that the most objective, genuine, and balanced content about digital nomadism will likely come in small pieces from real nomads, as they are too busy working and traveling to provide robust content.
Develop a vision of what your ideal life as a digital nomad is like, including locations, activities, pace, connection, and any other details you can muster

Connect with nomads and other aspiring nomads in the Digital Nomad Community

Join the major online digital nomad communities to become familiar with the nomad life through chatter.
Visit nomad meetups, events, and conferences.
Host international meetups – language, cultural, nomad, etc.
Join online digital nomad communities
Realize that at home, you are the “local community” that nomads want to connect and exchange with
Advocate for policies and planning that welcome nomads, make staying easier, and integrate them with the community

Create a plan and the resources to launch onto your own digital nomad journey.

Research destinations with thriving nomad communities and affordable living costs.
Join online forums like Nomad List or Reddit’s digital nomad threads to connect with others.
Consider regional/domestic nomadism to get started
Research and Experiment with Remote-Friendly Careers and Freelance opportunities

Prepare for the Journey

Plan your budget for 6 months to 12 months bases
Save money for your transition, aiming for initial flights plus 6-12 months of living expenses
Develop key skills like remote work productivity, client management, or digital entrepreneurship
Plan and put into action an income source for the road before departing
Minimize the things at home that consume resources (apartment rental, items needing to be stored, etc.)
Communicate your plan to others strategically (e.g., friends, family, trusted coworkers) to gain support for your launch and the journey to follow
Travel hack frequent flyer points for award flights
Set up the appropriate financial mechanisms: Two credit cards, two debit cards, and two borderless banking alternatives

Test the Lifestyle

Travel to get to know your tastes and preferences in destination and travel style
Vacation in and visit the capitals and hubs to dip your toe in the water – and negotiate a week of remote work to make it feel even more real.
Plan a “workcation” to a digital nomad capital like Lisbon, Bali, or Medellín, or a hub city in your region
Take a remote job or request temporary remote work to explore location-independent income.

Jump into digital nomadism and start your own adventure

Pack one single backpack (not roller luggage), and no more
Buy a one-way flight to either a digital nomad capital city or hub city and don’t book any flights beyond that initial flight
Book your first week of travel at a well-rated hostel or co-living space (getting a private room is fine)
Plan to do no work for the entire first week, just socialize and plug into the nation: Chat, do walking tours, attend pub crawls and happy hours, attend meetups to prioritize plugging into the nation and getting into the swing of social life in the digital nomad community
For weeks two and three, book private accommodation in a less social place to prioritize and sort professional life and nomad logistics, using your newfound friends and nomad community as resources
Plan your first three to six months of travel with between three weeks and three months in each city
Realize that it is ok to be afraid, but do not let that fear stop you

…for Digital Nomads already in the adventure

Whether you are a seasoned nomad with two years or ten years of wear on your travel pack, the journey of a digital nomad has countless opportunities to get more from every step of your travels.

Do everything you can to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime adventure, prioritizing the experience (and not just the business), not forgetting to connect along the way, and do what you can to shape your path and the nomad nation to add up to the future you want.

Enjoy the adventure and make the most of your nomad adventure

Live out every year nomading in such a way that if the adventure ended that year, you could leave with your head high and heart full
Understand that the nomad journey has an infinite number of endings at varied times. When your priorities shift and the time to transition comes, embrace the memories and follow your path, but if your heart is in it, stay connected to the nomad nation

Please connect to the community, its members, and its locations to build the ties, activities, and locations that fulfill your

Connect with other nomads online by joining digital nomad communities across
Visit the capitals and hubs, explore the nomad infrastructure, and connect with other nomads in person
Attend digital nomad conferences and large
Attend digital nomad meetups wherever you are
Actively connect with members of the local community and be curious about their culture
Be an appreciative guest in whatever cities and countries host you
Get off the beaten path and away from nomads to enhance your experience and expand the reach of the nomad nation
Connect with local cultures with deep curiosity, and travel to places that encourage you to do this

Contribute to and Strengthen the Community

Mentor aspiring nomads
Host meetups and events in your current city.
Share your story through blogs, vlogs, or social media to inspire others.
Share your knowledge about travel, the logistics of nomading, and your professional expertise in as many mediums as possible
Share your ideas and skills widely to empower, and listen and absorb as well
Share your struggles, and reach out for solutions, advice, and support
Consider starting a nomad enclave in an amenable town
Join or start a Digital Nomad Nation project to advocate for policy, build tools and digital infrastructure, and build a company, product, or service that serves the needs of nomads
Participate in the Next Global Digital Nomad Study

Advocate for Positive Impact, Ethical Travel, and Support Local Economies

Nomad sustainably and practice ethical travel by supporting local businesses and minimizing environmental impact.
Educate yourself on the effects of gentrification and engage with host communities responsibly.

Approach your evolving journey with intention, and understand you can stay connected to the nomad nation as your travels slow

As your journey comes to an evolution point, consider giving back in enclaves: Build a new nomad infrastructure; Contribute to the development of a new enclave
If you settle, be a communication bring connecting fresh nomads with local communities
Advocate for nomad issues in your adopted home
If you return home, share your story and your insight to inspire aspiring nomads

…for policymakers and government officials

Connect with the nomad nation to share your vision of how the nomad nation can join your community and hear the nuances of their needs. After a point of mutual understanding, advocate for mutually beneficial policy and cultivate a situation that welcomes nomads in a mutually beneficial way that shares your culture, enhances the experiences of nomads, and contributes to sustainable development and cultural preservation.

Connect with the Digital Nomad Nation to better understand digital nomads

Interact with nomads at all levels to what nomads visit and love your country or city and what they love about it
Aim to understand what mutually beneficial opportunities exist specifically with the nomads that love your country
Reach out to nomad ambassadors and key figures and plug owners of nomad infrastructure (co-working spaces owners, community managers) for valuable insights

Note: In the future, we will assist in identifying nomad ambassadors and consulates with the Next Generation Global Digital Nomad Survey

Communicate your aspirations and ideas for mutually beneficial cooperation and collaborate with nomads

Express your ideas for partnerships with the nomad community to allow the nomad community to express interest and co-create the outcome

Support Nomad Friendly Policymaking Promoting Remote Work and Freedom of Movement

Advocate for a policy that allows digital nomads to visit easily, stay longer, and remote work and volunteer legally
Advocate for remote work infrastructure projects and nomad enclave development
Advocate for open-border initiatives.

Encourage businesses to create remote work-friendly businesses to tap into a new market

Leverage insights into nomad accommodation needs and preferences to inform accommodation owners of the small additions that attract nomads in a big way
Encourage business owners in enclaves to be clear about remote work policies at their establishments and market the business as well as structure pricing accordingly
Encourage restaurants and cafes to consider the nuanced opportunity of digital nomads staying in the area for extended periods, presenting the opportunity for repeat business during the current trip and the next

Be an ally by advocating for global citizenship and borderless innovation

Advocate for extended digital nomad visas, valid for one to two years, to attract digital nomads
Advocate for nomad visas with all electronic application processes, straightforward requirements, and easy access to program, visa, and application process information
Advocate for visas with clear work permit guidelines (e.g., remote work not sourced from the host country), allowing for legal volunteering to facilitate skill-sharing experiences.

Invite digital nomads to collaborate on projects

Digital nomad visa and residency permit drafting
Nomad enclave creation
Skill sharing projects
Volunteering opportunities

…for local hosts, support, and allies

Know that you are a key part of our adventure, as our experiences would be incomplete without connecting with you, sharing your culture, sharing your home, and receiving your support. You are a major part of what makes the nomad journey possible. Please continue to be part of that journey by welcoming us, supporting us, and helping us learn and respect your culture.

Connect with nomads visiting your location and the nomad nation overall

Host nomad events and join nomad events

Contribute to the Digital Nomad Nation by building ethical, sustainable digital nomad infrastructure

Consider establishing sustainable and non-gentrification-inducing coworking spaces, cafes, co-living spaces, traditional accommodation, and more

Advocate for nomad-friendly policy and initiatives

Use your nationality, cultural insight, and insight of digital nomads to advocate for mutually beneficial visas and residency permits for nomads, suitable labor laws, and volunteer opportunities for nomads

Share your culture and educate nomads on how to support, sustain, and respect your culture

Actively volunteer insight and information about your culture to enhance nomads’ experience of your home and help them respect your culture and your home
Take an interest and get involved to prevent the negative effects of gentrification by holding nomads and business owners accountable for respecting and preserving locations, local people, and local culture

The Future is Ours to Shape

The Digital Nomad Nation is not just a movement—it is a community that thrives because of individuals like you. Take the leap, support the vision, and join us in shaping a world where freedom knows no borders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos Grider launched A Brother Abroad in 2017 after a “one-year abroad” experiment turned into a long-term life strategy. After 65+ countries and a decade abroad, he now writes about FIRE, personal finance, geo-arbitrage, and the real-world logistics of living abroad—visas, costs, and tradeoffs—so readers can make smarter global moves with fewer surprises. Carlos is a former Big 4 management consultant and DoD cultural advisor with an MBA (UT Austin) and Boston University’s Certificate in Financial Planning. He’s the author of Digital Nomad Nation: Rise of the Borderless Generation and is currently writing The Sovereign Expat.

Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.