Post: #26

" but I can't help but feel any chance I had to do it has passed me by"

Read the thread again. Most of these guys were trapped in the standard mindset. House, big car, marriage. They were you. They were us.

And then they said fuck all that bullshit.

The exact same mindset as game.

You do not have to settle for a dumpy 6 who will suck you dry of your life.

Doubly so for your job

WIA

Post: #27

Be right back, selling my car and dropping my dog off at the pound.

Post: #28

My plan is to buy a sailboat and spend the rest of my life sailing the world. I'm about 4 years out from that. Very different from travelling with just a backpack. I'm looking forward to spending weeks at a time in the middle of the ocean.

Post: #29

(07-06-2016 11:11 PM)LINUX Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 10:52 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  Although I do have family to fall back on if a worst case scenario comes to pass, I don't have a permanent home anymore. It feels weird to not have a home or any possessions. So I would probably find value in what I learn from you guys in terms of mileage points, rewards programs, and what to do when money gets tight.

But, honestly, I can imagine unpacking and repacking every 30-60-90 days can be a pain in the ass, plus getting an apartment lease longer than 3 months can potentlally save you tons of money as opposed to airbnb for shorter periods of time. Of course I haven't actually put the rubber on the road yet, so this is mostly conjecture -- but I'll share my experience as I go along -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

One thing I do now, is always make friends with the landlords in the places you visit and rent the apartments off the books. I do that Colombia and I met a guy in Bali that agreed to it also, usually you can get the place for 1/3 of the Airbnb price, especially if you send other guys his way and give him some business now and again and he sees that you're not going to trash the place and disturb the neighbors. I'm not too worried about packing and unpacking since I will only have a suitcase. I practically take nothing on my travels now except a suit, gym clothes, some cigars, and Viagra.

Can you elaborate on this? Can you really get a place for one-third of the Airbnb price? I can't see how that's worth it for the landlord.

Post: #30

(07-07-2016 04:09 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  " but I can't help but feel any chance I had to do it has passed me by"

Read the thread again. Most of these guys were trapped in the standard mindset. House, big car, marriage. They were you. They were us.

And then they said fuck all that bullshit.

The exact same mindset as game.

You do not have to settle for a dumpy 6 who will suck you dry of your life.

Doubly so for your job

WIA

I don't feel trapped, I chose the life I have, that doesn't mean I don't question my choice or yearn for a bit of adventure when I read some of the threads on here.

Although I haven't travelled as extensively as many of the guys on the forum I've done enough to know I don't have it bad.

I live in Scotland and I fish, hunt and ski in my spare time. I have good friends, a good job, and own a couple of properties. I also don't like hot climates.

The only thing I could dramatically improve by moving abroad is access to pussy, and that alone is not enough for me. And thanks to the knowledge on here I'm improving that area slowly but surely.

I had the chance to live that kind of lifestyle a few years ago when I worked in the Middle East but I had a LTR then and hadn't yet found the forum. Had I known then what I know now things may well have turned out different. Now though I'm as settled as I've ever been and my outlook has changed. It may change again, who knows.

Anyway I don't want to derail the thread. I have huge respect for guys here that have made that leap, I asked where they see themselves in 10-20 years time because I realise their mindset and approach to life is different to mine and I'm curious. I think the older you get the more relevant it is.

Edit, thanks for challenging my view. Your posts consistently cut through bullshit and encourage introspection.

Post: #31

(07-06-2016 10:58 PM)LINUX Wrote:  I started studying the stock market when I was in my 20's. I papertraded for a while and then I transferred over to real money when I finally knew what I was doing. I lost a lot of money, but now I make more enough to support myself and I don't see that changing.

Let's meet up when you start your travels. Enjoy NYC. It's one of my favorite cities.

Nice way to be location independent... will definitely hit you up when it happens, cheers.

Post: #32

Id like to hear the story of someone who has lived this lifestyle for 15+ years.I m not à doubter. But i want to know how thats been working out...5 years aint shit...just watch the wire.

Post: #33

(07-07-2016 03:41 PM)Lagavulin Wrote:  This lifestyle sounds great but I can't help but feel any chance I had to do it has passed me by, it would take a quantum shift in my thinking to consider it these days. I would have to give up things I enjoy like fishing and hunting - you can't have it all I suppose.

Where do you guys who live this lifestyle see yourselves in 10 and 20 years time?

What provisions do you make for your future?

I don't know man. I don't care to be honest. In 10 - 20 years, I see myself doing the same thing that I'm doing now. I just don't care about having a family, a good job, feeling successful, or leaving a legacy behind. Like I said, I had that at one time and I hated it. I'm selfish when it comes to my life. Half my life is already up and the other half is going to be for me. It's a ticking time bomb and everyday it becomes more and more apparent.

If I had two choices in my life:

1. Wake up next to a wife, kids downstairs playing, sprinklers on, dog licking my face, coffee brewing.

2. Wake up on a nude beach in Greece beside a hot girl I just met the night before, kiss her on the cheek, jump on my Harley, and pull out a cigar and head north .

I'm one of the few guys that would choose the latter. If I have to walk in Wall-Mart when I'm 80 and ask for a job as a door greeter, then I'll do that. But I don't plan to be around that long to be honest.

Post: #34

Linux a few months ago I think you mentioned buying a place in Cali, Colombia and living there roughly half the year. Is that plan out the window or do you want to just use it as a vacation rental?

Post: #35

I am seriously considering this lifestyle as well. I am in a unique position where I could make it work. As an airline employee, I work 10 days a month for my basic salary (which is on the road in hotel rooms) then finish up at my home base. From there, I can fly for free to any city in the world for 2-3 weeks and some months up to six. With AirBNB its a plausible lifestyle.

I'm not going to lie though, it scares me to think of selling everything I own and living the true nomad lifestyle. I'm glad this thread popped up and I look forward to reading about all your experiences before I consider such a jump.

Post: #36

(07-07-2016 08:46 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  Linux a few months ago I think you mentioned buying a place in Cali, Colombia and living there roughly half the year. Is that plan out the window or do you want to just use it as a vacation rental?

I'm going to pass on buying a home. Cali Colombia is my favorite city in the world, and I will always go there, but no matter where I go, after three months, I'm ready to go somewhere else. I get bored very easily.

My ultimate goal in this moment it to not have any bills whatsoever.

After I cut out my internet, phone, gas, car insurance, rental insurance, I just came up with an extra +$250 dollars. That's half the rent in some of the cities I was to stay in.

Post: #37

I did the nomad life for a bit over a year

Was enough for me. I felt highly uproductive and experienced increased anxiety throughout.

I would rather settle down somewhere and build an empire which is antithetical to the nomad life.

I guess different strokes for different folks. I dont know how you guys do it...

Post: #38

The nomadic bachelor lifestyle does sound awesome and I would like a taste, but I also feel the tug that TLOZ speaks about in this thread and that has a stronger pull within. I don't think I could maintain what you guys do.

/thread-39579...ould+marry

I'd like to start a business that allows me to take extended breaks, that's where I feel I'm headed. I'm content to live vicariously through you vagabonds in the meantime

Post: #39

(07-07-2016 09:54 PM)RIslander Wrote:  I am seriously considering this lifestyle as well. I am in a unique position where I could make it work. As an airline employee, I work 10 days a month for my basic salary (which is on the road in hotel rooms) then finish up at my home base. From there, I can fly for free to any city in the world for 2-3 weeks and some months up to six. With AirBNB its a plausible lifestyle.

I'm not going to lie though, it scares me to think of selling everything I own and living the true nomad lifestyle. I'm glad this thread popped up and I look forward to reading about all your experiences before I consider such a jump.

Why don't you put all your stuff into storage for 6 months and/or let your place out if you have one and give it a go? That way you get to give it a try but you're not 100% committed if you feel it isn't for you.

Post: #40

I'm all in, its just that I will have a family home that I will use as a address, and probably visit. Beside's that I plan on getting rid of all my stuff and live a nomad lifestyle. Maybe its possible within 5 years hopefully, right now im typing this while working a nightshift for a govt security job. But I got my plans, and I also have no goals for marriage, children, career jobs, or settling down in a western country. South America, and South East Asia is also on my mind. Your definitely not alone, and a lot of other people think just like you LINUX your just ahead of me and some others.

Cheers.

Post: #41

I have gone on some long trips where I would relocate, or stay whenever I felt for it and I highly enjoyed that. For the last three years I have been stucked here at "home" and cant really say that I liked it, at all. I have met a lot of people who are location independent, all from backpackers who never stoped (not really the lifestyle most RVF-members wants), people with online buisnesses, to the ones working for 4-6 months and bouncing of the rest of the year (not 100% location independent but still). My idea is to somewhat incorporate the choice of destinations in whatever I do for a living, like some sort of freelance reporter about political situation or travel blogger, or both, maybe to write books about different countries and so on. If that worked out for me I could see myselfe do that for a very long time.

Post: #42

I've been vagabonding for about a year and a half now, staying from a couple of weeks to a few months at each place. Prior to that I was backpacking a lot, then was 'static' in Krakow Poland for about a decade.. then put my stuff in a storage facility (not much there anyway) and left.

I am a web developer and most of my income comes from programming for clients. It's unstable (because I'm pricey) but I'm surviving so far.

Linux, I was also trying to trade at the time (eventually focused on mini-dow aka YM) and although it taught me a ton about the markets and I'd go as far as to say about life in general, I couldn't make consistent income. My chart reading was good but I couldn't master some other factors (discipline mainly), had little spare cash so had to quit. Since then I've been using my chart reading skills mostly for shying away from bad investments and for better timed currency conversion. I believe we'll see the markets sitting in a relatively tight range for the next few years.

I'm currently in Lodz (Poland) and supposed to stay roughly until the end of the month.

Post: #43

I've been nomadic for a few years in the sense of only owning what I can carry, and moving on every 3-9 months. I do like to set up a base that feels somewhat like home though. Even a nomad needs a cave that is home territory for a season. I think it's sustainable, but you need to make sure you are handling your health - finding a gym and healthy sources of food can be a challenge in each new place - and you also need to be taking care of your finances so you're not just marking time or depleting your resources.

Post: #44

(07-07-2016 10:45 PM)skptc Wrote:  I did the nomad life for a bit over a year

Was enough for me. I felt highly uproductive and experienced increased anxiety throughout.

I would rather settle down somewhere and build an empire which is antithetical to the nomad life.

I guess different strokes for different folks. I dont know how you guys do it...

I can attest to this also. I did 10 months on tour after walking out on my soul sucking banking job. Had a great time and met some awesome lads from RVF and generally from nights out. Bounced around SE Asia and spent a month in Eastern Europe also.

Although it was a great time, I was about done with it 6-7 months in or so. Constant feelings of being unproductive and not having any real goal to work towards got me down. I would have numerous moments of panic waking up in the middle of the night thinking 'what the fuck am I doing with my life?'.

I was managing an airbnb rental remotely which took a little bit of time investment here and there and covered my costs insofar I could extent my tour a few months longer. But it emphasised to me the importance of having a project or two to keep you working on in the meantime to keep you feeling productive and have a purpose.

In addition I'm probably a much more social animal than most. I love to build large and diverse social circles wherever I base myself and having a solid crew of mates to hang and party with for me is infinitely more important than any skirt I'm chasing. Those who have met me know that I love a good night out, rocking a table with my best lads in a fancy club with some token fluff. Popping bottles, smoking cigars and a little bit of gear here and there, partying till the sun comes up. Often I'll knock back a sure fire shag if it's too early in the night as I don't want to miss the fun (unless she is really hot of course). And I'd take an afternoon of hanging out with the lads chilling and shooting the shit any day over phoning in a 6 from tinder just so I can text "+1" on a whatsapp group chat to try impress some guys I met off the internet.

My game as well is largely tailored around social circle and building up a lot of social capital within the nightscene of a city. Which involves investing time up front to get to know a lot of people and become regular in the main clubs. Which although gets me pretty solid results IMO it aint much good when you are only spending a week or two in any particular city before moving on.

Thus I'm not totally sold on nor ideally suited to the nomadic lifestyle. However having spent some time travelling and hanging out with other RVF vagabonds, Linux and Papi Rico in particular amongst others, it's definitely given me more of a flavour for travel and getting out there to seeing more of what the world has to offer. In addition I have been able to build up a decent network of RVF guys who are based around the globe, thus giving me additional solid contacts in a lot of cities. So when I go there I am with someone who knows the scene already, has a solid social circle and I can hit the ground running.

Hence I am working towards trying to become a hybrid of sorts between the travelling vagabond and 'building up an empire'. I plan to focus on having a few 'home bases', currently Singapore, Jakarta and Bali (as well as family home back in Ireland). Which I will ideally triangulate between over a period of time, while having weekend breaks in other destinations.

Given my penchant for high end partying (and partying hard) it unfortunately requires a fairly decent bankroll. However through my banking experience I am focusing on picking up well paying contract work for between 3-12 months where ideally I am able to do a lot of working remotely as well. While having my (almost) passive income from my airbnb properties (of which I'm looking to add more properties) build up to finance 2-3 months off at the end of each contract to take off and travel to brand new destinations such as Latin America, Russia and the Stans.

My current contract ends in October where I will be free again to do a few months travelling (pending another year long contract potentially coming through, which would fast track my plan). Of which I have South America in my sights (as well as more snowboarding in Japan come the new year).

I will naturally be reaching out to various members on RVF to meet up wherever I choose to go as well as looking to hook up again with some of my closer RVF partners in crime

Post: #45

" But it emphasised to me the importance of having a project or two to keep you working on in the meantime to keep you feeling productive and have a purpose. "

There's a bigger question here about whether man's "need" to feel productive is natural or a vestige of social conditioning.

Anyone who's been out of work for long time feels this. Anecdotally, some of the idle rich feel this as well.

WIA

Post: #46

PM me

Post: #47

(07-08-2016 07:24 AM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  " But it emphasised to me the importance of having a project or two to keep you working on in the meantime to keep you feeling productive and have a purpose. "

There's a bigger question here about whether man's "need" to feel productive is natural or a vestige of social conditioning.

Anyone who's been out of work for long time feels this. Anecdotally, some of the idle rich feel this as well.

WIA

I don't think it's persay productiveness, but a need to be active and dynamic. That's just how work is. I think humans have predisposition to improve themselves or make progress in some form.

The human form is not one to let itself stagnate. It's why something like video games or weed that helps it along to do just that. Video games making someone feel progress while pot just numbs the feeling so much for a lot of people all they can do is sit on their ass.

Post: #48

RVF has reached critical mass where any of us can count on finding a like-minded man to have a drink with in almost any city. This community makes the nomadic lifestyle more social and less daunting. I and the NYC crew welcome any RVF members in our city.

Post: #49

Human beings, like all animals, are only biologically programmed to survive. When the average lifespan went from 25-30 to 70-80 or whatever it is now in the Western world, all of a sudden we found ourselves with all this extra time to "make something of ourselves" so I don't think we're predispositions to be productive. It's more of a social construct from an increased lifespan.

For the record, even on my short one month trips I get the feeling of isolation and unproductiveness during the day. It's not ideal, but I know I always have the night to look forward to (Always frequent places with 7 day a week nightlife) so that gets me through. I think the ideal scenario for me would be an online business of some sort to sit in my apartment and do during the day, along with a gym session, followed by a night of partying, rinse and repeat. That would honestly satisfy me at this stage of my life. Not interested in marriage, children, mortgage etc.

Post: #50

This is more or less what I am in the process of doing (albeit I'm realistically about 5 years out). I intend to walk away when I have a large enough nest egg to live well which should take about 5 more years. (less of market does better than I expect) For me that would be roughly $60,000 Canadian dollars/ year net before taxes realized from investments.

I actually want to have a family life part time though. I intend to have my home base of sorts to be in Cuba and to have a family there whom I spend 3-6 months a year with while travelling the rest of the year. I really do think it's possible to get the best of both worlds that way.