Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nomad

Dividing Wall Alternatives

tomcochrane — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:01 -0800

Cardboard wall alternatives? I really like the idea of these modular cardboard walls/dividers, except they seem way too expensive. Any suggestions for an alternative? I live in a basement apartment and I'd like to put some dividers up to section off the corner of one room. These seem ideal, since I can't install anything in the walls or ceilings, and I'd be able to take them when I leave. I'd like to find something that would work similarly, yet not cost quite so much.

Thanks!

Nomad with a van needs a plan

youcancallmeal — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:54:02 -0800

I am entertaining the idea of selling almost everything I own, buying a van and becoming a temporary nomad, going from farm to farm around North America for work. Is this an inherently horrible idea? If it's not, does anyone have tips on making it work? I'm fascinated by the idea of spending a year or so driving around with my dog and spending a month or two at a place, working and learning and then moving on. I'm 27 years old, a single female, in reasonably good health and with minimal debt, but also with minimal savings. I'd like to try living very cheaply and exchanging work for food and perhaps a little cash on farms. (Think WWOOFing, not ConAgra)

What supplies would I need? What sort of van would be best for this? Are late-1990s American minivans reliable? (This is what I usually see for sale in my price range.) What am I not thinking of?

What is the laptop of manual typewriters?

elationfoundation — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:47:23 -0800

Are there manual portable typewriter that can fit in my bag for nomadic letter writing? The brands that seem available seem so unwieldy that I could not see carrying them around. I have always envied those who send of handwritten or typed (typewritered?) correspondence. The permanence of the stroke always seemed more meaningful than a computerized letter. Because my handwriting is lacking (something I will ask for help with in another posting) I have finally decided to take the plunge and buy a typewriter.

Sadly I am semi-nomadic and frequently move and like to write away from my home in parks, playgrounds, libraries, and coffee shops. I need a portable manual typewriter that can accommodate my tendencies and my choice of outlet-less writing spots.

I saw the "Rooy" but a vintage beauty like that is far beyond my price range. Does anyone in the hive mind know of the latest generation of portable typewriters that are thin and portable enough to fit in my satchel (to replace the spot my laptop takes up)?

Staying organized while moving a lot

crackingdes — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:56:01 -0800

I'm going to be moving around and traveling a lot for the next few years. Help me figure out how to live a responsible lifestyle as a modern day nomad. I have been living this lifestyle to some degree for the past five months, and I've decided it’s something I'd like to continue for several years. I envision brief stays (2-6 months) in various cities in the U.S. and maybe Europe. Plus, shorter trips (days or weeks) to surrounding areas.

I work as a freelancer and my work is fairly portable, as long as I have my computer and internet connection. I also have some savings. So work and money are not a big concern.

What I'm worried about is staying organized. Without a reliable permanent address, how do I do stuff like:

--Maintain a driver's license, health insurance, car insurance. What state do I “live” in? What's my address? Life without an address is frustrating and causes way too many hassles and red tape.
--Receive mail and pay bills. Losing bills to the caprice of mail forwarding is not fun, I learned through experience a few years ago.
--Have a regular doctor who's familiar with me and my health records. I hate going to some random doctor who knows they're not going to see me again.
--Pay taxes. As a freelancer taxes are complicated enough without adding multiple state returns into the mix each year (and figuring out what I owe who).
--Maintain a paper trail. I need to keep good records and maintain a filing system, but lugging a filing cabinet from place to place with me is pretty inconvenient.
--Have a "home office" - work files, office supplies, etc don't have to go with me everywhere, but they sure are convenient to have. But again, inconvenient to lug around.
--Have physical possessions. Is it even worth it? My worry is that if I get rid of all my "stuff," the places I stay in will never feel like home to me. But transporting stuff is the most difficult part of this. The only belongings I'm much attached to are my books, but I have a lot of them.

Currently I'm staying with my parents and using their address. I have the option of leaving belongings here and staying here to regroup between trips. But getting mail here is not a great option, as they're extremely disorganized and it would probably get lost before getting to me.

Any ideas, suggestions, hints and tips appreciated, including books and websites I should read. Thanks!!

How to be a working nomad?

bodywithoutorgans — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:20:33 -0800

I am a recent college graduate and I also suffer a good deal of wanderlust. There is the inevitable problem of combining work and play. At my university, the only career advice I received was graduate school or working the traditional 9-5 job. I'm wondering if it's possible to travel and earn money? I'm not really interested in teaching English abroad, being an au-pair, and I've read this post. I'm more interested in the nebulous world of telecommuting and freelancing. I've seen this guy's page, but it sounds a little vague. I'd like to make money in a country where cost of living is low with a unique culture (Thailand, Guatemala, Kenya) but at the same time has access to steady internet so I can work.
Some specifics:
1) How does one break into the freelancing/telecommuting world? I know some webdesign (PHP/MySQL) and programming but often geared at an academic level for university classes. I don't have the faintest clue how to make money out of this! I have some down time right now where I'm picking up skills and making a portfolio. Any advice?
2) Will the stability of the internet connection be a factor? Will I need to have access to an internet cafe every day?
3) How are taxes worked out? Are there any books/information for people who are US citizens but live/work globally?
4) How does health insurance work out?

Thanks a lot MeFi!

Wanted: One AC adapter

punishinglemur — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:34:07 -0800

I recently lost the power adapter for my olde tyme Creative Nomad Zen NX. I'd like to just drive down to RadioShack and get a replacement, but I'm not sure what I need. The Nomad wants 5V, but it looks like RadioShack's adapters skip from 4.5V to 6V. Will I kill my player if I use one of those options?

Books about nomads?

deadtrouble — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 08:15:39 -0800

I have an idle craving for knowledge. Specifically, I'd like to read some books about nomadic cultures - the Bedouin, Mongolian, Gypsies, Train-riding... any group really. Any suggestions?

"Address?" "Nowhere...and everywhere..."

attercoppe — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:34:26 -0800

How do people with no permanent address handle mail delivery, photo identification, property taxes, etc? Not homeless people, but full-time RVers, houseboaters who don't stay always at one dock, people who just live on the road as a part of their jobs, etc. etc. Can you get a driver's license without an address? How about a post office box? Can you have all your mail saved up somewhere, then forwarded to you at a given address whenever you ask for it? How can you apply for a job, pay your taxes, get insurance, or do anything official without having a permanent physical address? (I'm in the US, so mostly interested in domestic practices, but other countries' residents please feel free to contribute as well.)

London Wireless Internet for Free?

altolinguistic — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 09:23:19 -0800

I work as a freelance translator, and until I got my hands on an old laptop last week, I was confined to the house to work. Now I want to celebrate my new-found freedom by going to work in lots of different places around London. Help me do this on the cheap. Anyone have any experience of mobile working? Preliminary research suggests that hotspots in e.g. Starbucks have a high hourly fee, and I found some links describing Broadreach's 'hotzone' around Soho, but that was only free for its first few months. I can get by without internet, but it would make my life nicer :) Any resources anyone would like to share?

Nomadic work

studentbaker — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:32:57 -0800

I want to live a nomadic-ish lifestyle for a few years. What type of employment would you recommend? (more inside) I have decided that I would like to travel around to different cities in the United States, setting up temporary residence for at least 6 months at each place. I am currently a graphic designer, but because of the nature of this business, it is not easy to pick up and leave a job to find a new one with the frequency I would like. What kind of jobs would you recommend? I don’t mind getting some training, but I am not sure what would be a readily available job in most cities. I do not like waiting tables. It is not beneath me, but I suck as a waiter, I have done it before and was asked to never do it again. I was thinking bartender. I’d like something where I could get more than minimum wage. Is this a crazy pipe dream? Has anyone else done this with success? Help, I am stagnating in the South and need to explore!