How to Become a Nomad: A Beginner's Guide
We wrote a guidebook on transitioning to nomad life
NOMAD (our definition): Someone who chooses to live without a fixed residence, utilizing various short-or-medium-term housing options (ex: hotels, AirBnbs, cruise ships, friends and family, etc.).
We get it. You see the photos, read the stories, and are swept away by the dream of being a nomad, traveling the world, and having adventures, all while living free from many of the obligations and responsibilities of “normal” life.
We were there too. For years. Because as glamorous as it sounds, becoming a digital or retired nomad is a BIG change. It can feel scary. Impractical. Overwhelming. Loved ones might question your life choices…which makes you question your dreams, too.
We remember those feelings well. The practical and emotional challenges of transitioning to nomadic living are still fresh in our minds.
So are the solutions. We overcame all the hurdles and are now living our digital nomad dream. Here’s some good news—it’s even better than we’d imagined! We have a deep sense of freedom, live in beautiful places, meet interesting people, connect better with loved ones, and enjoy low fixed expenses with few cleaning or maintenance responsibilities. It’s awesome!
We wrote an eBook to share our hard-won lessons and make your transition to nomad life easier. It’s not a comprehensive guide to everything you’ll ever need to know about living nomadically. That would be mind-numbing and unnecessary at the beginning. This is a short, focused collection of practical answers to the questions that keep your nomadic goal stuck in the day-dream stage.
Nomadic life is not for everyone, but if you have the opportunity and the temperament, it can be a fantastic way to live. We want to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision about whether nomadic life is right for you. If so, we can help get you from where you are to where you want to be.
THE QUESTIONS WE ANSWER:
1. What do I do with all my stuff?
2. Should I keep a vehicle?
3. What do I use as an address?
4. Where will I stay every night?
5. How far in advance should I plan my lodging?
6. What will my budget and living expenses be?
7. How will my health insurance work?
8. What about insurance for my possessions?
9. What about my doctors and dentist?
10. How much time does travel planning take?
11. Where should I go first?
12. What if things go wrong while I’m traveling?
13. What if I get seriously sick or injured?
14. Won’t I lose my relationships and sense of community as a nomad?
15. What if my partner is hesitant to become a nomad?
16. What if I don’t like being a nomad?
17. Where can I learn more about transitioning to nomad life?
18. What if I still have questions?
PRODUCT OPTIONS:
The How to Become a Nomad: A Beginner’s Guide eBook (pdf) alone as described above ($10)
The Nomad Life BUNDLE ($13) - The eBook PLUS a Nomad Transition Checklist that distills the book into practical next steps PLUS our Nomad Essentials Packing List for All Seasons—clothes, footwear, tech, etc. that fit in a rollaboard suitcase and backpack
The Nomad Life PRO PACK ($34) - The eBook PLUS the Nomad Transition Checklist PLUS the Nomad Essentials Packing List for All Seasons PLUS a 1 year paid subscription to our nomadic life weekly newsletter Footnote: Two Nomadic Authors Hike the World (30% off the already discounted price)
WHO ARE WE?
We’re Matt and Lisa McMann. Lisa is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books for kids and young adults, including THE UNWANTEDS series. Matt is a USA Today bestselling author whose books include the MONSTERIOUS series. After thirty-plus years of marriage, we traded in our house and possessions for a life of travel and hiking the world. We now live in hotels, AirBnbs, on cruise ships, at pet-sitting locations, and with friends and family around the globe. We share travel stories and advice on nomadic living here in our Substack newsletter Footnote: Two Nomadic Authors Hike the World.
TESTIMONIALS:
“We met Lisa and Matt sailing the South Pacific to Bora Bora and were immediately charmed. Their observations from the road are just as funny and insightful as their in-person repartee!” Bruce Todesco (newsletter paid subscriber)
“Two amazing authors hiking the world? Sign me up!” Bill Konigsberg (newsletter paid subscriber)
Questions? Thoughts? Hit us up in the comments! Know someone who might enjoy this? We’d appreciate you sharing this post!
I wish I had a resource like this before my family left the U.S. in 2023. Getting out the door was lonely. We didn’t know any other families doing something similar. Your guide, along with a few other Substack newsletters, make the path much clearer for anyone considering the leap. Cheers!
It's a good guide! And a good deal.