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Tips for Nomads



A Practical Guide For Stateless Sovereigns & Illuminated Superheroes

  1. Identity is liquid.
  2. Improvise & experiment.
  3. Make frequent costume changes.
  4. Have a ready pack in case you need to leave in a hurry.
  5. Make mental maps and mark exit routes.
  6. Make allies, if not friends, of everybody.
  7. People who look, act and talk like they are important are - simply because they are perceived to be.
  8. Find out who is good at what and help them to become better at it.
  9. Learn local customs, language and important issues.
  10. Share your experiences and stories from other places. This may be the most valuable currency the traveler has.
  11. Try not to sign anything official, but stay true to your word.
  12. Obscure personally identifying details where they are not 100% relevant.
  13. Let other people fill in the blanks about you, because you can’t control their thoughts and feelings anyway.
  14. Get rid of your watch. Time is irrelevant.
  15. Eliminate all recurring expenses: bills, cell phone, debts, etc.
  16. Learn how to eat simply and cheaply. Footnote sources of cheap and free food.
  17. Learn how to sleep anywhere under any conditions.
  18. Always take up offers to learn new things and share your skills and knowledge freely with others with no expectation of reward or compensation.
  19. Be extremely up front about agreements and expectations. Negotiate with others to make sure everyone’s needs are adequately met.
  20. Don’t carry anything that can’t be easily replaced or which will make you upset if it is lost or stolen or needs to be suddenly abandoned.
  21. Carry only multi-purpose pragmatic objects and know how to use them.
  22. Constantly work on improving your manual dexterity, physical conditioning and problem-solving abilities.
  23. Become valuable and dependable in tough circumstances.
  24. When you make money, spend it on your friends and allies. Make sure to always speak and show your appreciation for the kindness, opportunities, help and friendship others offer.
  25. Don’t owe people money if you can avoid it (See: 3-4 above).
  26. Know your moral limits and don’t be afraid to stand out for not following the crowd.
  27. Conversely, expose yourself to new things, situations, people and practices to expand your horizons.
  28. Authenticity, durability and adaptability are three of the most beautiful traits a human can possess.
  29. You don’t need to check your email or voicemail ever again to be whole and happy.

Remember: People are good everywhere, and basically the same with some differences in customs, language and costuming.

Maybe the most important thing I have learned as a nomad: shades of gray. You can do anything from sleep in the streets or bushes, to crashing on friends’ (and strangers’) couches, to short term rentals and other creative living situations. The key challenge you’ll face is defeating in yourself the deeply-ingrained idea that Life Has To Be Lived A Certain Way™. Infinite options await the courageous & creative spirit.

See also:

- The Sovereign State of Mind
- So Now You’re A Superhero
- How To Join The Illuminati
- Hobo Code

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8 Reader Responses

  1. Cfraser Says:
    December 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 pm

    Nice list. I’ve always been attracted to a ‘nomadic’ life - and compared to most people I’ve lived such a life - but giving up the material and comfort that the material brings is…challenging. It takes a special breed to embrace the nomad lifestyle, but the rewards in terms of experience gained must be great.

    I like to think I’m not driven by monetary concerns, and although my bank account would attest to that, I’m still drawn and influenced on a daily basis by the rat-race. It takes a conscious effort to remind myself that that lifestyle is an illusion and not for everyone.

    One of my favorite quotes: “A wanderer’s danger is to find comfort.” I don’t know who it’s attributed to, but I find the image comforting.

  2. Tim Boucher Says:
    December 3rd, 2007 at 9:16 pm

    giving up the material and comfort that the material brings is…challenging.

    Actually, it is not the actual materials that makes materialism so addictive. It is the ritual action and chemical/emotional rush of instantly re-defining image of self by re-categorizating an object to the status of “mine” through the act of purchase.

    Consumerism thrives on the liquidity of self-identification, but requires that the ritual act of changing yourself be associated with the purchasing of goods and services.

    I know that sounds complicated, but it just means buying stuff feels good. The trick is not to stop buying stuff, but to hook the ritual action of purchasing and materialism into a greater conceptual framework, so that all your actions point in one unified direction and support one another.

  3. Cfraser Says:
    December 4th, 2007 at 2:49 am

    Well, I actually don’t purchase that much; the corporations are very disappointed with me as a consumer/producer.

    But you are right, the ‘mine’ behind the purchase and the identifying with objects has become an inherent part of our society.

  4. Tim Boucher Says:
    December 4th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    It doesn’t matter if you purchase “that much” - it simply matters that you purchase.

    But I feel like this is moving in a direction where it could be construed as me saying you shouldn’t purchase anything. That’s stupid and moreover impractical. If you are going to purchase though, take ownership over the process and consider the implications of “keeping it in the family” so to speak.

  5. Julia Says:
    December 4th, 2007 at 7:32 pm

    You’re right about the redefining ritual. I have three catagories of possessions; 1] things I bought, 2] things I bought and like for some reason, 3] things that are mine. Sometimes something is mine from the beginning but usually it has to go through a process, either through being worn/used during a meaningful/memorable event or through getting stained/scuffed. Sometimes something never gets to be mine even though I own it for a long time. Occasionally I have to give something away and get a clear message that such-and-such never became mine because I was just keeping it for someone else.

  6. Tim Boucher Says:
    December 5th, 2007 at 12:01 am

    You can’t take it with you, as they say!

  7. Cfraser Says:
    December 5th, 2007 at 12:38 pm

    I like your categories, Julia. I suppose everyone has these categories, or similar ones, at least sub-consciously. Most people, I would imagine, probably keep most of their possessions in category 3.

    During big changes in my life I’ve given most of my possessions away with no feeling of regret. But there are certain items I’ve kept for years and years. I suppose these are the mine items.

    Can things move from Category 3 to 1, or 2? Or once they reach 3 is that it?

  8. Julia Says:
    December 5th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

    Yeah, things can switch catagories. They can go from any catagory to any other catagory.

    I had a bag I loved and felt connected to but offered to trade it to someone because she had a friend who loved Cuba and my bag had pictures of Cuba on it. In that moment it was her call as to what catagory the bag was in. She turned down the trade and I felt the bag go back into catagory #3.



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