If you have, you're not alone. In fact, an ever-growing number of people are doing just that. These digital nomads have found ways to support themselves doing online work as they fulfill their dream of traveling.
Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it can be. However, there are some things you'll need to have in place before you take off. For example, you'll need to know how to ensure you remain financially stable during your travels, including details like the types of credit cards you should carry with you. Also, you should be aware of some widely believed myths about this glamorous lifestyle that make it seem a lot more carefree than it really is.
So, if you're thinking about one day becoming a digital nomad yourself, take a look at some of the things you should understand before you take off.
According to Forbes Magazine travel writer Tanya Mohn, digital nomads are "professionals who prefer a location-independent lifestyle that allows them to travel and work anywhere in the world". In her article, Mohn interviewed one young professional, Ally Basak Russell, whose digital nomad lifestyle had allowed her, in just the previous year, to spend time in and work from cities such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, Sydney, Manila, Dublin, Oslo, and Berlin.
Russell is not alone. According to a recent study by MBO Partners, she is one of about 4.8 million workers who currently describe themselves as digital nomads.
What's it like being a digital nomad? They usually enter a country on a tourist visa and stay until the visa expires, or maybe until they feel restless and ready to move on.
Whatever country they happen to be in at the moment, digital nomads usually support themselves not by working in the local economy (which they might not have permission to do). Instead, they use their laptop, tablet, or smartphone to do some kind of work online. They may be writers, editors, designers, programmers, developers, or marketers. The common denominator in all these gigs is that they can be done effectively over the internet.