I used to go travelling in my early 20s. In those days there was no internet and mobile phones hadn’t been invented. We communicated with folded up light blue airmail letters which arrived at least a week after being sent. Nowadays if I was back in Bali, Thailand, Kashmir or wherever I went, I would be able to find a coworking space and to work remotely in between visiting Buddhist temples or going snorkelling. What a luxury!
Wikipedia has even defined the term.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_nomad
Recently I visited my son in Peru where he is an international schoolteacher in his 20s. We did a trip together including Colombia and Amazon boat trips (shades of Aguirre Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo…). All great fun though I am not sure I am a hostel person. But what was interesting was how many young people of his generation I met not only travelling like I used to back in the day, but with laptops and paid work to do it. Plus of course some great coworking spaces (sometimes linked to hostels) in cities like Lima, Medellin, Iquitos, Cali, Leticia.
Back here in the UK we also see these people. Digital nomads also travel to UK cities and all the way down to Penzance in Cornwall (see photos). At the Workbox we’ve take under our wing nomads from Dubai, India, USA, Holland, Germany and of course countless Brits who are including UK trips as part of a world of coworking.
It’s fascinating seeing how global this way of working has become. Workhubs when we first got involved in 1999 were a very rare concept. Now they offer this lucky generation a chance to fund their travel with work and to collaborate with resident coworkers while they stay.
They are so lucky these digital nomads. I am not going to be jealous, just going to say how happy I am to see them happy living and working this way. No doubt most will settle after their fill of travelling. When they do, they may well be our/your future members.
Another top tip. If you run a workhub, do pop into other workhubs when you are on your own travels. People are always pleased to see you and you can tell them about your space just as you visit theirs. I’ve had just such conversations not only in exotic places off the Amazon but in the Scottish highlands, Siracusa in Sicily, Arezzo in Italy, the south of France, Basque Country and in East Dulwich! Coworkers of the world unite!
