Cutting the Cord That Keeps You Home
August 11th, 2009 Posted in Family travel, International living/working, Long-term travel, Work/Life/Travel BalanceA few months ago I participated in a survey for location-independent workers, people who can live pretty much anywhere and spend at least part of their year abroad. Some of the results from the 268 respondents were interesting, and I’ll get to that in a minute, but here’s one cool outcome of it that went onto the Free Pursuits blog: 64 ways location independent people make a living.
Sure, I’m a travel writer and webmaster, so that’s an easy one to make portable. But some of the other answers show that there are plenty of different occupations lending themselves to cutting the cord, cutting expenses, and taking life at a slower pace. Tech support, software, translation, design, yacht charter, music composing, project management, market research, teaching, and on and on. Every month it gets easier to base yourself anywhere with a high-speed Internet connection.
Only 15% of the respondents had at least one child living with them though, which puts me in a very small minority. No wonder all the literature on the subject seems to be geared to those without kids. I’ve met plenty of expat families though who are making it work living elsewhere, including three of them just at my language school this summer in Guanajuato. I think they just don’t read these “lifestyle design” blogs as much as those aspiring to do what they are doing. They seem to be making the most of where they are living instead.
It’s not youngsters though: the median age was 35-44 and over half were married. For both those who are location independent and those who want to be, it’s 60% male, 40% female.
Most that are independent are not turning back: 84% said they don’t plan to give it up. Money helps: 58% say then spend less or “far less” than they did before.
Related post – Travel and the Contrarian Lifestyle
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