My ideal annual travel schedule right now, would be something like: - 10 months in country A where I have primary tax residence (sub-10% total tax burden, e.g. Georgia) - 2 months in one or two countries I want to check out and consider moving to in the future. Right now I'm liking Georgia, but I will also be considering Malaysia or the UAE. I am more of a "serial digital hermit" than a "digital nomad". I like to find one nice place and stay there most of the year for up to several years. I would like to buy an apartment IF I can find a place I see myself staying in forever. But since I am trying to save on taxes, it's not an easy task. My favorite country is really Japan, but their taxes suck and their visas are not super-easy to get, so that's a problem. I don't like traveling all the time, because I have to deprive myself of things like: - comfy desk setup - my piano, music equipment, etc. - sometimes I end up in apartments with crap soundproofing, which is a neverending annoyance I think if I could bring 100-150 kg of stuff everywhere, then I could be a nomad forever, no problem. I'm getting sick of having to gradually acquire basic stuff every time I move to a new country. The world is not really well-suited for digital nomads. How come it's almost impossible to find suitable apartments with an electric desk and office chair? It all sucks. The best approach would be to buy apartments all over the world and then furnish them yourself, inspired by Nomad Capitalist, but this would cost a good chunk of your net worth, and you may regret having to pay for maintaining your apartments everywhere -- unless you're truly rich and don't mind paying. I am tempted to buy in Batumi, but it's hard to justify purchasing an apartment compared to investing the same money in a maintenance-free diversified portfolio.
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing such details. I actually like the Netherlands in terms of taxes. They are huge if you're earning a lot, for sure. But the taxes are relatively low if you're a business owner and you don't pay yourself a lot. But not like Georgia, of course :) Totally agree on the stuff. Comfortable chairs and a table are the first things we bought after moving here. I totally understand the pain of acquiring stuff in new countries. I was also thinking about buying 2 to 3 properties worldwide and renting them out throughout the year unless I am there. But that needs serious planning and a bit more cash. Not to mention, I tons of time managing the rental. Haha, we also thought about buying in Georgia at some point. Make sure you know all the downsides. A few of our friends bought a place in Tbilisi for rent, and they regreded it because of some legal issues and maintenance nightmare (couldn't find a good workers)
I find a lot in common between digital nomad and my experience as an academia researcher. You spend two-three years in various labs and then go forward to the next lab. This works perfectly when you're young, open to new experiences, and have no family responsibilities. With time preferences change towards more predictable lifestyle. What you're doing is an inspiration for people like me. Good luck on your new journey! Waiting for more stuff from you...
Thank you! I know that with time you definitely searching for more stable lifestyle but I still didn't completely lose that spark 😅 Very interesting about academia research. I never really knew or realised there are other lifestyles that existed much before software engineering boomed with remote work and pushed popularity of nomadic lifestyle.
What is your ideal travel schedule throughout the year?
My ideal annual travel schedule right now, would be something like:
- 10 months in country A where I have primary tax residence (sub-10% total tax burden, e.g. Georgia)
- 2 months in one or two countries I want to check out and consider moving to in the future.
Right now I'm liking Georgia, but I will also be considering Malaysia or the UAE.
I am more of a "serial digital hermit" than a "digital nomad".
I like to find one nice place and stay there most of the year for up to several years.
I would like to buy an apartment IF I can find a place I see myself staying in forever. But since I am trying to save on taxes, it's not an easy task.
My favorite country is really Japan, but their taxes suck and their visas are not super-easy to get, so that's a problem.
I don't like traveling all the time, because I have to deprive myself of things like:
- comfy desk setup
- my piano, music equipment, etc.
- sometimes I end up in apartments with crap soundproofing, which is a neverending annoyance
I think if I could bring 100-150 kg of stuff everywhere, then I could be a nomad forever, no problem.
I'm getting sick of having to gradually acquire basic stuff every time I move to a new country.
The world is not really well-suited for digital nomads.
How come it's almost impossible to find suitable apartments with an electric desk and office chair?
It all sucks.
The best approach would be to buy apartments all over the world and then furnish them yourself, inspired by Nomad Capitalist, but this would cost a good chunk of your net worth, and you may regret having to pay for maintaining your apartments everywhere -- unless you're truly rich and don't mind paying.
I am tempted to buy in Batumi, but it's hard to justify purchasing an apartment compared to investing the same money in a maintenance-free diversified portfolio.
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing such details.
I actually like the Netherlands in terms of taxes. They are huge if you're earning a lot, for sure. But the taxes are relatively low if you're a business owner and you don't pay yourself a lot. But not like Georgia, of course :)
Totally agree on the stuff. Comfortable chairs and a table are the first things we bought after moving here. I totally understand the pain of acquiring stuff in new countries.
I was also thinking about buying 2 to 3 properties worldwide and renting them out throughout the year unless I am there. But that needs serious planning and a bit more cash. Not to mention, I tons of time managing the rental.
Haha, we also thought about buying in Georgia at some point. Make sure you know all the downsides. A few of our friends bought a place in Tbilisi for rent, and they regreded it because of some legal issues and maintenance nightmare (couldn't find a good workers)
I find a lot in common between digital nomad and my experience as an academia researcher. You spend two-three years in various labs and then go forward to the next lab. This works perfectly when you're young, open to new experiences, and have no family responsibilities. With time preferences change towards more predictable lifestyle. What you're doing is an inspiration for people like me. Good luck on your new journey! Waiting for more stuff from you...
Thank you! I know that with time you definitely searching for more stable lifestyle but I still didn't completely lose that spark 😅
Very interesting about academia research. I never really knew or realised there are other lifestyles that existed much before software engineering boomed with remote work and pushed popularity of nomadic lifestyle.
bro this is sooo valuable! Haven't found anything close to this.
Thanks! Let me know if you would be interested in some other topics in the niche!
When I visited the Netherlands for 3 weeks last year when we met, I was like 3 weeks is kinda long already. Specially with a backpack all the time.
:))
Is being Digital Nomad possible in Germany? I am currently living in Amsterdam and I can say I'm not really enjoying it that much
Why not? AMS seems like a nice place to live in - besides the weather and high CoL
Germany has freelance visa as far as know.
Are you sure that's Amsterdam is an issue?
wow impressive
Thanks, what exactly? ;)
Nomad capitalist > digital nomad
I hope you're not referring to this horrible youtube channel 🤣