From London to LA, Boston to Nashville, and a few other stops in between, I’ve made the rounds. And now I find myself in search of my next long(er)term stop.
I’ve been doing the digital nomad thing for almost a year. My travels took me up and down the east coast with stops in Panama City Beach, Savannah, Nashville to name a few. I’ve had a blast and stayed in some really great places. But the one thing that’s missing is a feeling of community that I had in a very different way in each one of the cities I’ve been blessed to live in for a longer period of time.
In London it was my international group of fellow students, especially my roommates, who have effectively become family. In Boston, it was my actual family, but also colleagues who became lifelong friends, but eventually moved on to new cities of their own.
Nashville found me creating community and finding friends in ways I never had before. Through both church groups, work, craigslist roommates, and meetup groups, I have formed friendships that have stayed with me even as I left the city.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire was amongst two of the best years of my life. I was welcomed into a friend group that had years of foundation. They took me in as one of their own, and became my Portsmouth family. Some have stayed nearby and started families or bought homes while others have traveled far and wide.
Los Angeles was probably the biggest surprise. I drove across country and reunited with old friends, but also helped create a company where the culture put the person before the profession. Many of us are lifelong friends now, some I struggle immensely with how much I miss them. Many people toss around the phrase, work family, but we were just family. Dysfunctional often, different and quirky, but would have each other’s backs with no questions asked…and still do.
Los Angeles was also the city where I felt happiest and healthiest for the longest period of my adult life. It was two years of a consistent, healthy lifestyle that focused on balance, and putting the effort into my overall health. Much of it was the environment in which I worked. It was the fitness industry after all… But this lifestyle was a journey I had worked on before I landed in L.A. I just perfected it while there.
I went back to L.A. in November 2022, as I began this digital nomad journey, I went back looking for something, looking for the me that I left behind. I don’t miss L.A. per se, I miss my family and I miss the me that L.A. allowed me to be.
This digital nomad journey has taught me that while I desperately missed travel and adventure, I miss community and belonging even more. I will continue to travel and share my journey as I go along, but a new part of that journey will be figuring out where I’m going to land next. I considered returning to Portsmouth, but feel like I don’t wanna mess with perfection. So, my current train of thought is Newport, Rhode Island. I’ve always loved that little city, and have never lived in Rhode Island. So if you know anyone with a full year, or winter rental available…give your girl a shout!
Here’s hoping you find what you’re seeking, and if you haven’t yet, here’s hoping you’re still brave enough to keep searching.