7 Essential Elements for Making a Location Independent Living

My Essentials for Making a Location Independent Living

In the mid-nineties, I made a promise to myself that I would never allow a job to dictate where I live and I would never let a location dictate my job.  And while that’s not always been the case, I’ve managed to stay close to this core principle throughout my adult life.  Its not always pretty, by any means, but its always been worth it to me.  Currently, there is a trend of people tired of the 9-5 cubicle dominated career path turning away from that which they’ve been told was the way to spend the better years of their adult lives and seeking a different way of working.  And in the current world of downsizing, outsourcing and market collapses, this seems to be a smart direction to take for many people.

So, what is location independence for me?  Basically, being able to just put my office in a bag, buy a one way ticket and still have money for food when I land.  I am a wanderer and I have the inability to stay in one location for very long before I start longing for the unknown and covering my walls with maps and scouring Orbiz.com and craigslist.org as if my very existence depended on my ability to get as far away from my current location as possible.  Curiosity is a blessing and a curse and over the past few years i’ve come to accept the fact that I will not be able to stay in one place for long and if I do settle in one location, i must have the ability to change locations, even just for a month or so in order to maintain my sanity.

An excellent coffeeshop is the key to the nomad's office.

So, to make this happen, what is necessary?

1. A source of income that can be generated from any location in the world. For me, this involves taking my current skill set (professional photography and multimedia production) and creating as many diversifications as possible.  Building websites, doing freelance photography, teaching social media workshops, selling art photography online, etc.  This work can be generated anywhere and completed anywhere I can plug in my computer.  Each one has a different business model and marketing process- making some of the avenues of income generation more lucrative or consistent and also allows for diversification based on the current market I’m located in or the economic climate of the country or region I’m working in.

2.  An excellent computer and a little wireless action. Invest in a strong computer, its your “gateway to the world.” It will allow you to work from remote locations or at your local coffeeshop when you get sick of staring at the pile of laundry invading your home office.  While I’ve worked on both PCs and Macs for many years, I have to make the case for Macs.  They are reliable, virus-free and well built.  But the Mac vs PC debate is a conversation for another time.

3.  A backup skill set that is unrelated to your core profession. I can’t emphasize enough the value of a service industry related background.  I imagine the same can be said for construction/labor related skills.  You never know when the economy will completely fall out of your target market, when you may land in a town that has absolutely no need for your services, when your clientele will evaporate with the stock market roller coaster or when you’ll just get sick and tired of knocking on strangers doors to peddle your services.  And sometimes, you just need more conversation than your dog can offer- though she does tolerate your long hours at the computer rather well.  Have another skill set that you maintain in conjunction with your professional skill sets.  You never know when it will be your savior.  I have worked in the restaurant industry intermittently for 20 years and it has saved my sanity and my bank account on more than one occasion.  This backup skill has also allowed me to find more stories than I could ever imagine and I have met some of the most memorable people and have had more unbelievable experiences than I would have ever thought possible.

4.  A strong will and a little determination. Its somewhat cliche but remains true.  you have to know that when your bank account is creeping towards the red and your not sure where the next job is coming from that there is a solution waiting to arise.  You have to truly believe that you are on this path for a reason and while those anxious moments checking your account balances online sucks badly, they serve a purpose.  They are the price you will pay for your location independence.  Its not easy and it comes at a price, but that freedom is worth the cost if you are a wanderer like myself.  If the thought of a cubicle with your name-tag on it gives you hives or the concept of doing the same task every day for 20 years to make someone else a fortune makes you want to leap in front of the local freight train barreling through your town, you’ll sacrifice a little security and a few sleepless nights in order to reach your location independence.  While those sleepless nights wondering where the next job is coming from do suck, so does lying in bed at night knowing that there is something greater calling your name and not having the balls or the means to discover what that calling is. Either way, you’re not sleeping- so you might as well lose sleep over your passions and your dreams- not the illusion of something that you know exists but are too scared to see what it looks like.

My "office" in Oakland for a week, when the coffeeshop was closed.

5.  A network of family and friends who understand you. This is vital.  You need people, your people, people who may not understand why you are this way- but people who still love you and help nurture this restless being that exists within you.  Wandering may strain some relationships- or end them altogether and there may be the occasional missed Christmas or birthdays and sometimes a wedding, but those who love you will understand.  And they will be your champions when you are away, telling their friends and family what you are up to and giving you a reason to keep blazing this path that the majority will never travel down.  They respect what you do and why and sometimes wish they could do the same- it helps to motivate you when you’re next day is looking a little grey and you’re questioning your rationale for the current adventure.  This network of family and friends is also vital when traveling and wandering, because at times, you’ll need a place to rest, regroup and eat something healthy or home-cooked.  This network will also help spread your adventures to their friends and will help expand the reach of your work.  And, hopefully, your network will dog-sit and grab your mail when you are on an extended walkabout.  Thanks, Mom.

6.  A backup plan. Hate to say it, but to be location independent, you have to always be planning.  Always have a backup plan for your backup plan and always be ready to change that on a moments notice. Work out a variety of scenarios in each possible location that you may end up squatting in.  Be sure to research the local economy if you’re going to generate new clients on the road and be sure to analyze your target market and be sure it is viable in the location you’re heading.  Does the market you’re going to have a need for websites?  Are there wedding photographers you can assist for?  Is there room in the market for a portrait photographer?  Does the community you’re visiting use social media and is there an opening in the market to provide your services to various sectors of the local business community?  Can you teach workshops to the local businesses about utilizing photography to promote their business?  Can you teach workshops to community members about improving their family snapshots?  Always have a list of possible services you can offer to the community you’ll be settling in- even if its temporary- and have your website and marketing material reflect these service options.  Be sure you can afford the rent in the town you’re squatting in and make sure there is some sort of transportation, even if its your own 2 feet.  Be sure its a pedestrian friendly town, there are bike paths, internet cafes or decent coffeeshops and some sort of social community that fits your personality.  Also check the local service industry that fits your backup skill-set.   Don’t try to squat in an overtly republican, Sarah Palin loving community if you are a borderline anarchist with Marxist leanings, unless you are engaging in some sort of real-life experiment and this conflict part of your documentary project.  If that’s the case, be sure there is a friendly face in that community- you’ll need someone to share the whiskey with and commiserate.

7.  A plan for getting home. Yes, home may be arbitrary, and you may actually be completely location independent which makes this last point completely unnecessary.  But always have a loose plan for getting back to your “home.”  Be sure you have a monetary threshold that when reached, it will be time to mosey on back home or at least have a plan of action for returning to your dog who is anxiously awaiting your return and eating all your mom’s favorite foods that are left within her reach.  You don’t want to be gone so long that your four legged friend forgets who you are and growls upon your return.  And yes, having a dog really isn’t the best thing for the location independent person, but sometimes you don’t have a choice.  Being location independent doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave alot, only that you can when the mood strikes you.

There is much more to come regarding this topic.  I will be writing about my experience trying to be completely location independent as I travel this road.  I have been self-employed for some time now, though I’ve yet to completely structure my business for location independence.  I am currently on the road and implementing a giant experiment in this regards and will log the trials and triumphs on this lovely little blog.