Nomad Lifestyle Series – Today’s Office View
After some reflection on the year gone by I had to admit to myself that I didn’t really indulge into the perks of my business to the fullest potential. Funny enough one reason I chose to work from home is to enjoy some freedom without a boss breathing down my neck, telling me what to do and when.
Unfortunately I did what most new business owners do when they first start a new venture; I worked myself to the bone in the process of growing my business. I also became a self appointed recluse, forgetting friends and locking myself into the comfort of my home.
While it is alright to enjoy working from home, it isn’t good for the spirit to miss out on regular human contact, therefore my one new years resolution is to get out more and enjoy the luxury of working for myself.
I honestly live in one of the nicest places on earth. People pay thousands of dollars to come on holidays to my neck of the woods, and even though I’m living in what is considered a sleepy seaside town, the scenery is to die for.
As part of my new series I plan to work in a different location in and around town at least twice per week. While I do this I’m going to take some snapshots to show you how beautiful it is here and also make you really jealous, hehehehe… Today’s view is from Kemp Beach, perhaps the best beach in the area.
But fun aside, I also want to show other freelance writers what is possible with this business and maybe steer those of you who happen to hibernate at home into the great outdoors. I already mentioned in one of my earlier posts that to travel and running my business is my ultimate dreamr6s . What better way to start off by doing it bit by bit until my husband and I are ready to hit the road.
While I type this post I’m sitting by the ocean, with the gentle sound of lapping waves and the wind in my hair. The sun is kissing my skin into a golden tan and the cockatoos are flying overhead in search of their mates and food.
If you are a freelancer like myself ask yourself what you can do to work more mobile with your weekly schedule. For those of you who live in the US and Europe and are currently experiencing freezing cold weather, there are ways to get out as well.
Think cozy coffee shops, pubs or even shopping centers with a little corner you can name your own. The most important accessory to do this is of course being able to connect to the Internet. I’m using a 3G USB modem from Telstra. It is super fast and coupled with my nifty EeePC and a portable USB stick I have everything I need with me.
I hope you will enjoy this new series with pics from our region. I certainly have a ball already, loving the views, the smells and the sounds. Plus I find that I can actually work a lot more productive because I’m undisturbed by my little buddies – my cockatiels. No birds chewing computer cables and sh*tting all over my keyboard.
If you are like me, tending to hibernate I hope that this post will actually inspire you to get out more. Let me know how you go please.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Brett Legree | Jan 17, 2009 | Reply
Okay, I am officially jealous (in a happy and good way!) – that’s totally awesome!!!
No chance of me doing that right now where we live as it is currently -24 C and you know what that would do to my laptop… *ouch*
Well, it isn’t that bad – we do have one cafe in town with wifi and it is quite cozy. Then, once summer comes, it is nice to go and sit outside and feel the breeze.
Funny, I’m thinking of augmenting my MBP with some kind of netbook myself – a nice little machine I can stick in my pocket (sort of) and go.
Lawrence Miller | Jan 17, 2009 | Reply
Sounds awesome. You wouldn’t tease us, would you? Where is the picture of Kemp Beach? Come on, give us poor slobs out here just a little taste of your idyllic, sleepy, little corner of paradise.
Davina | Jan 17, 2009 | Reply
Hi Monika. How can you concentrate with that gentle sound of lapping waves and the wind in your hair? I’d be sitting there staring off into dreamland. LOL.
These days I see a lot of people in Vancouver sitting in cozy coffee shops with their laptops. There are 2 shops less than a 5-minute walk from my apartment. Trouble is for me, as I said above, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate. I’ve tried reading in these places and I end up people watching instead.
You are living a fabulous life girl! Cheers.
scott | Jan 17, 2009 | Reply
Hey Monika
You are right I am hibernating and not getting out. Lots of coffee shops around here also. I need to invest in a portable modem as well. This is a must for me to get out especially this summer because we are 20 minutes from the mountains.
Thanks for the encouragement!
PS Were is that pic of Kemp Beach?
Passive Income Online - LIs Sowerbutts | Jan 18, 2009 | Reply
LOL Monika – attach the bloody photo LOL. I too got out Friday with my laptop- I made it all the way to local library in the search of aircon 42C wasn’t even slightly funny! Fortunately its cooled down since! You are right thought its a good idea to get out more and I am going to try to make the effort too.
Monika | Jan 18, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: Ouch, -24C I’d be buggered to survive those kinds of temperatures. I reckon you should go netbook as I’m sure you will love it just like I do. So easy to carry with you and light as a feather.
@ Lawrence: LOL, yeah the pic of the beach. Well, for now you guys have to make do with the view from Kemp Beach (as per photo attached to the post). I will however go back [oh the hardship
] and snap a pic from the beach itself.
@ Davina: You know, I also like people watching and usually add this to my nomad working day. To me that is part of the whole fun of being out and about I guess. I suppose you could give yourself some kind of cookie for doing the work first – people watching, ice cream eating, coffee drinking, etc. It is a great motivation too.
Thanks for the “great life” comment
yes, I’m loving it for sure.
@ Scott: Now you said that I expect an update on your blog from your first trip out of the house! Hehehe…fun aside, it would be nice to see how other writers and bloggers get out more including pics (e.g. the Kemp Beach pic is coming see comment to Lawrence).
@ Lis: Damn you guys are giving me a hard time for that Kemp Beach pic, LOL, serves me right for bragging about it. I saw the weather pattern in your neck of the woods last week when I got back. Wow, crazy is all I can say. It reminds me of the time I lived in outback South Australia as we had stinking hot days too but without the humidity we get here.
Brett Legree | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
It is pretty harsh for sure – bad for your body, your house, your car… (your pocketbook because of heating costs!)
I don’t mind if it is above -15C as that is not too bad. But come the day when I don’t see those temperatures in winter I won’t be crying
I think I will get a netbook soon – there are some nice ones and I think I’ll get one with a web cam so I can use it for Skype also.
Monika | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: My goodness, you crack me up with those temperatures. I can imagine that it is bad for heating costs for sure. Amazing really that humans live at both extreme opposites when it comes to heat and cold.
My netbook has a camera and Skype was already installed, very nifty indeed.
Brett Legree | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
It is crazy when you think of it. And we’re supposed to get down to -28C by Saturday and even lower (in the -30′s) again by next week. I hope my car starts…
I think some of my friends think I’m a bit loony, but part of why I want to live closer to your neck of the woods is so that we don’t freeze to death if the power goes off (that does happen a lot in winter here). The electrical grid in Canada is getting old and it will only get worse. Many people have heat that partly depends on electricity (forced-air gas furnaces).
I thought yours did – very handy little machines when you have wifi!