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Concerned about getting lonely while DN (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by simply__curious@alien.top to c/digitalnomad@expats.zone

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Hello! I've been digital nomading about halftime for the last 1.5 years. I'd spend about half the year with my family, and the other half traveling. It's been an incredible experience so far - road tripping across America, time in Europe, Asia, and Central America so far.

The concern is, up to this point, I've been doing this with my (now) ex partner. We always traveled together, except for maybe one-month long stretches at a time when he had in-person work he couldn't get out of. Now that we are no longer together, I don't want that to stop me from continuing something that I have really enjoyed. But I am concerned that I will be lonely doing it on my own.

I work in healthcare, which means I am not naturally going to be occupying places with other travelers. I need to pay for private lodging so I can have privacy for my work. Whereas I understand other DNs can stay at hostels or find coworking spaces to connect with other travelers. Due to this, the time I have spent on my own previously has felt very isolating (but not necessarily lonely, as I was connected to my ex via phone, etc).

How do you combat this? Any recommendations?

I am also slightly concerned about safety as a solo woman traveler, but that is a smaller concern than this idea of loneliness and isolation. Thank you!

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[–] dreamskij@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

private rooms in hostels arent a great deal, usually (a room in an airbnb is often better value), but can be a solution.

Coliving places also could be another one. But there are colivings that are basically airbnbs, and coliving that are basically upscale hostels. If you want some social interaction, you might be better served by the latter.

Also, coworking&coliving sometimes have private spaces you can use for your calls. Hard to determine what could work for you without having more information, though.

Also, consider booking a coworking place for a week or so and be there as much as you can... the goal being meeting a few ppl and making connections, then use them as an entry point into the DN/expat social scene.

Also, if you might be looking for short term partners, that's another solution :P

[–] simply__curious@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Hmm yeah. It sounds like I just have to get creative about connecting with people from now on. Whenever I would DN alone, I would just do everything by myself, and spend pretty much 24/7 on my own. That was fine for a month or so, but not more permanently than that.

And I'm not opposed to short term partners I suppose, that's certainly an idea!

[–] skarabox5@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Your solo DN will probably be nothing like when you were with your boyfriend. You will be lonely it will be more dangerous and depending on the country you visit very dangerous. 99% you will not find anything except casual flings and depending on the country you may not even get interest at all from guys if you are not the race that is desired in that location (for example white girls in Asia are very lonely as guys who travel there want asian girls and attractive asian guys don't want white girls). Also if previously your bf handled all the logistics then you will experience how much work it is. But if you want to do it and it will make you more happy then just be careful and do it

[–] simply__curious@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks for the input. Thankfully, I have always handled all logistics, so I'm prepared for that. You're right, I'll have to see if it continues to be something I want, if I do it alone.