As a slow traveling couple, Mrs NN and I have been on the road for over 4 years, exploring new parts of the world and meeting interesting people along the way. In a previous post, we discussed the challenges of building a community while constantly on the move and offered some potential solutions to overcome them. In this post, we will be delving deeper into another solution we briefly mentioned – having a home base – and exploring how it can help us build a stronger sense of community.
Why a Home Base?
One of the challenges we have faced as slow travelers is finding a sense of belonging and stability in our lives. While we have been fortunate enough to meet so many wonderful people along the way, it can be difficult to maintain long-lasting relationships when we are constantly on the move. This is where having a home base can help.
A home base provides a sense of stability and routine in an otherwise constantly changing lifestyle. It allows us to establish deeper connections with the local community and build relationships with people who we can see on a regular basis. By spending a few months in the same location every year, we can develop a deeper understanding of the local culture, customs, and way of life, and become part of the community in a more meaningful way.
Finding the Right Home Base
Choosing the right home base is essential for building a strong community. It should be a place where we feel comfortable, safe, and happy, and where we can easily connect with others who share our interests and values. It should also be a place where we can easily access basic amenities such as healthcare, grocery stores, and transportation. And of course a place where our friends and family can come visit us.
We’ve been thinking about the idea of a home base since the pandemic started when we were lucky to be stuck (& lockdown free) in Taiwan for 2 hours. To find the right home base, we have been doing extensive research on different locations that fit our criteria. We have been looking for places that are affordable, have a good climate, good air + water quality and offer a variety of activities that we enjoy, such as hiking, biking, and swimming. We have also been considering the local culture, language, and community, as well as the availability of rental properties that meet our needs and budget.
Buying vs Renting a Home Base
When it comes to finding a home base, one of the biggest decisions we’ll have to make is whether to buy or rent a property. Both options have their pros and cons, and ultimately, the decision will come down to our personal preferences and financial situation.
Renting a Home Base
Renting a property can be a good option until we are ready to commit to a specific location by exploring the area before making a long-term commitment. Renting a property allows us to get a feel for the local community, seasons, food scene and culture before deciding whether to buy a property in the area.
Another advantage of renting is that it can be more affordable in the short term. We won’t have to worry about a large down payment or the ongoing costs of maintaining a property. However, renting also has its drawbacks. We’ll have limited control over the property and may have to deal with a landlord or property management company. We’ll also have to deal with the uncertainty of not knowing whether we’ll be able to renew our lease or whether the rental price will increase.
We think that we will start by renting to make sure we like the location and its surroundings but our goal is to ultimately buy a property as our home base.
Buying a Home Base
Buying a property sounds the best long term option, once we are ready to commit to a specific location and want to set up roots in the community. Buying a property allows us to customize the space to our liking and build equity over time.
Another advantage of buying is that it can provide us with a passive income stream if we decide to rent out the property when we’re not using it. This can be a good way to offset the ongoing costs of maintaining the property. We will discuss this further in a moment.
However, buying also comes with its own set of challenges. We’ll need to come up with a large down payment and take on the ongoing costs of maintaining the property. We’ll also be responsible for any repairs or renovations that need to be made. And how can we take care of the property while we won’t be there for an extended period of time?
Are we done with slow travel?
Absolutely not! Our main goal is to continue to prioritize travel as a fundamental aspect of our lives. We see ourselves gradually shifting from perpetual year-round travel to traveling for 9 months each year, then reducing to 6 months per year, and ultimately only a few months per year as we approach our golden years. Essentially, we are moving towards a more leisurely pace of travel, so to speak.
On that note we are considering a property that we can use as a short term Airbnb rental during the month we would be out of the country. That way we can use this income to fund our travel. We still need to do a lot of research on that front.
Building a Community Around a Home Base
Once we have found the right home base, we plan to start building a community around it. This means connecting with locals & expats, attending community events, and getting involved in local activities. We also plan to use social media and online platforms to connect with other slow travelers who may be in the same location, as well as locals who share our interests and values.
We believe that by building a community around our home base, we can create a sense of belonging and purpose in our lives. We can also establish long-lasting relationships with people who we can see on a regular basis and who can provide us with support and encouragement as we continue on our slow travel journey.
From some deep discussion around community building with some of our friends, we realized that regardless of our location, we have the ability to “create” our own community rather than simply “finding” one. We hold this view because we believe that these two concepts are distinct from each other. Let’s take a closer look:
Concept #1 – Finding our community
Finding a community involves identifying a group of people who share common interests, values, and beliefs. It may involve searching for existing groups or clubs that align with your interests, or it may involve seeking out individuals who share similar passions or experiences.
Concept #2 – Creating our community
Creating a community, on the other hand, involves starting a group, organization, or network from scratch. It requires initiating and organizing activities and events that bring people together and foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
While finding a community may be a quicker and easier process, creating a community can be more fulfilling as it allows you to shape and influence the group’s culture and direction. Additionally, creating a community can be an empowering and meaningful experience as you become a leader and facilitator of social connections and positive change.
Where we would set our home base?
This has been an ongoing conversation but after traveling in 20+ countries over 40+ location over the past 5 years, our top pics are Spain and Portugal (as of 2023) for the reasons mentioned above.
We are open minded and might explore other locations. We have been thinking also about Greece but we’ve never been to this country yet. Our short term plan is to start with Portugal/Spain in the Spring of 2024 by exploring at least one of these two country extensively for about 6 months.
Our Bottom Line
So here you have it! Building a community as slow travelers can be challenging but it is also a very rewarding experience. While it can be difficult to maintain long-lasting relationships when constantly on the move, having a home base can help provide a sense of stability and routine, and allow us to establish deeper connections with the local community. By finding the right home base and building a community around it, we can create a sense of belonging and purpose in our lives, and establish long-lasting relationships with people who share our interests and values.
For over two years, we’ve been thinking about this particular issue, which is a common obstacle faced by those who embrace slow travel for many. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, we would be grateful to hear from you. How did you navigate this challenge? What advice or suggestions can you offer to assist us on our journey? Is there anything else that we should be keeping in mind? Please leave us a comment in the comments section below!
18 Comments
Margot · April 3, 2023 at 7:48 am
As an Army brat, the concept of home is a fluid one for me. I now call everywhere I’ve every lived “small h” home. And the place I’m currently living “capital H” Home.
I decided to quit in May of 2020. We already knew we wanted to travel full-time and since a house came with my job in California, we knew we’d have to establish residence SOMEWHERE. I had lived in the Puget Sound area in the 80s and have several friends (of 50+ years!) in the area. We looked at 12-15 temporary rentals and fell in love with the little waterfront town of Gig Harbor, WA We signed a lease for 6 months as I wanted to sort out what to say YES to in our newly liberated lives. We had the moving van deliver our heavily redacted stuff to a nearby 10×10 storage shed. We created our community in those first 6 months—reconnecting with old friends and making a few new ones. Just recently we bought a used 2012 Camry from our 94 year old friend there—it’s in her garage until we need it.
We are now on the road 10+ months and have returned to the same 2 temporary rentals in Gig Harbor several times each now. We’ve also done some petsitting in the region. The two landlords are now our friends—we get first choice of dates and book with them directly. We schedule our medical and dental appointments when we’re “home.” Our financial advisor is there and we’re registered to vote there. We sort through and throw away more stuff. We call it capital H Home.
We are 70 and 75 this year and currently plan to continue traveling at this pace for 5 more years. Our endgame is to rent an apartment in Gig Harbor. It’s highly doubtful we will ever own a house again. Our financial plan is of the spend ‘til the end variety.
We love everything about the area—it’s climate suits us. Water views and hiking trails are plentiful. We are within an hour of a major airport and cruise terminal. We trust our doctors at Kaiser Permanente (we each have a couple chronic health issues we need to monitor).
Good luck in your search. I do think the concept of “home” is a powerful one and contributes to a sense of settled purpose. I see myself volunteering/being on a couple of non-profit boards when we are there more frequently. We see ourselves owning a dog there (and maybe a cat, too). We know, from friends’ experiences, that there is a good hospice service AND, if need be, quality assisted living places. All of which adds up to Home.
Mr. Nomad Numbers · April 3, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Hi Margot. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed comment on this topic! I love your experience so much and it is quite inspiring. I also like that you said that you manage to ‘create’ your community (vs finding it), which is something we would like to do. Any tips to help us succeed on that front?
Margot · April 3, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Ironically, we are in Lisbon today and learned a few days ago that a professional colleague I knew but had never met just moved here. He is building his community by participating in the local expat FB group AND has found a couple of culturally minded folks who take in plays and performances together (he is a playwright himself).
My approach would be similar. With a background in non-profit management, I would look for a local non-profit or international NGO whose mission aligns with my heart and reach out to them. I might find a local wine or culinary group. I’d look for a book club. I would definitely take an immersive language course (our friend is doing that). I guess the key is to be intentional and make the first move, knowing that some connections may not pan out. Host a dinner, invite someone on a hike. Making friends when you’re older is difficult—none of us are as trusting as we were in our youth. It involves some risk, that’s for sure.
Mr. Nomad Numbers · April 4, 2023 at 8:01 am
Hi Margot. Lisbon is definitely a great city in Portugal. The only drawback for us is the cost of living that has become really out of control (compare to the rest of the country). This is definitely a great place to create a community so we were considering find a place not too far from Lisbon by train or car. Is your professional colleague living in Lisbon proper? Thanks for all of your tips about creating community. As you said, I think we should let some magic happen and not force things out too much. Though we know that we need to put on the work to create our community.
Kayla · April 3, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Writing to you from the Costa del Sol, specifically a little area called Algarrobo Costa, where my husband and I have JUST had this exact conversation at lunch. We’ve traveled slowly and extensively and, while we never want to give travel up because it feels as essential to our happiness as food and sunshine, we’ve also been feeling a need for the comforts of a home base. Sleeping in my own bed for the first time in a while? Yes. Knowing how to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night without my glasses? YES. A place to rest, recover, and build up that excitement for slow travel again. Building friendships and community has also become very important to us. I don’t know where we’ll land but I look forward to connecting with others in a more meaningful and regular way. We’re moving every month or month and a half, but I’ve really enjoyed Dr Marisa Franco’s work on building friendship as an adult. Maybe check her out if you have some time. Like you all, we have loved Spain and Portugal. Algarrobo Costa is right on the ocean with beautiful blue water, great restaurants/beach bars “chiringuitos” that serve a delightful menu of the day lunch that satisfies us for the rest of the day, seafood is plentiful, there’s a long boardwalk that connects several towns along the sea (we regularly hit 5 miles on the boardwalk without much effort), and there’s an enormous community of German expats. We’re not German, but if we spoke German, that would be an instant connection. We also really liked the town of Alicante which has a beautiful marina, a very nice boardwalk, a castle on the hill to get the heart pumping, and a laid-back vibe. From here, we’re heading NE to a town called Calp. Fingers crossed, it’s just as lovely as where we are now. I don’t know if any of that will be of help to you guys, but it’s nice to know that someone else is feeling the same thing we are.
Mr. Nomad Numbers · April 4, 2023 at 7:59 am
Hi Kayla. Thanks you for your long comment! How long have you been slow traveling for? I can definitely feel some similarities in our respective lifestyles. Glad to hear that you enjoy Spain. We never been to neigher Algarrobo Costa nor AliCante but we will keep an eye on these cities. We are currently looking at the Portuguese Silver coast. Have you guys been to this region of Portugal?
Kayla · April 4, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Hello again! We started traveling in 2018, although there was a long gap due to the pandemic. Like Margot, we’re also house and pet sitters which has been both rewarding and challenging, although these days we mostly go back to homes and pets we’re already familiar with. When we left the US this most recent time, we went to Portugal and enjoyed a few months in Porto and Tavira (part of the Algarve). Then, we spent a few months in England, fossil hunting, walking canals and looking at narrowboats, and seeing some of the filming locations for Downton Abbey in between pet sits. Now, we’re in Spain, on a pet-sitting break. We haven’t spent time on the Silver Coast. Are you guys familiar with Our Rich Journey on YouTube? They’ve been living on the Silver Coast with their two daughters for a few years now. A lot of their video titles are unnecessarily dramatic, but some of their content, especially the videos about the lives they’ve built there are informative. Do you guys speak European Portuguese now?
Mr. Nomad Numbers · May 1, 2023 at 5:38 am
Hi Kayla. It looks like you’ve been truly enjoying the pet sitter’s life. Something we hope to tap into at some point. For us, the hardest part would be getting started, probably by going back home to the US and finding a few pet sits there to build our resume. Regarding Our Rich Journey, yes, we know these guys! They seem to be hardcore and working on so many things. Since Portugal is a potential home base for us, we are going to see if we can connect with them. They seem to have built a ton of experience (and a network) over there. Did you guys have a chance to meet with them personally?
Kayla · May 1, 2023 at 2:27 pm
That’s a good point. I do think we’ve been successful in finding great house and pet sitting opportunities because we took time to carefully craft our petsitter profile and we’ve done more than expected (in terms of how very clean we leave the house and sometimes we make the owners a welcome home meal and leave it in the fridge for them, etc). Having 5 star reviews and very kind written reviews from home owners makes a big difference. As you can imagine, not every pet sit is wonderful. There have been a small number that were truly terrible, but from that, I’ve learned to better screen for those potential problems during zoom calls. All of that to say, if you take the time to write a personable and authentic profile (and you guys are beautiful writers, so I have no doubt you would) and do a handful of pet sits anywhere in the world (not just the US) and get outstanding reviews, you’ll have many great opportunities.
We didn’t seek out Our Rich Journey. We weren’t in the same part of the country as they are. We were in Porto and then in the Algarve. We’re also brand new to the idea of sharing our journey and experience. Up until very recently, I’ve never even commented on a FI blogger’s post, but the timing of your article was so serendipitous that I couldn’t pass it up 🙂
Mr. Nomad Numbers · May 3, 2023 at 11:09 am
Hi Kayla. Thank you for sharing your detailed experience with us. Have you considered writing more about your pet sitting experience. Your insights could be immensely helpful to people like us who are just starting out and seeking useful tips and firsthand knowledge. And we are also really grateful that you decided to choose our article to write your first comment on a blog like our 🙂
Keith · April 3, 2023 at 6:36 pm
We have just returned to our home base after 7 months of travelling Europe and SE Asia on a career break. We’re a couple aged 60 and 63. I am really interested in exploring other ways of living – I thought that we could sell up and perpetually travel and – for us – we now realise that we probably need a permanent home base where we can build and sustain our own community or communities whilst travelling about 6 months per year. Our preference would probably be 3 month cycles of ‘home base’ and away again. Perhaps we should consider group living and home base sharing or other more imaginative ideas – let’s hear it from others?
Mr. Nomad Numbers · April 4, 2023 at 8:03 am
Hi Keith. Looks like we are hitting similar challenges. What would be your ideal home base setup for these 3 month cycles?
Keith · April 4, 2023 at 8:20 am
At present, our home base would be an apartment (downsizing from 3 bed to 2) in Glasgow where our friends and children are. Nothing novel about that. BUT we are interested in other ideas – do Nomadic travelers ever share home bases and rotate, or are there community living/house share ideas that others have tried?
Mr. Nomad Numbers · May 1, 2023 at 5:35 am
You can use websites like https://coliving.com/ to find co-living spaces. Though these are usually for young digital nomads who are looking to work/network with their peers and don’t mind the lack of privacy. If this is not your preference, you could look into traditional home exchange programs (like https://www.lovehomeswap.com/) but this will require you to have a home to swap for others. We have been thinking about building our own network of homes within our Nomadic/FI friends that we could swap between each other, but this is still something we need to put into action! We definitely feel that the slow travelers/FI community could greatly benefit from it. Does this helps?
Kayla · May 3, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Hello again! It looks like I ran out of replies and the button disappeared, so I just started a new comment 🙂 We have thought about both blogging and vlogging quite a bit. I imagine how much time you guys spend on your blog and what that hourly return is, a labor of love, a way to create community and help others. Actually, I imagine you guys spend a good bit more time than I imagine because I don’t know anything about the business side of blogs. At this moment, we’re happy with our balance and adding a project would throw that out of whack. But thanks for thinking that our experiences are interesting and helpful. I think you guys can see my email address attached to this comment. If you ever have questions that you think we could help with, email us. I’d be very happy to help! 🙂
Mr. Nomad Numbers · May 4, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Kayla, thank you for your message. I have your contact information, and regarding blogging, it can be quite time-consuming. However, we have streamlined the process considerably. Blogging is a great way for me to share our journey with friends, family, and anyone who is interested. It has also allowed us to connect with like-minded individuals, which has been a fantastic benefit. Our blog has a community of approximately 1,000 readers, which is not insignificant, but it is far from enough to generate income. Fortunately, we have saved and invested enough that we do not have to worry too much about that. Instead, we can focus our time on doing what we love.
Brad · October 30, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Hola, amigos.
We’ve just returned from our visit to Valencia, Spain, as well as the charming town of Gandia. My niece and her family relocated to Gandia a few years ago from the United States. During our visit, the first thing that caught my attention was the remarkable affordability compared to the US. They are paying just $650 a month for a stunning four-bedroom apartment, which is conveniently located only a mile away from both the beach and the mountains, where many top cycling teams train. In addition to the affordability, they have quickly established a strong sense of community in Gandia. The town exudes a small-town atmosphere, offering convenient rail access to Valencia, the third-largest city in Spain. I highly recommend considering a stop in Gandia if you’re in search of a wonderful place. And if you’r seeking something larger in Portugal, Porto is our personal favorite. Good luck with your exploration!
Mr. Nomad Numbers · November 3, 2023 at 6:06 pm
It’s great to hear from you Brad. We plan on stopping by Valencia so we will definitely keep an eye of Gandia! Looks like it’s a one hour drive from Valencia but it loos like your niece isn’t community to Valencia but as might have found her community in Gandia itself, which looks exciting!