From Digital Nomad Dreams to Lakefront Aspirations: My Own Character Development

Why I Chose to Pursue a Year-Round Lakefront Digital Lifestyle in my Home State Over Being a Digital Nomad

When I first discovered the idea of becoming a digital nomad, which like a lot of my ideas, came from a night spent jumping down YouTube rabbit holes, I was immediately captivated. The idea of living a life of freedom, adventure, and the promise of working anywhere in the world excited me. I had visions of living the writer’s life, clicking away at my laptop keyboard in a sun-soaked cafe in Kuala Lumpur, or strolling through the markets of Penang after a productive morning of writing. These visions fueled me, giving me the ambition I needed to pursue such a life. This dream was only intensified when I discovered Andrew Henderson and the Nomad Capitalist YouTube channel. As I went through the catalog of videos, I saw the many people they have helped seek more freedom, opportunity, and a truly global lifestyle experience, and wondered if I could join that group.

Chasing the Digital Nomad Dream

As the next weeks turned into months, I watched many of Andrew Henderson’s Nomad Capitalist videos. I even read his book. Even if you’re not actively pursuing a nomad lifestyle, it is an interesting read. I’ll link it here in case you’re curious. Reading and hearing of Andrew’s stories of life as an expat in which he highlights places like Malaysia, Georgia, and Montenegro, made a nomad capitalist lifestyle seem accessible and exciting. One particular location that Andrew mentions often that stood out to me is Malaysia. I’ve always been fascinated with the culture in Southeast Asia, and Malaysia is a place where English is widely spoken, which gives me a certain level of comfort as an American. Coupled with the vibrant cities, friendly locals, and affordable living, this makes Malaysia a strong contender on anyone’s digital nomad bucket list. For a time, I had aspirations of visiting and possibly setting up shop in Malaysia for a stretch, satisfying my fascination with the culture while building my online business from afar. 

I remember a couple of instances in which I felt torn, a mental tug-o-war raging within me between the urge to chase this digital nomad dream I’d recently discovered and the realization that the logistics just weren’t there. I knew in the back of my mind that most people living nomad lifestyles had hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars at their disposal and a portfolio of passports. I struggled with the realization that I didn’t have that, and it would be some time before I did. I often asked myself, “Is it worth it, the allure of the nomad lifestyle? Is it worth the headache and stress of trying to obtain all these extra things? After some soul searching and reevaluation, I realized the answer was no. I concluded that, while not having millions in disposable income and a folder full of passports was not a reason to give up on the nomad lifestyle, it was a reason to take a step back and reevaluate. Once I did, I realized I didn’t need a folder full of passports or millions in the bank to go where I felt most comfortable. I just needed to rethink what I really wanted and where I would feel most welcome. 

The team at Nomad Capitalist always stands behind the tagline, “Go where you’re treated best.” That includes and begins with treating myself well. I soon realized that my best life lay not sipping espresso in a cafe in Kuala Lumpur, but on the shores of a peaceful Wisconsin lake. 

When Aspirations Shift

As time went on, though, I noticed a subtle shift in my ambitions. While I’ve always had aspirations to travel the world and explore new places while building my business, I realized what I really wanted was to put down roots not just in a new place, but in a place of peace and beauty, a place I could call home. My love for Wisconsin and its lakes now shapes my vision of an ideal digital nomad lifestyle, even if the “nomad” in me is a little subdued.

I think I’ve always wanted to get out of my hometown. It’s cozy, but a little too Swiss for my Norwegian blood. Though I will miss the cheese-themed festivals and homecoming parades if I pull up stakes, the many lakes of this great state have always called to me. The problem was not a lack of desire to answer that call, but the constraints of a job that, while remote in nature, keeps me in one area for the most part. It was this that fueled my desire to write for a living, to remove the location requirements, and to answer the lake’s ever-present call.

The Call of the Lakefront

As my blogging business slowly grows, I’m realizing I can achieve anything I want from the digital nomad life, all without ever leaving Wisconsin. The lakefronts have always called to me, particularly in early August every year when I take my annual fishing trip with my parents, siblings, their kids, and my uncle and cousins, a trip I look forward to every year if for no other reason because I get to have some time completely alone.

 I usually have a cabin to myself; I prefer it that way, typical writer, right? I don’t know how, but I always seem to get the best outdoor, or close to outdoor seating. This past year, we went to a new place. Revel’s Resort in Hayward, Wisconsin. I’ll link to their website. Check them out. Great people. My cabin was listed as one bedroom. In reality, it reminded me more of a studio apartment. I’m usually a guy who doesn’t like open concept layouts; I like to close doors. This cabin, however, was cozy. I particularly liked the recliner. It reminded me of the one I'm sitting in here at home as I write this piece. The screened-in porch was my favorite. I sat out there every morning with my Chromebook and a cup of coffee, writing down whatever I was thinking at that moment and taking a moment every so often to take in the view across the lake. I produced two articles for this blog while sitting on that porch. I look forward to seeing it again. I will write a dedicated post about that vacation in the coming days. Ideas come to me and get lost in the shuffle sometimes. I can’t help but smile when I think about the mornings I spent there, sipping coffee on my screen-in porch as the gentle waves kissed the shore, and daydreamed about making that scene a regular fixture in my life. As I looked out onto the lake one morning, I realized what I needed to do to make that a reality, and that I was already doing it.

There’s something therapeutic about writing on the shores of a lake. The waves gently rolling in as the wind blows across the water’s surface, the songs of loons and the calls of ducks combine for a tranquil soundtrack. When I’m at the lake, I’m not in a rush. Not in a rush to move, nor in a rush to write. My ideas arrive in gentle ripples, much like the waves gently lapping against the shore as the sun rises. I write slower, more intentionally. When i look across the water at the horizon, which is painted orange with another sunrise, I remember why I’m here, why I chose this life. 

I wrote a piece last summer when I came home from my family’s vacation at a lake roughly 35 miles south of where we were this year. I’ll provide a link to that piece here if you are curious. In that article, I described how Long Lake, much like Nelson Lake this year, gave me a different creative backdrop than I’m used to—and I mean that in the absolute best way. I didn’t do as much writing last summer as I have so far this year, but no matter what state of mind you’re in, the lake has a way of sparking creativity if it’s in you. I always felt out of place among my family on these vacations, like I was only there because they felt obligated to include me. These feelings faded when I took to writing things down again. Last summer, it was my Kindle Fire 10 and Adventurer’s Typewriter Style Retro Mechanical Keyboard. This year, I packed my Chromebook, my Lamy Safari fountain pen, and a few of my Blackwing 602 pencils with some notebooks. Both vacations saw me write many thoughts that would have otherwise stayed locked in the deepest recesses of my mind. It was on the shores of Long Lake, as I wrote the first draft of what would become the second post on this blog. which I've linked, that my journey to a lakefront writer’s lifestyle began, though I did not yet know it.     

Embracing the Lakefront Writer’s Lifestyle

As I sit here today, fingers clicking away at my laptop keyboard, I no longer desire the life of a perpetual nomad. I still enjoy Andrew Henderson’s content and will put some of his teachings into practice in pursuit of my remote earning dreams. I still want to travel, and will take his advice regarding passports to serve that desire. This shift in my pursuits just means I will look to satisfy my desire to travel without changing permanent residences, at least not outside of my beautiful home state. Instead of becoming a perpetual wanderer, my desire is to live the life of the writers you hear about in all the cliches, maintaining my blogging adventure from a lakeside cabin or lake house with the beauty of Wisconsin’s changing seasons as my backdrop. I want my words to reflect the beauty and tranquility that surrounds me as I continue to do what I love. 

This shift in mindset does not mean I’ve abandoned my desire to see the world. If anything, it has heightened it. I will still strive to spend a stint walking the culturally rich streets of Kuala Lumpur or the perpetual bustle of the markets in Penang. Andrew and his team at Nomad Capitalist have inspired me to at least do that. My heart and soul, however, remains on the shores of Wisconsin’s lakes. The watercolor sunsets and crisp lakefront air are all I need to find the contentment I seek. They call me even as I sit here now, and I intend to answer.

Whether I’m scrolling through YouTube and virtually traveling to faraway places or exploring the gently rolling landscape of my own backyard, my journey as a writer and development as a man has taught me that the best place to chase my dreams is right where I started, with a laptop, a view of the water, and the freedom to write my own story.

I don’t know what the next chapter holds. What I do know is that I’ll be writing it from a deck that smells of the pine that made it, with the gentle ripple of lake water nearby as the crisp air rustles the trees. That has been my happy place all along, and as with many things in life, it took leaning on the pen for me to find it. Much like the page offers no judgment to the writer, so too does the lake offer no judgment to anyone wishing to live upon its shores. The waters welcome all, the next step in my journey is into that welcoming embrace. 

Have you considered a digital nomad lifestyle? Or are you like me and would rather find a quiet place with its own tranquil beauty right at home? Do you want to travel abroad? What destinations are you most interested in seeing? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.