For working nomads, it’s a challenge to maintain a relationship with someone who’s not comfortable with a nomadic lifestyle. The best solution? Fall in love with a working nomad.
I don’t think I could be in a relationship with someone who wasn’t passionate about travel. Sure, it’s possible, but it’s so amazing to share life-changing experiences with the person you love best. Plus, there’s the practical side of it: it’s convenient to have a second body to watch over the luggage while you pee, make phone calls while you send emails, lean against while you’re sleeping on a train. It also means a whole new set of relatives with couches to crash on.
Our Story
Rinch and I met in Kathmandu, Nepal. He was a fully-fledged Buddhist monk; I was an itinerant English teacher. Fast forward over two years, thousands of kilometers, and events too complex to describe here, and we were married.
During the first year of our marriage, we lived in four different countries: the US, Nepal, India and Australia. Last time we went to the US, immigration kicked up a fuss because we didn’t have a simple answer to the question, “Where is your permanent residence?” We travel not because we like the action of being on the road but because we love too many places to choose one at the exclusion of the others. We have homes all over the world and each one is special to us.
Arnie and Margo’s Story
Arnie Zann and Margo Pinkerton are a husband/wife team who teach photo workshops in the US, Central America, and overseas. “We were nomads as photographers before we met, both having traveled to many parts of the world,” Margo says. “Now that we have met, married, and work together, we are still nomads, doing what we love most–pursuing our photography and instilling our passion for same to our participants. We pack and unpack so often, we can do it in our sleep!”
Check out Arnie and Margo’s work at ZannPinkertonPhotography.com.
Lea and Jonathan’s Story
Lea Woodward and her husband Jonathan are working nomads who run a design & marketing business. Lea also runs the Location Independent network, a fantastic resource for working nomads of all ages and types. There’s even an entire site for working nomad parents! According to the site, Lea and Jonathan have run their design business from Panama, Buenos Aires, Grenada, Toronto, South Africa, HK and Thailand.
Learn more about Lea and Jonathan at locationindependent.com.
Are you a working nomad in a relationship? Share your story in the comments.
