TIL most digital nomads are still just glorified tourists with laptops
I been bouncing around hostels and coworking spaces for about 3 years now, and I keep seeing the same mistake. People land in a new city, find the hippest cafe, and spend all day working while ordering one overpriced latte. They never actually learn the local bus routes or figure out where real people grocery shop. Last month in Lisbon I watched a guy pay 8 euros for a tiny salad when there was a market two blocks away selling fresh produce for pocket change. I get it, you want the Instagram shot of your laptop with a pastel de nata, but you're missing the whole point of being location independent. If you're just swapping your home office for a cafe in Chiang Mai, what's the difference between that and a two week vacation? Has anyone else noticed this or am I being too harsh?