Hey guys, finally done with this piece after taking me ages trying to put them into words. Anyway, I just made that Post-Nomadic Stress Disorder term up as a wordplay inspired by the term PTSD. That said, I suspect that PNSD is similarly a very real condition that has been embedded in our water supply ever since societies began to form ~10,000 years ago. If there's one thing that I've always felt deeply strange about modern life, it is our tendency to stay put in one place for long periods of time - be it in the same country, home, and in traditional workplaces.
Of course, centralisation of stuff provides stability and certainty that modern society is, and, has been operating in since the dawn of agriculture and irrigation. I can't speak for everyone.. but have you ever felt like there's something missing in life, but could never really tell what it is? If so, you are probably feeling the effects of PNSD.
This is the reason why some of us turn into online-workers, hippies, and frequent travellers. After all, modern humans actually lived as nomads for 99 per cent of our history.
Living the life of a traveller – a nomadic life – meant people had few, if any, actual possessions. All they had was what they could carry.
These people needed little else. The whole idea of owning anything at all was completely alien to them. Their habit was to share things with each other, because it meant there was less to carry. There was no need for money, because they hunted and gathered whatever and whenever they needed. They had no use for storage areas or farm buildings. They had no property, and no one could tell them "PRIVATE – No Hunting Here", because no one owned any land. It was, like the air we breathe today, something common to us all, a resource to be shared between all living things: plants, animals and people.
Well, I don't expect us to go back to full-blown old-school nomads, giving up property and ownership. There are certainly great reasons why society is the way it is today, and we just need to replace our dependencies with something better. Perhaps we can share more as well. Which is why I think the up and coming wave of the sharing economy and decentralisation technologies, could in fact, turn us back into free creatures again with all the added perks of modern society. New world nomads. Humanity 2.0. Insert some other bigass words here.
It's not going to be a quantum leap overnight, but it could certainly be an epic transition over the course of decades, if not sooner.
But first, why have we settled down?
Whatever the reasons are, settling down just happened to be the meme that ended most of humanity's nomadic past. Instead of trying to ask why (because it's a chicken and egg problem), let's investigate the unique properties of large groups of people staying put in cities, towns, and villages:-
Efficient, concentrated places for a mass of people to expend energy and getting stuff done. Division of labor and specialisation.
Shared facilities and stability of life - we no longer have to be hunters and gatherers looking for food all day long. We can now pursue higher goals - but of course, not universally applicable.
Workplaces are mostly geographically static.
Works well for mainstream society with nuclear families.
There's just no better way to organise groups of people without being in the same place, throughout most of our post-nomadic era.
Interestingly, our transition away from nomadism has a lot to do with the concept of (leveraged) work, family, and stability - all of which are pretty definitive of modern society today. Permanence. The whole setup is built upon layers and layers of dependencies, authoritatively from parents to businesses, leading up to governments.
Settled and disengaged - a sign?
According to a series of worldwide surveys conducted by Gallup over the course of the decade, it was found that only 13% of employees are engaged at work. The rest are either disengaged, or actively disengaged. I think this is somewhat ironic, going against the grain of efficiency (the holy grail of employment regimes). An organisation with a whopping 87% employee disengagement is just bad for business, especially for all the individuals involved. It is a very telling situation - a majority of people are spending most of their time doing something they would rather not. Maybe they're onto something. There's just a lack of solutions.
It is a huge problem and in my opinion, also one of the biggest business opportunities in recent times. It's a real world problem. Perhaps then, we should start focusing more on empowering our inefficiencies as human beings. In other words, we should start shifting our attention away from Adam Smith's efficient, but ultimately dehumanising pin-factory. Efficiency is something that should only belong in the background, driven by technology. Our attention - the foreground layer of our lives - should allow for inefficiencies for us to be free. This is why we have "fun" companies today, pioneered by Google and the likes.
New world nomads
It's quite difficult imagining a future where nomadism is a global phenomenon. Some of us are already doing it right now to a certain degree, but will we see a day when it becomes possible for way more people to go around without the rigid limitations imposed by passports and visas? It's a lifestyle choice, of course. To truly understand this matter, one must begin to imagine the concepts of decentralisation and distributed ownership to see where we're heading. While I'm not sure at all if national borders and territorial disputes will ever dissolve, I think there are certainly signs of public trust shifting away from the old, and into the new: tech-driven peer-to-peer trust networks.
@onceuponatime recently shared a document with me about something seems relevant to what I'm trying to express here. Here's the abstract of the paper:-
This paper presents a model of partial internal exit that captures the competitive dynamic between incumbent and potential governments in a non-territorial political system. This model particularly applies to the case of ‘cryptosecession’ that appears the most likely avenue for non-territorial decentralisation to ever eventuate. It demonstrates how fiscal exploitation is reduced and eventually eliminated as the capability of citizens to move to non-territorial jurisdictions increases. When interpreted as a model of cryptosecession, it shows how the balance of citizen opacity and government legibility determines the balance of fiscal exploitation versus equivalence.
Have a read - Cryptosecession and the limits of taxation: Towards a theory of non-territorial internal exit. To be honest, I didn't understand much of it, but it was still an interesting read. Additionally, here's a post that you should check out to understand the breadth of applications that we can tokenise and organise: https://steemit.com/steem/@paxmagnus/the-blockchain-conversation-prism
There are also other advancing technologies that are combinatorial and could make the free market way more efficient than it is today. Think about a distributed economy powered by renewable energy, 3D-printing, drones, sharing applications (Uber, Airbnb, etc), work applications, mesh-networks, sustainable hubs, and automation. Stuff like that. I think a "free flow" society will be made possible and sustainable over time as peer-to-peer trust networks mature. If you have time, check out this short article: The Future Organization is a Porous Organization. Also, I want to make it clear that all of these doesn't imply that we should end urbanisation, and leaving it all behind. The best part about new world nomadism is that we can leverage on existing infrastructures.
May we have the choice to roam free like horses, again!
Supplementary video
Co- creating value: Future Business Trends by Stefan Hyttfors
I have a wife and 5 kids. It is very easy to justify just staying where I am. Great job, nice little house in San Diego, cool area to live ect... But there is always this calling to the deep. Go explore! find something new! Its not adventure if there are no risks involved. The eagle, in her nest will start to take out the plush feathers where the eaglet is so cozy. She will then begin to add a few thorns to the nest, and eventually she will push her child out of the nest.
We were not made for the nest, we were made in the nest. You and I @kevinwong were made to fly!
We have 4 kids, but decided to sell it all and for the last 4yrs we have been traveling the globe, being free and truly happy.
Don't let the fact you have kids stop you from living the dream, they love it too :)
We will no doubt about it. Thanks for the encouragement my friend.
The first thing that came to mind when I read this article was that it's different when you have kids, you can't just up-sticks and go gallivanting. I think you need to be a lot more courageous in today's society to live freely when you have youngsters in tow. Thanks for reminding me that they don't need to act as an anchor, and thanks for the thought provoking article!
Sadly, I can't fly.. no @wingz
Native Americans believed that no one owned the land, that it belonged to everyone; unfortunately most others over the course of history have felt differently, they wanted to fence it all in and call it their own. Having said that, I own the property my house sits on and I have fenced in the yard. Hmmmm, I really enjoy this little piece of property, but I am told that the grass is greener over the hill; perhaps if I down size I would be free to explore?
Would be a bummer when the grass looks greener on the other side once getting over the hill.. :D
Deep down I think everyone has the normadic urge but external restrictions and mindset gets in the way. Need to break free!
Not an easy task, but I think it's getting easier to do so :)
I am building a life on my little farm, but often dream of what it would be like to live more "free" collecting food from the land as I travel with the seasons. What would that look like in this modern world? Would it be conventional travel and staying at the homes of other offering work for housing? Would it be and attempt at avoiding people altogether using roads much less traveled and relying on old school survival skills? I'm not sure... maybe a blend of the two. Either way it would be fascinating to take that leap of faith and go for it :) Thanks for the interesting article!
Just realised i wrote about quarterlife / midlife crisis, only in a slightly different way xD
Set the data free, and our minds will follow.
Economic oppression is why we are all settled into one place. If you didn't have to work in one place, you'd be as free as anyone. The rich are modern nomads, think about how many vacations homes they own and how often they travel.
Yes, exactly. It's all about accessibility to products and services.
Boom. Nailed it.
I think I am a nomad, I was living in 4 different countries, traveled in Mongolia and slept with nomads in their yurts(great experience) ok I think I need 4 hands to count how much apartments I lived in xD And I am just 28 :P thanks for sharing !!
You're a pro! When did you begin by the way?
yeah I began with 18, my parents were very strict with me and I was never allowed to do more, had to be at six o clock in the evening at home at wintertime and at summer time at 8 o clock. My dad told me if you are going 18 then you can do whatever you want . And I did :)
Although humans might have been nomads and explorers, what made civilization thrive was settlements and communities. The reason western civilization took off was because we domesticated animals and founded agriculture, something 80% of the people on this plant weren't able to do due to the climate. Being nomadic was rather the exception rather than the rule.
I believe the nomadic tendency today exists due to a need to escape from the mundane and live as many experiences as possible. it never stops. It is a form of anxiety. Unquenched thirst. A form of existential gluttony.
Yup as written..
Can't speak for those doing it, perhaps. If there are two choices - move or stay, then naturally i'll be on the move. Unless there's a reason to stay..
Mobile homes have the right idea I guess. Exploring while staying at home.
Nonetheless, I will need something close to Star Trek level to get satisfied
btw what do u mean by exception to the rule
Most people stay put rather than traveling. This is why we are the only animal that pays so much attention into a home that will last for a lifetime. All other mammals at least, keep their nests seasonal.
a nomadic lifestyle is what many like me desire, but impossible to achieve due to being chained by life and responsibilities. it's not easy to break free, but never say never. so when does @kevinwong become a nomad ?
If there's a good solution to be able to bring the puppy i'm taking care of anywhere easily, it'll be almost perfect :)
ah yes, there must be some solution or the great minds will come up with something soon. you better start preparing :)
Traveling is always exciting and very much so a learning experience for the ones doing it. Better than any old college education in my book. I did a fair amount when I was younger but, alas, met a girl, settled down, had some lil' ones and now have the white picket fence. Wouldn't trade it for the world.........
ah settling down happens I guess ;)
Btw, what if there's a great way to be mobile?
Hmmm, interesting thought. How so? The problem in my mind would be school for the lil' ones, and our jobs. I suppose home schooling and a traveling source of income would be the answers but in the end it would be the one foot forward commitment and the time it would take to establish such a situation. Very tempting idea though.
It was deep. But we can go deeper! Absolute freedom is the space in which we exist, but do not realize it. Freedom is everywhere, It is such a special substance. East, West, South, North. And what we do with this magic powder? We build pyramids. We just love to build pyramids. And the pyramids enslave us. Even this lovely blockchain platfrom SteemIt has the same form. Now it feels exciting because it's designed to destroy the old one, but after that... Btw, I also love travelling.
I hope you are right that these decentralized technologies will continue to help us live more free lives. Steemit is proof for me that that hope is at least a valid one. Thanks for the interesting read.
Maybe not full, but likely to be part of the solution.
Spending time at different places will surely enhance your view on the world (and its problems). I could think of some things to do if I would have 30 weeks a year to help humanity instead of the tax man ;)
What do you have in mind?
Work with handicapped people, visit and talk to elderly people, go to third world countries and try to set up projects (schools etc).
Great post @kevinwong !!
I want to be one of those new world nomads :D
I feel that nowadays people take longer to settle down and marriage is no longer the big thing it used to be. Times are changing, what used to be normal is now old-school and antique. But I like changes... I think they mean growth .
So... lets see where are we heading :D
Thanks for sharing !!!
That was quite the story and deep too. It would be an adventure to live the life of a nomad. I think we have got too settled in to the people grid and were designed to travel and explore and learn and grow.
This site and the thinking behind it like yourself and many others are like the rabbit hole or the blue red pill theory. Once you start to read articles like this it makes you think hard about what your doing in life and what can change! Thx!
I can imagine in the future a Amazon Prime Membership for everything. Housing, food, stuff. Pay a monthly flat fee and get access! :)
Is amazon showing signs of that happening?
Yes, look at the recent Whole Foods acquisition.
Being able to work from my computer and become a nomad would be my dream. I love your vision of the future it is very fitting with mine. The biggest problem for me will be the energy transition to renewable energy
Isnt already happening? Well i just read online news every once in a while.
I may be settled but by having no risk and everything being rigidly controlled in my life it begins to, I guess it get s boring and I have a burning desire to do more with my life.
I guess I may suffer from PNSD
aka quarterlife / midlife crisis lol. society is also having one atm.
I do not really understand about stress disorder, let alone as you mentioned that the tendency to settle for long periods is included in one of its categorization. Being a nomad is an alternative to mengantiaipasi it as well melalukan something new and better than ever. Hehehe...
I guess you're a very very free-spirited person then :)
The reason? I am so confused
Love this! Upvoted and resteemed!
Thank you! @carry0n
This is my dream to go explore the world, travel and meet new people. Maybe steemit will give us this freedom. Time will tell.
Indeed, no harm trying :) Steem on!
Deep thoughts. I love it! This will take some time to digest.
" felt like there's something missing in life"
I would call it our craving for consciousness expanding experiences, both physical and cognitive. or simply "missing adventure" :-)
"To be honest, I didn't understand much of it, but it was still an interesting read. "
It requires a skill to write in non-pretentious way so everyone can understand ;-)
“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” - I am itching to comment with on that article lol
Very interesting points about nomadism vs technological and scientific progress. I have just posted about automation and technological abundance.
This is what we ask for. This is the future, we can now exit the matrix. Man your story is like a movie playing in my head!
Great post that we can really relate too as we chose to be nomadic 4yrs ago. Best thing we ever did. :)
Thank you for this post I really enjoyed it :) resteemed
I had never heard that quote by seneca, awesome!
haha thought u would've known, looking at ur username ^^
should have :-D
This is amazing. Thank you!
fly!
i'm totally about that life, my next post will reflect that! :)
quality content, I follow you.
It's my first time reading full long article on steem. It's already a miracle.. Actually it's interesting :)
Thanks for checkin it out then!
Every morning I wake up in the morning, always so every day, through that path again, I want another one, I do not want my life to continue like this, want to go to neighboring country, but have no passport, who gave me free path, nomadic fate reply confused!!
This is amazing post! Glad to read it. Thanks for sharing.
Good post @kevinwong I hope I can learn a lot from you
wow... You sure know how to make a good post...
I love whoever designed that building...
@pocketechange
It's by one of Samsung's department i think..
thank you for good posting.
Your posts are really cool, can I please ask you for a huge favour to resteem my last introduceyourself post, I'm trying to get up to 50 followers, will do anything back to help you!!!
I foresee two drastically different versions of the future of our planet and humanity. I believe our triumph our downfall will ultimately come from Artificial Technology. In the positive future, I see AI and robots coming up with a solution to things we humans cannot (eliminating the billions of pieces of trash in the ocean, somehow reversing climate change). However, in the negative visions of the future I see humans driven underground due to unliveable conditions on the surface. Basically my point is that individuals should live their lives in the true "YOLO" spirit and do everything they can to break away from the system and live a rewarding life.
This might be my favorite thing about steem. I scrimp and save and run away, over and over again — love the world with passionate eyes and every bit of my being. And what I can't see and love myself, someone here can show me vividly. It's kind of magic. :)
Congratulations @kevinwong
You took 72 place in my Top 100 of posts
My friends call me a 21st century hippie, and I'm happy to be one! Another bigass word to add to your list :)
You're a great dad. I wouldn't know how i'd be one, which is why it's not even on my mind yet. Zero commitments on my side. Well except for a puppy i'm taking care of now so it's not easy to travel for long periods of time. I think nomadism will get much easier over time, just waiting for more stuff to get decentralised. I think peer2peer trust networks are the future. If I want to go travelling around, I think i should be able to find some Steemian for a place to stay for a short while if I ask them.
I'm hodling alright.. Steem on man :D thanks for dropping by