Life Nomadic: Welcome to Life Nomadic

We sold everything we owned other than two small backpacks crammed with cutting edge gear, and chased our whims around the world.

We ran with the bulls in Spain, sat under the cherry blossom trees in Tokyo, explored the catacombs of Paris, rode 4x4s across the dunes of Qatar, marched in the Carnaval parades of Panama, and a whole lot more.

This year we have a lot more planned, along with plenty of time to fill with whatever last minute adventure catches our attention.

And even better, we're blogging about it exclusively for Gadling. Our goal this year is to show you what it's like to be a modern day nomad, how to do it, and also how to use some hardcore nomad strategies to make regular travel even better.

We have three main principles that we follow, which you will hear a lot more about:

1. Versatility
   
   We aim to be as versatile as possible. We pack extremely light, but with enough gear to cover any likely contingency. My small 28 liter pack has enough gear to keep me warm in 10 degree Toronto (where I write this from) and cool in 90 degree Panama (where I head this week).
   
   Our incomes are unbound from any location and we've developed good work habits to put in a full effort from anywhere in the world.
   
   We have no obligations back home to pull us back or encumber us while we're gone.
   
   On top of all that, we eat healthy foods and exercise so that we can hike a few miles through the mountains just as easily as we can flop down on a hammock on the beach.
   
   
2. Technology
   
   We use the latest technology available to fuel our worldwide adventures. Not just electronics, although we're packed to the gills with those, but cutting edge clothing technology (more exciting than it sounds...) and even camping gadgets.
   
   Beyond what we carry, we use technology to keep in touch with family and friends all around the world as well as to generate enough income to fund our nomadic lifestyles.
   
   
3. Deep Experience
   
   Our backgrounds and available time pose some restrictions, but we try to live like natives rather than trample the country like tourists.
   
   We try to learn the language of anywhere we stay for at least a month, rent apartments rather than hotels, and spend our time exploring the city rather than hopping from one Carlos and Charlie's to the next.
   
   Whenever we're able to make friends with locals we get a much richer experience, and we follow their recommendations on where to visit.
   
   

Whether you're a fellow nomad, someone who plans to go nomadic eventually, a hardcore traveler, or even just an occasional traveler who wants to get more from his trips, I hope that we'll be able to provide you with inspiration as well as practical tips.

There are a couple things I'd like from you:

1. Your questions. Every week I will write an "Ask a Nomad" column. E-mail me directly at tynan DOT gadling AT weblogsinc DOT com and you may find your question answered right here.
   
   
2. Your feedback. We're nomads because it makes our lives better, but we write to try to make your life better. If you let me know which articles you like and which you don't like, I can do a better job covering topics you're interested in. Again, my e-mail is tynan DOT gadling AT weblogsinc DOT com.
   
   
3. Subscribe. You can subscribe to the Gadling feed here, or to Life-Nomadic-only posts here.