Like many, I've always romanticized the idea of traveling long-term, all while earning my living solely through my laptop and my phone. I've loosely experimented with this, traveling for periods from a week to three months while working to some degree. In my view, this kind of lifestyle is not sustainable (at least for me), and it's not really all it's cracked up to be.
Having a quiet place to work for hours at a time isn't always easy. We've all seen the YouTube videos and Instagram photos taken by a "digital nomad" of their laptop at beach or some other place with an amazing view. Sure it looks pretty, but the idea of doing remote work from a beach is ridiculous. Following up on emails, reading reports, or heaven forbid calling a colleague is the last thing I want to do while at a beach or some other beautiful spot. It's too distracting.
Coffee shops tend to be more ideal, but in my experience it's incredibly challenging to sit for long periods in a coffee shop chair. Expecting a reasonably calm environment isn't always guaranteed, you're spending money on food and beverages, and then wireless access can be hit or miss. Also sitting at a table looking down at a screen while sitting in a non-ergonomic chair really sucks. The optimal way to do work with minimal distractions is inside an office (either home or traditional work office). Granted, I absolutely love to leave the office to go work at a coffee shop for an hour or two, but I couldn't do that for hours on end.
My final thought is that constantly moving around means you don't establish roots, community, or a sense of belonging. Traveling to places where English isn't commonly spoken, if at all, can feel isolating (and I speak from experience). Even learning the local language as best you can, you're not likely going to have deep conversations with anyone soon, unless you come across others that speak your language.
That said, I'm not trying to discourage anyone to try it, but if you're a remote worker, definitely try something short term. Regardless, I think traveling abroad and experiencing different cultures is good for you IMO.
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