Sunday, July 26, 2009

Digital Nomad Bleg

Interesting article here, especially if you are a would-be "digital nomad". Though I think the folks in this article are doing it with a lot more "meaning" than I, the concepts are still relevant.

My new job is one in which I am "at work" wherever my computer and brain are. I'm in the process of setting up an nice "home office" in the Kitten's garage (semi-finished), and my employer has graciously provided me with the tools and permission to pursue my living in this manner.

Mostly, I work out of the garage and the apartment in Arlington. But the Arlington pad has become an expensive convenience, and I will regrettably let its lease lapse at the end of October. Since virtually all of my "customers" are on that side of the Chesapeake Bay, I will still be spending a great deal of time in the "big city"...so I've been actively seeking places where I can kill an hour or two between meetings in active, productive work. For instance, I arrived at my Friday afternoon meeting an hour early, as the margin I'd build in for the ride from the Eastern Shore proved unnecessary. Lucky for me, the Washington Navy Yard has a nice little niche of leather couches tucked into the little promenade where the convenience store, fast-food joints, and barber shops are. So I plopped down, set up my computer with cell-card internet access, and used the time productively.

Those of you in the DC/NOVA region with other ideas on where to "nomad", please let me know.

10 comments:

Mudge said...

Coffee shops, Panera's, hotel lounges, airport. Lots of Crystal City, Ballston, Clarendon courtyards get decent wi-fi but you'll need a good battery or a small generator if you plan on killing more than an hour there on line.

Anonymous said...

Any Starbuck's or Panera's will not only allow you decent wi-fi, but you'll also get to eyeball all the hot looking pharmaceutical sales hotties checking their Facebook pages.

Ken Adams said...

Union Station isn't a bad spot, if you don't mind the crowds.

Doc Milnamo said...

If you went out and bought that Porsche 911, you'd never want to leave it. Since you already have the wireless cell card for your laptop, there's your nomadic office!

The Conservative Wahoo said...

Doc--the Jaguar XF has the inside track...

Mudge said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mudge said...

Porsche 911...Jaguar (or as Nevin so loves: Jag-wire")...apparently your conversion from metrosexual to country gentleman has taken a disappointing detour. Just how are you going to haul firewood or hay in either of those two modes of transportation? Also, isn't there a requirement that you have chest hair and gold chain necklaces to drive those cars? And that you have to wear sunglasses on top of your head?

Doc Milnamo said...

CW - Let me know what they're going to offer you for your present ride when you go to trade it in. I'd be interested in it. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

CW, If you want a nice quiet place to work, the Portrait Gallery works, wifi as well. Plenty of space in courtyard or on top floor.

Dan said...

CW -- you never had any connectivity problems checking your Match.com page in the cubicles of Crystal Mall 3.

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