The Life of a Digital Nomad: On The Move Again

Last month started at my long housesit, transitioned to a week in my home base and then finished in a new housesit on the Sea to Sky.

Signs of Spring in BC

The last time I had spent more than three months in one place was when I was living off grid in the Yukon. Three months is pretty stable for me, for now. So preparing to leave Bowen Island was kind of a big deal.

I had enough time to get attached to the community, make new long term friends, and appreciate my lovely routine. But of course, as spring bloomed in the gardens, the owners would have been eager to come home to their beautiful haven.

So on April 10, I said goodbye to my temporary winter community and on April 11, I caught the ferry and drove to Squamish.

I am incredibly lucky to have a warm and welcoming community in Squamish too. So I had a place to stay for 8 days, in between my housesits. It's pretty difficult to line up housesits perfectly so if I don't have generous friends or family around, I end up booking hotels, co-living/co-working spaces or Airbnbs, which brings up my average "rent" very very quickly. I know that extra expense will most likely have to happen again at some point this year, so I truly appreciate the help from friends. Especially this time of year, when it's still too cold to compensate and reduce my rent by camping (like I did around Labrador and Newfoundland a few months back)!

Those in-between moments are often uncomfortable, unstable and can make me question or even resent my lifestyle... So I added to my 2024 wishlist to have a crash pad of my own. Somewhere I can go that doesn't bother anyone, and where I can have all my favourite things and memories on display or actually being used. I secretly, not so secretly, cannot wait to empty my storage unit! This might be a test to my trusting and believing though, as anyone who lives in BC knows how expensive it is... so finding a small place that will still allow me to leave every once in a while without breaking the bank still feels like a dream.

New Housesit New Friend

On April 19, I packed up in Squamish and unpacked in a beautiful home, a 30min drive South, looking out on Howe Sound (and, funnily enough, at Bowen Island!). This time, I am settling in for 4 weeks. One month can sometimes feel quite long, but after a 3-month stretch, I believe this housesit will be a nice transition into being more nomadic again.

Each housesit offers the possibility of a new routine, a new perspective. As if I was temporarily immersing in someone else's life. Shopping around and discovering what I wish to keep for my future home and future chapters.

In this house, I work out on a stationary bike, spend time in a portable sauna and read my books looking at the ferries traveling to and from Horseshoe Bay. I have 2 standing desks to choose from to get my work done. And I take breaks walking the chillest and fluffiest Chow dog.

The end of the month marks the halfway point to my Sea to Sky housesit, with more breathtaking views, drives do Squamish and productive days to come before it ends.

The stability has paid off. I've negotiated an extension on a great work contract. I've also been able to put my head down and progress on some volunteering commitments I had made back in February. And I launched my Personal Impact Assessment (on which I'd love to get your feedback!).

Here's to a couple more weeks of "stability" before a more nomadic and eventful season!