Because many people in our lives don’t understand our goals or lifestyle, and we’re often moving around—which sometimes makes it harder to meet like-minded people in person—it makes sense for nomads and location-independent professionals to seek out community online. But it can be hard to find places where we feel like we truly belong.

In my experience, it is difficult (though not impossible) to create deeper connections with people I meet on Facebook, such as through nomad groups. And, because many of these communities aren’t curated in any way and are open to everyone, the type of people I want to meet often don’t join these groups or it’s hard to find them within the group.

It’s even more challenging if you feel like you don’t fit in with the typical “digital nomad” culture (or don’t like the term at all, like me). Many digital nomads who are more active and vocal online are in their 20s, without a lot of life, travel, or business experience. That’s great, but groups full of newbies don’t provide the best access to the information and resources that come with more time in business or on the road. Plus, in many nomad groups I’ve found lots of people who are focused on showing off their lifestyle and judging how others choose to live rather than truly supporting one another.

There is a huge variety of nomads and location-independent professionals out there, including plenty of people in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. There are also a lot of people who built successful businesses long before they realized they had the freedom of location independence, and/or who have been doing this since before it was a “thing.” (Like me: I’m 42, and I’ve been location independent since 2004 and working for myself since 2005.)

This is yet another reason I created the Nomadtopia Collective. It’s the place to connect with a more varied collection of location-independent voices. It’s a community of people with a wide range of experience and expertise, focused on creating location-independent life and work that is sustainable and meaningful to them. There’s no grandstanding, and no judgment of how other people are living their lives. All this means you’ll get more support to create—and improve on—your own location-independent lifestyle. And by creating a shared experience in our dedicated, private space (with virtual hangouts and other events!), members of the Collective are able to connect on a deeper level and create a true sense of community.

In the Nomadtopia Collective, you’ll find people in their 20s and 30s all the way up to late 60s. There are people who’ve been in business a long time, experienced nomads and expats, newbies, and everything in between. I believe that the mix of both experienced voices and fresh perspectives benefits us all.

But don’t take my word for it! Here’s a testimonial from a current member of the Collective:

In the Collective, I have found many pertinent and engaging conversations on a wide range of topics. I also found many voices that aren’t always front and center in other groups that cater to nomads, which is quite refreshing. As a more experienced nomad, I’m enjoying the new connections, the plethora of ideas being shared, and the opportunity to feel like a useful contributor.
—Naomi Peters

Click here to get more details and join the Nomadtopia Collective.