So much of what we see online is all about self-promotion and visibility (joining Facebook groups and commenting on blog posts are even recommended as marketing techniques!). Even in Facebook groups that are generally helpful and supportive, there are often posts that are focused on selling or promotion rather than getting or offering support.

Amongst the veiled (or not so veiled) promotion and other noise of the internet, it’s hard to get the information you need. The anonymity of the internet also seems to give people permission to be assholes, and makes it harder to find a safe space to share your dreams and struggles. (When I was saving and scheming for my round-the-world trip, I was paranoid about my boss and coworkers finding out before I was ready for them to know my plans, so I had a password-protected blog just for a small group of friends and family who supported my big ideas. These days, thanks to the growth of social media, it’s even harder to know who’s watching when we post things online.)

But there are great communities out there, if you can find them.

I’m happy to say that in my community, the Nomadtopia Collective, members have also found a useful, welcoming, and supportive community. They’ve told me how refreshing it is to be part of a community where people understand what they’re going through and they can speak freely without fear of being shut down or judged, and where they don’t feel like they’re being sold to. Of course, we all need to make a living, so we have a separate area for promotion and collaboration, and the majority of the conversations in the Collective are focused on every aspect of location-independent living, from sorting out communication plans to staying productive on the road.

Here are just a few examples of the level of support and connection happening in the Collective:

• One member, within 24 hours of joining, connected with two other women who are moving to or have lived in the same place she’s planning to move, and they have already shared lots of helpful resources with her and are coordinating to meet up when they’re all in town in March.
• Another member had a client freak out after seeing her social media posts about travel and volunteering. In the Collective, she received plenty of ideas and support from others about how they would handle or have handled similar situations.
• Someone else was struggling to maintain her personal practices while on the road, and Collective members shared their own experiences, challenges, and strategies.
• One member was trying to decide where to go during a short break between housesitting stints, and got great feedback on both places (which helped him realize he actually wanted to go somewhere else entirely!).
• And yet another member, questioning whether her nomadic days were coming to an end, received a reassuring outpouring of support and guidance as she considers this big change.

When you join a community where people truly care about each other and are focused on sharing knowledge and creating community, you’ll feel more supported and confident about the path you’re on, and you’ll reach your goals faster.

If you’re focused on creating—and living—the best version of your Nomadtopia, we’d love for you to join us in the Nomadtopia Collective.

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