Is it too late to become a digital nomad at 40?

I became full-time nomadic when I was in my mid 60’s. Now in my 70’s. I developed my job and had it firmly tucked into my laptop before I started, but age is really immaterial, and as for being in your 40’s – well, my kids are that old.

Kind of sad that this sort of question has to be asked at all and is probably a reflection of the ageist society that many of us live in.

Not at all. Just take the plunge. You won’t regret it! Good luck!

Well, Im am 53 myself and i startd a year ago.
And i am not old.
so , i’d say … go 4 it!

You might feel isolated agewise - most digital nomads start of young and then quit after a few years. Most older digital nomads stop as their business gets more successful (my wife and I have already circled the globe a few times, now we’re more likely to find a nice place and do work, rather than socialize or interact much). I’ve still met quite a few digital nomads in their 40s, but they usually have several businesses and aren’t at the ‘basic mindframe’ that newbies would be, so you might not have much to talk about. Plus the pool is smaller, it’ll be harder to find a few you get along with. That said, everyone should build an online business if they can for more freedom and stability… good luck with yours!

Never is late!!
Always is time to do everything you can or want to do!!! And if you want to work remotely and can do it, try it!!

I started this year at 39 so it is possible!

There are definitely worse ways to celebrate a mid-life crisis.

Kidding aside, it’s a lifestyle so I don’t believe age has anything to do with it. Is it too late to become a vegetarian at 40? We are in our early-thirties and have met up with my wife’s great aunt and her husband in South Africa and Thailand. They’re in their 70’s and travel 9 months out of the year. They’re retired, but it just goes to show that age should not be a factor in deciding to travel.

@roadwalker did you end up taking the plunge? I too started life as a digital nomad in my 40s and have never looked back. I even think after spending so many years in the corporate world, you appreciate the freedom so much more (if you are that way inclined).

I went to the Nomad Summit in Chiang Mai earlier this year and there were 350 other digital nomads there but what surprised me was that the average age looked older than what I thought it was going to be.

43… need doing this almost 10 years… and plan on at least another 10

Go for it! I plan to hit the road when my kids are grown and I’m 50.

@dangermouse117 we had CompuServe and The Source from 1979 as I recall.

Signing up for dialup service in the UK was “interesting”. 50 bps uploads. At the end of the month a printout of every connection with stats on a giant pile of 11x15 inch paper.

Yes, it was different. But you could still work and create for customers in other countries.

It’s never too late. In fact, it’s more ‘crazy’ to do the same old thing year after year, wondering what if. I took the plunge earlier this year at 40 (and get taken for mid 20’s). I’m now back in the states and will be more of a part time nomad, as I need several specific social/interest/activity circles which don’t exist internationally.

However, you have the skills and the drive, so go for it. It sounds like you’ve saved a good amount of money and don’t have dependents either, like myself.

It’s too YOUNG if anything! Just remember that most people wait until they retire to see the world! I’m in my upper 40s and worked remotely abroad in 1993 before digital and started a company in Asia to be able to work internationally on digital media in 2005.

Do you want to be 70 seeing the world, when your body is frail, or do you want to see it when you are full of energy?

I’m 42 and also just took the plunge. I procrastinated for many many years and found lots of ways to justify being locked into the same 9-5 (gear buying rampages, new work challenges, just need to save a bit more money, just need to speak perfect German etc etc).

When I finally quit it was the easiest thing and I think I finally earned some respect then too. I had been there for 13 years and I just walked out the door without giving a shit. And I also learned a big lesson, which was that everything I had poured into that job was for nothing, or at least, it was done for me and not for the company.

I’m freelancing at the moment, and the work came to me through previous contacts. Although I’m working on the other side of the world, in many ways it’s no different to sitting in that office. But when I’m brave enough to commit to the next step and set up my own business, I think pouring energy into my work will become a lot more satisfying.

So I wholeheartedly encourage you to let that safe job go and just see what happens. There will always be dev opportunities, but there will also be oodles of spare time to think about what you could really be doing with all your talent and energy. Go!!

It is funny that Silicon Valley is now ageist. When I arrived there at age 27, the great thing was that everyone believed I could work at or do a startup. Everywhere else, people thought you had to have years of experience and wouldn’t talk to a young person. That is why I moved there.

Now, I see no ageism in the valley if you present as an angel investor

Enjoying Paris this week. Arriving in Silicon Valley next week for a month. Gotta keep moving…

Hey there, with 53 I can’t beat @geonomad of course, but then I just started the nomadic way of life this year. I think open-mindedness and a certain go-getter attitude are the main prerequisites of this life style. Fear is not real, it exists only in your head.

65 now and a digital nomad since I was 34.

There is no such thing as too old.

Geez and I thought I was old by SV ageism standards at 34 (soon to be 35). My gravatar is from my college years btw apparently. I need to update that lol

I really dont care about age and generally love hearing about “good old days” type stories. No idea where the ageism comes from gen-y looks more and more stupid to me every year because of it

Yep! Lots of us are higher up in age. As old habits go, give yourself room to slowly ease into new situations… and have fun with it! You get to craft your own lifestyle, so get active in that process and enjoy.

43 here too, also a dev, I’ve never felt so young! I’m in Malta, moving to the Canary Islands next month for winter. I’ve got a great remote job with a (french) startup.

As the well-worn quote from George Eliot goes:

“it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

I’m 43 and I’ve been nomading since I was 31. I love hanging out with a broad spectrum of age ranges, from the 20 YO newbies, to the 60+ veteran expats.

Ageism is a thing in Silicon Valley, sure, but makes no difference in the online world that we inhabit.

I also started at 39, just a couple of months before turning 40, although I had been mentally preparing for a few years before that (while shedding personal possessions – mostly by giving them away). Had my 40th birthday dinner in Paris, at La Coupole. This may not sound exotic if you’re from Europe, but for me it was a big step.

Love this thread!

I just recently quit my job after a 25 year career in technology to become a digital nomad. To me age is a state of mind and you are never to old when it comes to following your passion.

BTW - just turned 50 back in September and couldn’t be happier.

The best time to start was yesterday. Failing that, today will do

i’m not sure why you think you can’t remain an employee since it seems to be the freelancing part that’s freaking you out…

thanks a lot for your replies. Very inspiring. Age could be a barrier in some countries for developers (for example in italy at 36 you are already out of market).
I did not figure out there were so many people going nomads in the 38-50 range.
I think my fear is also related to the needed change from employee to entrepreneur approach.
I worked as employee for 12 years…

Hi @roadwalker, definitely go for it like others are saying. It would be a fitting destiny for your pseudonym ‘roadwalker’! But try some freelance work on platforms like elance (and other ways, see other threads) in order to grow confidence and prepare for a good start.

Checking in at 43 here, and I second other’s words of encouragement.

You’ve got the right skillset to make a go of it.

Go for it.

There are some older nomads on the road, some older than myself here in Saigon.

Honestly, I never really think about age much, and age doesn’t come up much here. Some of my friends are in their early 20s - some much older and many run the spectrum.

I am 43. I started with my current nomad lifestyle when I was 41. Met a couple the other day who are also just starting with their nomad lifestyle and the guy is in his early 50s.

For me it was the best decision of my life. What have you got to lose? You have skills which are in demand, and if you find that this is not for you, you can always go back to your old lifestyle. At least you’ll take comfort in the fact that you have explored this opportunity.

And I’m 49. Believe it or not, 49 isn’t actually old. In fact, if you go nomad, you’ll be younger longer.

well, i’m 41 so I say go for it. Devs are always in demand if you have good skills. you can freelance or you can get a job with a different company that allows remote work. There are lots of opportunities out there.