Is There a Hidden Cost to Being a Digital Nomad?
October 27th, 2009 | by Leanne Chase
Okay all you digital nomads. Today’s query is for you.
I’m sitting in a hotel restaurant using my reasonably priced Boingo internet hook up. And I’m eating breakfast. I live two blocks away, but was bored working from home…so I’ve come to be amongst people.
I love being a digital nomad…but I wonder the real cost. Because you see I can’t go into a Starbucks, McDonald’s, a bookstore cafe, wifi cafe and not order something. I feel like the cost of me taking up space is a hot chocolate or french fries or a cupcake. So this wifi access that seems reasonably priced…actually costs a bit more every month. In dollars and workout time 
Is it just me? Can you sit at a place where you may even pay for internet, but not purchase an item directly from the store/cafe?
5 Comments
From Twitter: DocGrawitch @leanneclc Isn’t that one of the expected consequences? They don’t do it just to be kind, do they?
I agree they aren’t doing it just to be kind. They are trying to drive traffic to their store in hopes of getting more business. However, I have had other nomads tell me I’m being silly and ordering is not mandatory…unless explicitly stated somewhere in the store/cafe.
Not too big a price to pay for being mobile. IMAO
I drink coffee all day when I work from home anyways, so I have no problem spending a few bucks to take up residence at a coffee shop for the day. I consider it part of the monthly office rent I save by working from home.
Plus, I’ve figured out a bit of a schedule. For example, on Mondays, Caribou Coffee has their regular coffee for $1. I can handle that. I don’t think I could walk in and sit down without buying something, though.
Just did a video about working from places like coffee shops last week: http://bit.ly/4Aiitx
Great follow on this concept by workshifting – about the health of what/how we eat as digital nomads:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/notes/workshifting/is-your-workshifting-diet-killing-you/348773750539