Dating for digital nomads

There are many reasons for a decision to move around the world as a digital nomad. What they all have in common, however, is probably the desire to get to know something new. Or also: someone new. One would think that this shouldn’t be a big issue. But it is. That alone shows the multitude of special apps and Facebook groups on dating for digital nomads. Complicated thing …

As a digital nomad, you leave many things at home — environment, friends, social contacts, family, security, and much more. Sometimes even a relationship that has just ended. So out into the world, new and new Latvians are everywhere. Whether in coworking places, in cafés in relevant digital nomad hotspots, on the train, on the beach, or wherever. And even if some digital nomads like to say that they prefer to be on their own — the human being is and remains a social creature and contacts and interactions are vital for survival. My opinion. So let’s leave aside the aspect of networking, which is essential for professional success.

Loneliness as the greatest challenge for digital nomadism

Questions like “What are your greatest challenges as digital nomads?” are regularly asked in various forums. And just as regularly, the number one answer is Loneliness. Although it’s really easy to connect quickly, and the number of friends on Facebook on the move is skyrocketing. Here you should simply distinguish between friends and acquaintances and people who might be a little more interesting to you. A few days in a coworking place and you’ve met lots of people. But unfortunately, these are mostly just superficial acquaintances. But the desire for a more serious or even firm relationship is imminent — and many a one breaks. And this is where great advantages of digital nomadism become even greater disadvantages:

Time and freedom …

Simply described: Imagine you arrive in-country or city X. You will quickly find your connection. You will quickly find someone who interests you a little more. But unfortunately, this person is on the way to country or city Y. You have maybe two or three days to get to know each other better. Difficult … Then for one of you, this means changing your plans if you want to give it a chance. This may sound easy, but it is rare. You’re just about to arrive and take a breath, but the other one has bumblebees in his ass and has already booked the next stage. So what to do? Change your plans, go along? And after two weeks realize that this isn’t the yellow of the egg after all? In a place where you didn’t want to go? That’s a risk very few people take.

Leave it to chance?

Sure, you can say what happens, it happens. This also applies to many areas, but less so to relationships, partnerships, and love among digital nomads. At the most with short adventures. And then? Be honest with yourself: Could you imagine, after a short affair, no matter how beautiful it was, simply throwing all your plans out of whack and flying after someone halfway around the globe? Life as a digital nomad is in itself marked by imponderables, something like that is in a potentized form. I admit: I don’t know if I would do that. So many people rely on meeting by chance someone who will be in one place with you at least a little longer. It seems to rarely work, though…

Digital can help

Everyone knows Tinder and other dating apps, they are mostly location-based. In the last few years, a large number of dating apps have been added especially for digital nomads — mostly developed by digital nomads (just google: “Dating App Digital Nomad”). The differences to the well-known apps are mostly that there are special features that would be irrelevant for conventional apps. For example, you can store your travel plans in your profile, i.e. when you will be where and for how long. That is a big difference. Also in terms of interests and preferences (not necessarily sexual), other things can be highlighted here. For example, at Tinder in Germany “Reisefreudig” means vacation. Well, for digital nomads more: not longer than a few days in one place. Then there are also languages, hobbies, and Co. For digital nomads, this has a very, very different meaning. If someone in Germany tells me that she likes yoga, okay, then she goes to a studio twice a week in the evening — and I go to the cinema or to a pub to play billiards. Done, no problem. Do you know what I mean?

The “latest” trend: speed dating

I mentioned it at the beginning, time together is a critical factor. All the more astonished I had to notice lately that speed dating is becoming more and more popular among digital nomads. Somehow strangely, I thought to myself, that this fits zero, doesn’t it? Three days to meet someone is a short time, but now in 15 minutes? And then online? Okay, that’s also available offline in hotspots like Bali or Thailand, but now: online speed dating with someone who is 10,000 kilometers away? I didn’t do that — for personal reasons and also not to research this. I don’t think that’s morally right. So I interviewed a few people who did it:

As you’d expect, there were very different opinions. Some found it great, some disgusting. One woman reminded me of the savings bank advertising of a few years ago with “My house. My car. My yacht.”. In just a few minutes you can check out everything that matters — how long you’ve been on the road, how many countries, which next destinations, jobs, desire for children, hobbies. Done. Only a bit different and more extreme than she was used to from Germany. If it was not mentioned in the first sentence that you find surfing and tattoos cool, it was for example immediately Sense. Others, however, were almost enthusiastic, they said that they had saved a lot of time and energy and were happy with it. Just make up your mind …

One way or another.

Like a lot of things: there’s no magic formula. There is no patent remedy in Germany either. So why should there be one when traveling abroad? Just try a few things, you’ll soon find out what you prefer. Wait and see and hope for coincidence (which can happen, there are many great stories where it worked out that way) or go on the offensive.

Maybe you now think to yourselves: “What’s all this shouting? It’s not all that wild!”. Yes, that may be so for some people. Then that’s good. For many, it is not. Social isolation (I don’t mean hundreds or thousands of new Facebook friends) is a real sticking point. Especially when you’re on the road for a long time. In the beginning, it’s still an adventure, sometimes even coming to terms with a failed relationship, living free and easy, and all that. But that changes over time. Not visas or jobs or anything like that is the big digital nomad problems. Rather the point is that it’s better to deal with everyday problems together with one person and discover the world.