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The biggest hurdle for most people wanting to live more nomadically is income. Remote jobs are becoming more commonplace, which is great, but the actual logistics of being able to work from almost anywhere can be a bit more complicated. I have tried a few different setups as far as internet and power and this is what I’m currently using to work while living in my car.
Internet Access
I was incredibly fortunate to start working remotely before the pandemic had really shut things down. At that time I was staying with my parents for a few months so I didn’t even need to consider how to work away from civilization but in May 2020 I moved into my motorhome and needed to find a solution to needing the internet.
I considered using my phone’s hotspot but my weekly video meetings pulled too much data and I didn’t want a more expensive phone plan.
For a few months, I had a second phone line from Visible. I actually really liked this setup. I had unlimited data on the Verizon network for work and meetings and for $40 a month it was super affordable. But eventually, I started having connectivity issues with my computer. At one point it refused to connect and never worked again. No amount of tech support helped. My only option was to buy a new phone.
That probably would’ve been fine but I was frustrated at that point and didn’t want to risk any further issues because I had to be able to work. So next I tried Skyroam.
I have been using the Skyroam Solis for over a year now and for the most part, it is great! It’s $110 for unlimited data. But really it’s 50gigs and after that, it is throttled a bit. But I haven’t had any issues even with multiple video calls per day.
My only complaint is that the battery life is kind of shitty. So I leave it plugged into my computer all day. Also, since it is pulling off cell towers you do have to be somewhere with phone service in order to use it. I wish I could be more remote but for now, this works. *Use my code DOGMOMINTHEWILD for 15% off!
Charging my Devices on the Road
My next hurdle was making sure I had enough power for my phone, hotspot, and computer. In my motorhome, this was simple because I had solar power. Once I switched to my car I needed a new power source. I need to keep my phone, laptop, and hotspot all charged up to be able to work so charging with my car wouldn’t work long term
I looked at various power sources but I ended up going with the Jackery 500w. I went with the Jackery because it was pretty affordable and comes with the most options for recharging; solar panels, your car’s cigarette port, or a wall outlet. Most others only had one or two options.
It would’ve been nice to get one with higher wattage but for my current needs, the 500w works great and honestly, I couldn’t spend more than that at the time. I’m only charging my phone, computer, and kindle for the most part and I use it for my electric kettle to make tea. I got the bundle with the solar panel so it’s easy to keep the power station fully powered.
I LOVE the Jackery so far! It’s easy to use, charges all of my stuff, and the solar charges fairly fast. The unit isn’t super heavy and is easy to move and store. Down the road, I may upgrade to a higher wattage but I can totally live like this!
Finding Remote Work
Despite the fact that remote work is becoming more available it can still be hard to find. Websites like Indeed are always great but it can take some time to find a good fit. I’m a big fan of Upwork for short-term freelance work. You can find all sorts of jobs and projects. Some are one-offs and others are long-term, but I’ve had great success finding jobs on there.