Often when we think about remote work and community it’s easy to imagine some sort of YouTube or TikTok dream. You know, the one where everyone lands in Bali, operates from a cool coworking (or co-living) space, and enjoy coffee and nights out together? They swap contacts and support each other, often collaborating and finding freedom and fame by the beach.
I’m sure it is like that for some people.
But for many, finding community while we work remotely isn’t that simple.
Cooper and I recently relocated back to the UK on an Ancestry Visa. We love living in England. There’s so much opportunity here professionally speaking. Socially too, in the right situation. I also love most things about working remotely. We have the tech and the know-how to get things done easily. Many employers ‘get it’ too, so there’s no clock watching across time zones – trust exists. And, there are some wellbeing benefits associated with not having to be ‘on’ all day in an office.
Why then, last weekend over lunch, did it dawn on us that we feel a bit “meh”?
What’s going on with remote work then?
A CBS report we spotted on YouTube, shared that now over 17 million Americans call themselves digital nomads. That is, they are Americans living and working in other parts of the world.
In a stat that surprised me, CBS reported that two thirds of these so-called digital nomads were not freelancing or setting up their own businesses. Not at all. They are in fact working remotely for an American-based company.
And this is just Americans we’re talking about here. What about remote workers from all other corners of the globe?
There are now dozens of countries in Europe alone that offer what’s called a Digital Nomad visa, and we’ve seen plenty more options to apply for the same sort of thing around the world. In fact, Colombia is one of the latest off the rank to offer a digital nomad visa, and it’s quickly gaining traction as one of the most popular! (count us in…one day!).
A digital nomad visa enables the holder to legitimately work remotely from a different country, complying with tax rules and enjoying temporary resident status.
‘Remote working’ and ‘digital nomads’ are not new concepts, but they are now far more common than pre-COVID. Cooper and I have been interested in this space since 2019 and I am blown away by the changes we’ve witnessed since going through a global pandemic. Obviously, there are significant workforce challenges being faced by employers due to this change, but this post isn’t about that (although with my ‘Internal Comms Manager’ hat on, I could write a few posts about it…).
I’m in a position to work remotely and experience the benefits and drawbacks of it for the first time, which is how we’ve ended up writing this piece.
Remote work and community
Back to community. I wonder if there’s a tendency to undervalue it when it’s there? From neighbours to friends and colleagues – the incidental banter, conversation and learning that goes on is important for our own development.
With millions of people around the world now working remotely, not all of them can possibly be living that happy collaborative Bali dream.
As a remote worker, you may find yourself in a country where your first language isn’t as widely spoken – this can potentially make it harder to find your tribe. Similarly, if you’re in a regional area rather than a capital or big city, there may be fewer networking opportunities.
Cooper and I have been exploring what works for us and wanted to share our experience in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.
1. Local area – sports and recreation
The first big tip from us is to find a local sports or active meetup. Often the mere act of getting involved trumps the ability to communicate in your first language. Cooper, being more sporty than me, has always made heaps of friends by proactively asking around for how to get involved in anything from footy to running clubs.
It takes a bit of guts to get yourself out there, but this path usually reaps rewards and long-term friends.
Volunteering is a great alternative if, like me, you’re not as sporty as Cooper but happy to have a chat and turn your hand to anything. There are some great opportunities happening in the UK in this space as part of the King’s coronation!
As dog owners, we also always find ‘dog people’ friends at local parks. And you should keep an eye out for interest-based meetups like Yoga or meditation workshops, creative or activity based events.
2. Find an industry conference ora remote work/digital nomad event
If you know a little about us, you have heard us rave about TBEX before. While attending something like this does mean you need to travel, there’s a high chance you’ll connect with like-minded people and form forever-friendships with people who ‘get’ what you’re doing.
There are now plenty of digital nomad and remote working conferences too, e.g. Running Remote just ran a fantastic conference in Lisbon. Again, these attract people from all different industries and parts of the world. But, everyone has the remote work aspect in common. Connections made at events like this are often life-long and continue authentically online despite distance.
3. Check what’s on offer from your company
If your workplace presents remote work as an option, chances are it’s a big enough company to be offering great opportunities for connection too. Get online and have a look over your company’s intranet or Slack/Yammer channels to discover what social groups are available for team members who share common interests and purpose.
Some of these groups offer a unique chance to not just connect, but to make a meaningful difference to company culture, ‘belonging’ and mentoring schemes. If you’re unsure where to start, get in touch with your workplace’s internal communications or HR team who I’m sure will help you out.
Showing up consistently to add your support and get involved helps to add structure and purpose in your day. And, you’re making a difference from wherever you may be.
I’ve found it’s also really important to participate in meetings and video calls where you can, even if you need to juggle time-zones. Having the chance to collaborate and brainstorm with my team mates from abroad first thing in the morning usually adds a spring to my step and sets the tone for my day.
4. Finding community online
This one isn’t so much about just adding yourself to just any Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn or Slack community. It is about finding which community resonates with you, where you hang out.
Where are you most likely to be so you can authentically interact with an online group and find real connection?
This piece by We Work Remotely offers a few handy tips on how to optimise your favourite channel (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, Slack) to make meaningful connections while you work remotely.
5. Create your own community!
Can’t find a local meetup or online community that’s right for you, or want more? You may not be alone…
Take to Facebook or Meetup and set up an event at a nearby coffee shop, pub, museum or park. You could theme it (e.g. ‘creative meetup’ or ‘expat meetup’) and see what interest you can raise. Sometimes these things take a little time too, so give it a consistent go for a few months to see who you can attract to your online or IRL meetup.
Acting as the connector yourself means you’re making a huge difference to other people. It also potentially helps to add to your professional and personal brand or reputation which can lead to new friends, business leads and opportunities of all kinds.
Here’s our story about how we accidently created our own community, and how we make the most of it now :)
Remote work resources
If you are in a similar situation to us and working remotely yourself, here’s some of our fave resources that support work/life experience in 2023:
Off grid house sitting and travel is becoming a popular way of life for many. Let’s face it, most of us want to switch off from the craziness of the world today. Living off grid is also an opportunity to practice a more sustainable way of living. When we had the chance to chat to Annemarie – an Aussie based in South America and living this lifestyle, we jumped at the chance.
Off grid house sitting and travel – living the dream?
In this episode of Freedom and Four Paws, we meet Annemarie, an Australian who has been slow travelling through Central and South America for the past few years. Annemarie offers wonderful tales of travels and friends made along the way. And, she shares excellent advice on what it takes to survive and thrive living off the grid.
If you’re wondering what the off-grid lifestyle looks like, Annemarie says it is a dream for her. BUT it’s probably not for everyone. That’s where house sitting is a great chance to dip your toes in to see if it is for you.
Getting into off-grid living
Annemarie’s initiation to off the grid living came about by chance.
A friend asked her to come to Costa Rica to help him set up an off the grid art eco events centre on his permaculture farm. Her off-grid experience there lasted seven months where she quickly learned what it takes to survive.
By definition, off-grid living usually means you’re relying on your own energy and water supplies. It also comes with nurturing your own food and learning to truly appreciate all living things around you. An attractive proposition for many of us!
To become accustomed to jungle life, like in Annemarie’s case, you need to be able to cope with isolation, be good with your hands, calm and adaptable.
“You are off grid. There’s no shop, there’s no letter box, there isn’t anything,” explains Annemarie.
Find out more by watching her interview – click to play above
Annemarie shares that it’s important to continue to develop and foster relationships with locals where you live too – often leads come in that way.
Additionally, join community groups in your area, on and offline. Let people know what you do – tell them you do house sitting and people will soon reach out to you. “House sitters are in demand everywhere,” Annemarie tells us.
Annemarie’s top house sitting and off-grid travel tips
Anne Marie’s biggest tip to finding work and getting involved in the community is through WhatsApp.
She tells us that in many countries, including South and Central America, many businesses don’t have a website, they utilise WhatsApp.
A few key ways to finding work on the road:
Join community groups in the region – network and get to know people
Groups (including online like Facebook, or offline in networks) are the best way to find out anything
Tell people what you do – you can’t sell a secret
Engage, develop relationships and opportunities open up!
Join us on our podcasting adventures as we hear inspiring stories from amazing people traveling the world. They’re living their best life, often with their pets in tow!
Subscribe now and never miss an episode featuring excellent tips on how to slow travel, successfully work remotely or as a digital nomad, and house + pet sit. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. Search ‘Freedom and Four Paws’
Freedom and Four Paws is brought to you by Travel Live Learn.com.
As a valued audience member, enjoy 10% OFF at our affiliate partner Cloudy – relieve stress throughout the day straight to a soothing sleep at night, visit trycloudy.com and use the code FREEDOM10.
And if you’re a fellow traveller and pet lover who is keen to share your story and inspire the world, visit exhalemediagroup.com and mention FREEDOM20 for 20% OFF any purchased service including personalised storytelling coaching.
If you’re obsessed with The Crown like we are, then you’ll be excited for King Charles III coronation in London! Whether you’re a Royalist or not, it’s difficult to underplay the significance of this event. The British Monarchy has survived while so many other hugely important dynasties of the past have crumbled. And of course, we’ve not seen anything of this magnitude since 1953 when Queen Elizabeth took the crown.
The history of it all is intriguing, and we get to live it in 2023!
King Charles III coronation in London
We’ve been lucky enough to be in London for the two Royal weddings that took place over the past ten years. Not only is this city full of extraordinary energy, but adding a celebratory Royal event makes it a city-wide party! With the King’s coronation, the wonderful three-day affair, Londoners are preparing for a grand celebration.
To help you get in on the action, we’ve pulled together the top five ways Londoners will be celebrating as King Charles III officially takes the crown. The streets will be lined with Union Jack flags and the sounds of fanfare music will fill the air. Secondly, public viewing screens will be erected across the city, giving everyone a chance to watch the historic moment. Street parties will take place across the city, with communities coming together to celebrate – read more about this below. Also, museums and galleries will hold exhibitions and events to commemorate the occasion. Of course, the city’s restaurants and bars will be offering special menus and drinks, so be sure to indulge in some of the culinary delights on offer.
How Londoners will celebrate the coronation in 2023
1. We will line the streets to see the coronation procession!
On the morning of 6 May, the King and Queen Consort will depart Buckingham Palace and travel to Westminster Abbey. The coronation church since 1066, the Abbey is over 1,000 years old. Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather along the route and throughout St James Park to witness this historic moment. A procession will occur before and after the coronation service, as they return to the Palace.
To learn more about the coronation long weekend, the procession, and other future royal events, visit royal.uk.
Obviously you can still enjoy these locations if you’re in London in the future. Indeed you can visit both Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey for a fee. Reservations are required to join a tour when available. More information can be found online by searching for the place you wish to visit.
St James Park is among the eight magnificent royal parks in London and is situated adjacent to Buckingham Palace. It is free to explore. To learn more, visit here.
2. Party with the people and ‘The Big Lunch’
Across the long weekend, everyone in the UK is invited to bring their neighbours and community together. We can host street parties or set up our own Big Lunch. At the time of publishing, over 7,000 parties have been registered across the country!
Furthermore, we know that when these events take place, there is a happy air about the place. People really do get together to celebrate, creating a sense of togetherness that is unparalleled. It’s amazing! In fact, this is a moment in history that people here will remember for our whole lives.
In case you miss the street parties, there are other ways to enjoy the festivities. For instance, the pub culture in England is something altogether unique! You can book a spot at your favourite pub or restaurant and enjoy the celebrations with your friends and family. This is how we celebrated Harry and Meghan’s wedding, at one of our fave London pubs, The Narrowboat.
Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to iconic landmarks. Not only are many steeped in Royal history, like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, but there are also year-long activities being held at many famous places around London to mark the coronation.
On the coronation long weekend, many Londoners will visit somewhere like Hampton Court to enjoy garden parties and celebrations on the property’s beautiful grounds. Additionally, Windsor Castle will play host to a huge concert on Sunday 8 March. Furthermore, a lottery was run via the BBC and 10,000 lucky people have scored free tickets to this momentous show.
For anyone coming to London in the future, a little tip is to check out the Historic Royal Palaces site to see if a membership might save you some money on entry fees. Moreover, the HRP pass grants access (and sometimes special privileges) to a number of sites, including Hampton Court, the Tower of London, and Kensington Palace. To find out more, visit their website.
4. Be of service – volunteering, The Big Help Out
King Charles is patron of over 400 charitable organisations. It’s no surprise that as part of the celebrations, we are encouraged to give back too. On Bank Holiday Monday a nation-wide initiative The Big Help Out will take place. Over 1,500 organisation are registered. We can pop our postcode into The Big Help Out app to find out how to help out in our area.
It’s a positive way to make a difference, mark this momentous occasion and make new friends.
If you’re not here for the coronation long weekend, there are always plenty of ways you can get involved in the community. Start by getting in touch with a cause that means something to you. Or, there are often plenty of opportunities to support some of the historic properties around London and the UK. Take your pick.
5. Celebrate with fashion
All eyes will be on the Royals across the entire weekend, and keen note will be taken of what they’re wearing. You may have heard that there are rules around what is appropriate or not. Here’s some background that pertains to the Royal Garden Party attire.
Furthermore, many people will flock to the special 2023 Kensington Palace exhibition, From Crown to Couture for inspiration. Dubbed “the fashion exhibition of the centuries”, it features over 200 pieces from across history and the world – from Charles II to Lizzo and Lady Gaga!
In addition to the coronation weekend showcase, the exhibition runs from April to October 2023, providing ample time for visitors to marvel at the collection. Moreover, Kensington Palace is always worth a visit, with a revolving door of exhibitions every year, so if you miss this one, don’t worry. The area is also brimming with fun activities, food and shopping, all of which you can read more about here.
Shop all things Cool Britannia!
Drop into our Amazon store and get yourself some cool merch for this special year!
In this episode of Freedom and Four Paws, tune in for an inspiring chat about solo travel and house sitting for women. We meet Aussie Beth Wilkinson who’s been house sitting her around the globe looking for a second home. Four years later, she is still searching – but in a beautiful way!
Finding a way into solo travel and house sitting for women
After 18 months being stuck in North America due to COVID, Canada finally lifted restrictions on international travel. As a result, Beth quickly discovered on Facebook groups that:
Australians she knew there were eager to visit family and friends back home;
Many of these expats needed someone to look after their pets – this is how Beth fell into house sitting!
She quickly developed a positive reputation and people started reaching out for her to house and pet sit.
It was actually Beth’s Mum who suggested she use house sitting as way to travel outside of Canada.
In the past four years, she has now visited Europe, America and South America. This is a fantastic example of how house sitting opens up the world for travellers. We hear similar tales from the likes of Lisa who now makes money from pet care and house sitting; and the Frugal Travellers who have a successful YouTube channel about the topic too!
What we learn from travel
Through her solo adventures Beth has been able to push through her fears and any limitations which may have subconsciously restricted her.
The experience she has created means she’s able to apply this confidence to many social and business situations; it’s not just limited to travelling. After, backpacking solo around Mexico, Beth realised that she could adapt and in fact thrive in foreign countries where cultures and languages are very different.
Find out more, watch the interview here:
How to have the ‘remote work’ conversation with your boss
Beth works remotely full time for an employer, and this means she can live and work from anywhere she pleases.
For anyone considering this option, it’s important to have open conversations with your employer to discuss what works best for you, the business you work for, and what you can bring to your role as a remote worker and digital nomad.
The greatest benefit of solo travel as a remote worker and house sitter is being able to do what you want, wherever you want, whenever you want and not having to rely on other people’s timelines.
Beth’s best advice
Beth discovered that there is a niche for solo house sitters. In order to stand out in a competitive house and pet sitting market though, her advice is:
Join us on our podcasting adventures as we hear inspiring stories from amazing people like Beth, traveling the world. They’re living their best life, often with their pets in tow!
In this episode of Freedom and Four Paws, we know you’ll find Beth’s advice is invaluable.
👉🏻Subscribe now and never miss an episode featuring excellent tips on how to slow travel, successfully work remotely or as a digital nomad, and house + pet sit. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. Search ‘Freedom and Four Paws’
Freedom and Four Paws is brought to you by Travel Live Learn.com.
As a valued audience member, enjoy 10% OFF at our affiliate partner Cloudy – relieve stress throughout the day straight to a soothing sleep at night, visit trycloudy.com and use the code FREEDOM10.
And if you’re a fellow traveller and pet lover who is keen to share your story and inspire the world, visit exhalemediagroup.com and mention FREEDOM20 for 20% OFF any purchased service including personalised storytelling coaching.
With just two days to move in before we needed to start working, we had no choice but to furnish a flat FAST in England! We landed in the UK to live for a third time recently. But, with one difference – we had a pet in tow. Unfortunately, in our experience we didn’t find that securing a place to live with a dog was as straightforward as we’d hoped.
But, eventually we scored the right place at the right time. It came unfurnished, and it’s the first time we’ve ever chosen to furnish from scratch!
Furnishing a flat fast in England
Since we had the opportunity to design our own space, we put together a checklist of key pieces we needed:
A double desk or two minimalist desks for working from home
Office chairs that prevent RSI and back problems
Some sort of compact dining table and chairs
Sofa, TV, coffee table and TV unit (could be inexpensive and compact)
Bed and [comfortable!] mattress
Microwave, kettle, toaster (as these were not already included in the kitchen)
We do not have transport so needed to rely on some conveniences of England in terms of furnishing a flat fast.
These included:
Walkable options e.g. cheap stores like Poundland or Primark
Next day delivery services – will share our favourites below
Vintage / second hand / outlet stores we can reach on foot, as well as Facebook Marketplace if we could access on foot.
Our UK flat walkthrough: the reveal!
Find out how we furnished our flat fast in 48 hours without transport:
Our top 7 resources for furnishing a flat quickly and on a budget
A few of the places we mentioned in the video included:
Argos – next day delivery available at a timeslot you choose
Amazon – next day delivery available but sometimes difficult to track
B&M – nice quality homewares at a great price
Primark – seems to have a renewed focus on ‘home’ since we last lived in the UK; nice items that are cheap
Poundland – an awesome resource for gathering all the usual cleaning and household products that we usually take for granted because things like detergent are usually ‘just there’!
Vintage or charity stores e.g. British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Oxfam, Marie Curie shops
Furniture outlets
How to rent in England: tips for first-timers
We’ve rented five properties in eight years (across three different stints) in England. Some of these were private rentals found on Gumtree. Others were via real estate agencies. I wouldn’t say the task of finding a flat ever gets easier. However, if you’re a foreigner (expat) and you haven’t got a lot of [recent] history in the destination, you may face an administrative nightmare.
My recommendation is that you prepare. Have as much of the following information to hand as possible. This will mean you can jump on applications quickly and successfully:
A UK phone number/SIM
Have a temporary address handy, as you’re usually asked where you’re staying ‘now’
Proof of who you are (e.g. passport, drivers licence, bank statements)
Reference information (either pre-prepared written references and/or details of recent rental property agents who can attest to you being a good tenant)
Evidence of employment, particularly recent payslips and/or a contract or something official validating your income will mean far less hassle trying to secure a rental agreement
Alternatively, details of a guarantor may also be accepted
A UK bank account* – particularly so you can have funds ready to transfer as your deposit and first few weeks’ rent. Waiting for funds to transfer internationally is possible, but will take extra days which may mean you are held up on your plans to sign a contract or move in.
If you are new to the country, this can be a sticky point. Many banks will ask for an address to set up a bank account, but you almost need a bank account to secure a residential address! HSBC is known to support expats in England, although it’s my understanding that they charge a hefty fee for the privilege. Barclays let us set up an account initially when we first arrived, but I believe Santander is ok too.
The best way to seek help is to jump on an expat page on Facebook (e.g. ‘Aussies in London’) and ask for recent experience and advice. It’s a resource we wish we had have had when we first arrived in 2010!
A final note on renting a flat: furnished or unfurnished
If you’re turning up to the UK to live and work but you don’t have a job yet, or a pet, I’d advise not rushing into the rental process. Book an Airbnb to stay in for a few weeks, or a non-committal flat share. Find your feet, get a job, discover an area or two you love; get your bank account sorted and then seek an official residence.
We LOVE the UK but you need to find “your place” otherwise your experience might be less than happy which would be a huge shame. You’re far better off if you can live within an easy commute of where you work, and designing your life to optimise your experience abroad.
If you can give yourself some space and time to do that, definitely take advantage of it. We’ve learnt the hard way, and this is what I’d do differently if we had our time over again. Also don’t buy into the scaremongering around not being able to find a place to live. You will be ok. Plan ahead, ask questions and keep your cool. You’ve got this :)
Do you have additional advice to add, or a question? Let us know in the comments below.
Are you looking for how to travel on a budget, cheap or for free around the world?
In this episode of Freedom and Four Paws, we meet Frugal Travellers Mandy and Lee. They have been travelling the world on a budget for over 30 years and over 100 countries. These avid adventurers have mastered how to travel the world on a budget. Mandy and Lee share fantastic advice on how to get the most out of your money while exploring the world.
The Frugal Travellers were recently featured on CNN Chance Encounters, a show which highlights real life stories of couples who met while travelling.
How to travel on a budget: top tip, house sitting
One of the most popular topics on this website is house and pet sitting. Lee and Mandy lean on house sitting as a way to travel cheaply. Their introduction to this mode of travel came about by chance while living in Australia. At first, friends asked them to look after their pets. Word quickly spread that they were lovely and trustworthy and then referrals started to flow in.
In the years to come, Mandy and Lee joined several paid and free services that also enabled them to secure house sits.
They now house sit full time.
How to travel cheap and keep costs down
One of the couple’s success tips is to make a game out of sticking to a slim daily budget. These are a few key ways they save money while travelling:
Localised entertainment booklets which offer discount vouchers e.g. 2-for-1 deals
Following where locals in any destination buy cheap food, services and goods
International travel is available to everyone – you don’t have to be rich!
Through Lee and Mandy’s YouTube channel, their intention is to prove that you do not need to be a millionaire to enjoy a life of travel. The pair themselves embrace slow travel and the freedom it brings, and their inspiring content shows how anyone can do it.
Join us on our podcasting adventures as we hear inspiring stories from amazing people travelling the world and living their best life.
Subscribe now and never miss an episode. Each includes excellent tips on how to slow travel, and successfully work remotely. Search ‘Freedom and Four Paws’ on your favourite podcast service.
As a valued audience member, enjoy 10% OFF at our affiliate partner Cloudy. Relieve stress throughout the day straight to a soothing sleep at night. Visit trycloudy.com and use the code FREEDOM10.
If you’re a fellow traveller and pet lover who is keen to share your story and inspire the world, visit exhalemediagroup.com. Mention FREEDOM20 for 20% OFF any purchased service.
Welcome! We are Sarah + Cooper, Aussie expats living in the UK with our Westie dog, London. We like to inspire on how to travel for longer and to live and work from anywhere. Our most popular content here is about seeing the world with your pet, remote working & digital nomadism, and house + pet sitting. Create a global life of your dreams at any age! Subscribe to find out more :)
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