About Barbara Weibel

Barbara Weibel After years of working 70 hours a week at jobs I detested, I felt like the proverbial "hole in the donut" - solid on the outside, but empty on the inside. Searching for meaning in my life, I abandoned my successful but unsatisfying career and set out on a six-month solo backpacking trip around the world to pursue my true passions of travel, writing, and photography. My blog features stories about the destinations I visit, people I meet, the crazy things...Read more here....
  • Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
  • Angkor Wat Cambodia
    Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Hill Tribe Chief Northern Thailand
    Hill Tribe Chief, Thailand
  • Machu Picchu Peru
    Machu Picchu, Peru
  • Franz Josef Glacier New Zealand
    Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
  • Olympic National Park Washington State
    Olympic Peninsula, Washington
  • Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Thailand
    Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand
  • Maasai Tribe Ngorongoro Tanzania
    Maasai Warriors, Ngorongoro, Tanzania
  • Lion Serengeti National Park Tanzania
    Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
  • Chichen Itza Yucatan Mexico
    Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
  • Wat Xieng Thong
    Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Laos
  • Feast Central India
    Traditional Feast, Central India
  • China Shangahi Skyline Pudong
    Pudong Skyline, Shanghai, China
  • Honeymoon Beach Florida
    Honeymoon Beach, Florida
  • Great Wallof China Jinshanling Beijing
    Great Wall, Jinshanling, China
  • Lake Louise Banff National Park Canada
    Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Canada
  • pura ulun danu temple batur bali
    Lake Temple, Central Bali
  • Galapagos Islands Ecuador
    Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

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People describe my lifestyle in many ways. I’ve been called a digital nomad, a location independent travel writer, perpetual traveler… even an extreme telecommuter. Whatever you call it, living a nomadic life with no permanent base is emerging as a new trend around the globe. Recognizing this growing movement, Travel and Escape TV, Canada’s Travel channel, decided to document nine travel bloggers (including me) who gave up their homes to wander the world, and the reasons that drove us to make this choice.

The project was released a couple of days ago and the interviews are truly fascinating. If you’ve ever considered chucking it all to travel, or if you’re just curious about the life I lead, check out their video series they call “The New Nomads.”

Can’t view Travel and Escape’s YouTube video about digital nomads? Click here.

If you enjoyed my story, I’d appreciate it if you’d share it around to your friends and through your social circles. T+E is offering a prize of $1,000 for the video that has the most views between now and noon on March 29, 2013. Travel writing doesn’t earn me much money, so I’m always just barely scraping by and that extra grand would sure come in handy!

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18 Responses to Beyond Wanderlust: The New Nomads

  • Roser Goula says:

    You look great in the video! It is fantastic that you are now doing what you have always wanted to do. Thanks for encouraging people to discover the world. Lots of luck in this contest and in your future travels! Hope to see you back somewhere in Catalonia soon :)

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      Hi Roser! Thanks for saying so, but I think I look awful. I was drawn and wrinkled after many hours on planes. But it is what it is. Everyone ages. I just don’t like to see myself these days. Take care and hope the wedding planning is coming along!

  • I am so excited that you are on this program and that it even exists. I am also trying to fnd a way to fund my travels and become nomadic as well. I have stared a business as a home based travel agent and I love it, but I am naturally a photographer for over thirty years and am working on becoming a travel writer as well. It all goes together for me.

    This new lifestyle is definitely contagious.

    Congrats to all you have accomplished in this nomadic lifestyle.

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      Thank you Tonya! You’ve hit on the most important issue – how to make a living while traveling. But it sounds like you’ve figured out a way. Best of luck to you in your quest.

  • Laurel says:

    Great video Barbara! I’ve liked it on YouTube and shared your post on Twitter. Good luck! Your story is inspiring.

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      Hi Laurel: Thanks SO much for sharing my video. Fingers crossed I win the $1,000 prize. I could sure use the money! Hope you are having fun, wherever you are these days.

  • What a great idea from T + E! And a $1000 to boot! Just viewed your video — best of luck!

  • Great video! Do you ever miss having a home base?

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      Hi Dana: Thanks for the kind words. I don’t really miss having a home base because I’m pretty lucky to be able to come back to the Chicagoland area and stay with my father whenever I need a break from traveling.

  • Lynette Taylor says:

    Good luck…I’ll share this!

  • I enjoyed that – good to be able to see you in a video – and a very well put together video at that – and to hear your point of view.

    About a home, I like to have a table to work at, but beyond that I just like to be able to turn the key and go off on an adventure.

    If I have any pressing feeling that I need a permanent base, it is because I like to have somewhere to put a souvenir I might get on my travels. But it is not a strong feeling – I think a secure lock-up would be fine.

    My mother is alive, but both of Tamara’s parents are now dead, GRTS, and Tamara tells me I will not know how she feels in the world until I am like her (as she describes it) – an orphan.

    Personally, I think we are built to be nomads – maybe all of us. It seems healthier.

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      I don’t know about everyone else, David, but I know I was built to be a nomad. I can see myself slowing down my travels in the future, but I cannot conceive of staying in one place. Good to know there are others who feel as I do.

  • Rob says:

    Love it. I like to look at the nomad lifestyle as going rather than leaving. I will be happy to share the video and hope you win!

    • Barbara Weibel says:

      Thank you so much Rob! Lots of people have accused me of running away but I agree with you. I’m running toward something, not away.

  • Mary says:

    Hi Barbara, It was nice to hear your voice on the video. I like your story, so many people can identify with getting caught up in a corporate job – and forgetting to live. Thanks for the inspiration and Good luck with the contest.

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    any fascinating article like yours. It is lovely value sufficient for me.

    In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content as you did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever before.

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