Should I stay or should I go?
By: Snorre Djupesland Paulsen
Tags: Digital Nomads, Remote Working, Innovation, Personal Development, Corona

So I am really in a limbo right now. The Corona virus is changing everything. The world is in limbo as well. Nobody knows what is going to happen, but we all know it is going to be an important time in history. I am witnessing the situation from South East Asia, in what is supposed to be a period of living around the world as a digital nomad working remotely. Not much nomading, although it’s for sure going to be a lot of remote working, but from where?

Do I ride out the corona lock down here in Thailand or do I try to get back to my home country Norway? If all goes more or less well, being locked down in a luxurious Thai-Villa with a group of remote workers seems like a good prospect. Most of my work can be done from any place in the world. In case of financial collapse and panic I would definitely be safer in Norway tho.

This morning I woke up from severe pain. My ear has gotten an infection from lots of diving. As the emergency state is starting to seem more real, the feeling of potentially not being able to rely on the medical system is also becoming realer. My ear is going to be fine but it really made me think a bit….

One of my clients (❤ and friends) also challenged me to make a promise “to just have a brief look into the worst case scenario” — as a response to me being very optimistic about the whole situation. To reflect better around my options and process my position, I started writing this.

I work remotely as a freelance innovation strategist, and recently left Norway to pursue my own faith. My plan was to work my way through Asia, Africa and America doing a combination of projects with Norwegian/western clients as well as a few fun and passion projects along the road, helping local initiatives and co-creating burner events around the world. I do this to learn more about collaborative leadership and tomorrow’s societal and economic models.

Well, that didn’t go as planned. Or actually we will most certainly learn about those topics going forwards — just not in the way I thought… I obviously feel a bit sad that I cannot continue to see so many different places and get to know interesting new people on the road. But if it is one thing this trip has taught me it is to embrace the moment and work with what you got. I believe that every challenge we face is there to teach us something. So here I am, sitting on an island in Thailand — wondering what to do.

There are basically two alternatives, both involve preparing for a worst case scenario — a time of isolation. Either I stay here — prepared to have to stay here for as much as several months, or I go to my home country. Going anywhere else is out of the question as airports are the main point of spreading the virus.

So staying put is then also the most responsible thing to do in terms of the big picture. Since I am supposed to be a traveler now I technically don’t have a home, although I am Norwegian. Very happy to be part of a society where we have the highest levels of trust in the world, and a social health and welfare system.

What are we afraid of?

I think most of us agree that we personally aren’t very afraid of the direct health implications of the virus. We are afraid of people. Stupid people. Afraid of what scared and ego-centric people would do in a desperate situation. In panic from seeing a sick loved one not being able to get attention, or not able to get enough food for them. Society could collapse and total toilet paper war might break out. Which wouldn’t be a problem here as Asia seems to prefer water guns for butt cleaning. Even if it actually sounds a lot like fun to engage in a war with toilet paper rolls, let’s look at this realistically. Most nations are finally reacting in a responsible way, so hopefully the spread curve will not be so steep. But there are other great risks with all of this.

Have you noticed how much more addicted we are becoming to media and information these days? How we are developing skepticism towards other people, and generally are attracted towards more fear than usual? Imagine this snowballing in the wrong direction.

What we really have to be watching out for as a society is how this separation can be leading to lasting isolation. This is a theme that will be natural to bring to the center of the conversation as we feel the effects of isolation ourselves. Every day more people die from suicide and toxic lifestyle than the amount that has or ever will die from COVID-19. The most lethal death causes, and certainly the most lethal: cardiovascular disease relates to disconnection on many levels. Not being connected to a group fostering healthy routines for example, or not having an environment that can help you address your demons and blockages.

One of the jokes/memes that has been circulating on social media lately is around the question «If old people don’t care about climate change why should young people care about the corona spread?». The answer to that question in my eyes is that this is the moment in time where we all have the chance to show leadership. Show those who don’t believe in collective action or responsible change that it is possible.

That being said. Chances are that a panic is going to look worse here in Thailand. A lot of people living from hand to mouth and not the health system we are used to in the west. Although it is pretty good here compared to many other Asian places, if something else were to happen at the same time such as an ear infection or on a more societal level, such as a tsunami — the situation would be much more difficult..

Also. In this part of the world where such a large percentage of the economy is dependent on a constant flow of tourism, you can really see how that might lead to friction if the crisis continues for a long time. A lot of people all over the world are having future prospects challenged by the downturn, many already losing jobs. I was quite sure this was gonna pass. I actually invested in the stock market after the first dip in the markets. Not the best timing. A lot of people are worried.

From growth strategy to corona strategy

I am feeling quite lucky to have been working so much with change, how to adapt to change and especially how to mobilize different stakeholders in working together around controversial topics. These experiences are going to come in handy going forwards — no matter where I am. I am also grateful that I have clients that would like to continue working with me, and explore how this situation also carries the potential to unlock new opportunities.

Actually, one of my current clients that I am helping with a growth strategy has asked me to focus my delivery more around how to react to the Corona. Chances are high that this will affect society for a long time, and a lot of new positions are going to open up in the markets because of that. If you are interested in learning about the topic, how the market may change and these new positions I’d be happy to set up a video call to discuss.

Anyway, back to my personal corona strategy… What a time I chose to travel the world, right?. I mean my intention was to put my experience in perspective and learn more about the world. In that sense I am on track. I just have to adapt.

The Pro’s and Con’s of my Options

Today me and a group of new friends went to look at villas for long term rental. Where we can feel safe, work remotely, cook good food and enjoy life as much as possible. It’s a quite diverse group of mostly westerners. Some Norwegian and American business and software developers, french yoga instructors, marketers, hackers and fitness coaches. Even one South African dude which voice actually sounds a bit like Elon Musk.

Your stereotypical bouquet of «digital nomads». Let’s see if the group is able to reinvent our identities and plan to stay put in the same place. We have had a couple of good meetings and conversations around what kind of co-living situation we would like to have, and I honestly think we could facilitate a lot of personal growth in this space. This option is also definitely in line with exploring tomorrow’s new models of working and living.

The villas are very luxurious and we can negotiate very good deals now, as there are many cancellations. Even in the type of villas that are usually booked by customers who don’t care about price. So the group dynamic seems good and the physical space seems good. Some of these villas are also located in gated communities, where we will have security guards watching out for who comes and goes, and could be part in mobilizing more protection, if that is needed. The Internet is also fast and food is produced locally to a large extent, and there is little crime/mafia on the island and area so experienced locals tell us that the infrastructure or supply chain situation should not be a problem.

Practically i still think it is possible to go to Norway, as the government said they will support air companies in bringing back as many as possible until the end of March. Even if both the embassy and the insurance company are very hard to reach. The peak of the disease spreading in Thailand (leading to the highest risk of panic because of overload) will come some time between may 2020 and January 2021(according to different sources), so there is still time in that sense. Since I don’t know if i even can get out right now. Many friends are being turned down at the airport as they try to leave.

The tickets are obviously very expensive — struggling airline companies are doing what they can to get in money (understandable reaction in this current scarcity oriented economic paradigm), and my insurance company (Gjensidige Forsikring) has decided that they won’t pay for tickets going home, that wasn’t purchased in this small unrealistic window of time. As the return expense is on me, I hope you will keep insuring me if I choose to stay.

Covering the expense my self would be fine I guess, even it it is the same price as a month of living in Thailand. But where would I go? After just 6 weeks on the road I already identify as a vagabond, on the road and enjoying not having a base. In addition to not having my own place. If I go to Norway I would have to create or find a new base, in a country where living costs are much higher than in Thailand — and I would be dependent on a higher income to be able to plan ahead responsibly as a freelancer. I would also have to isolate for 14 days, having been exposed to several high risk places on my way to Norway (Norway also have a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all travelers).

This is all possible and will probably also be a very good life as soon as you adapt (or bridge to diving deeper into the self) so then it boils down to a quite philosophical level. Norway is probably one of the safest places to be if the world locks down for six months, and the economic system gets a reboot. And as I am kind of hoping for that too, so that makes the limbo even stronger.

And if everything doesn’t go to shit (which it is actually a high chance that it won’t) — one of the best places in the world will be on an island in Thailand. I think I already have enough interest from clients to be able to sustain a business that holds me afloat financially. The house would be stocked with training gear, games, good people, and is a silent meditation retreat centre available by car in case that becomes a more responsible choice.

There are many aspects awaiting for me «back in Norway» that I am excited to see. Then again this whole adventure is happening because I wanted to leave my comfort zone and set all my experience in perspective. I want to grow. Even this situation evolves into a societal reboot with civil war, I would probably have the strongest experience of my life having to deal with it out here.