Nomadland: Old Age and the American Dream

photo of a man in white long sleeved top on blue and white pop up camper
Photo by neil kelly on Pexels.com

The release timing of Nomadland could not be better. Here we are, in a national crisis that has put millions out of work. The employed and the unemployed are suddenly living remote lifestyles.

A few weeks ago, Nomadland started gaining major attention on Hulu, and I decided to watch it. The movie is liberating, realistic, and heartbreaking all at once.

Here is a large group of past-retirement adults. They roam around the United States working seasonal jobs for different reasons. Some do it for pleasure. However, many do it as a necessity. This is due to the lack of the social safety net that was seemingly certain when they were kids.

Great Recession and then COVID

The rallying cry after the Great Recession was “What about the Millennials?” The lopsided focus ignored the fact that many adult homeowners across the country had lost their homes and careers. This got to the point that some were delivering pizza to stay afloat.

Even in the midst of strong post-Recession economic growth, the economy of many U.S. counties was actually shrinking. The people in these areas were already relatively poor. The Recession made them even poorer. Six states, eight years after the Recession, showed outright contraction. (See map above)

“Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century”, the book version, was published in 2017 about a decade after the Recession. It clearly reflects that for many, the Recession never ended.

The American Dream is not Necessary

As many “Millennials” found, the American Dream is not necessary to actually being happy in America. It’s easy to see that we weave back and forth from “do it ourselves” mentality to wealth worship, ever more frequently. It took longer for Baby Boomers to realize this, but when they did, they ran with it.

Older workers’ paychecks are not only threatened during the virus crisis. Their very life is at risk when working people-facing jobs. Staying in a hyper-dense urban area could be fatal for them.

Becoming an “involuntary nomad” is a way out.

Frances McDormand’s character “Fern” is an outstanding case study. She’s a 60-something widow in a one-business gypsum mining town in Nevada. Fern lost both her house and job. She decides to pack her belongings into a van she comically nicknames “Van Halen”.

It’s notable that real people who were profiled in the book constitute most of Nomadland’s cast.

How real is the movie? Here’s a perspective video from a real nomad, Carolyn, who was an extra in the cast of Nomadland.

Ageism

As of 2019 U.S. census data models, 19.4% of the U.S. population were over age 65. 38.5% was over 50, including the previous segment. 19.1% of the previous set were between age 50 and 65, not yet retirement age, and “in the workforce”.

Non-retired Americans tend to experience difficulty finding work, even if they had been in a leadership role. And yet, the age 20-50 demographic (39.5%) ends up shouldering much of the work burden for the rest of the country. This is not sustainable.

In 2018, an AARP survey found that:

  • Nearly one in four workers (age 45 and older) have been subjected to negative comments about their age from supervisors.
  • About 3 in 5 older workers have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace.
  • 76% of these older workers see age discrimination as a hurdle to finding a new job. A report found that over half of these older workers are prematurely pushed out of longtime jobs. 90% of them never earn as much again.

The biting reality of ageism as a bias is this: We will all one day grow old.

Middle aged man contemplating in nature

Temporary Jobs / Lack of Work

In Nomadland, many of the nomads represent a transient workforce. The “campers” travel seasonally from worksite to worksite. They go where work takes them, since a conventional work environment would not “take” them.

While inherently different, this parallels the archetype of “migrant workers” as overwhelmingly Hispanic and working in agriculture. It underlines a need for a renewed focus on that. My mother worked for years as a teacher/home worker with United Migrant Opportunity Services and Head Start, and poverty is something that touches everyone. People face unique challenges, and the problem must be looked at from a birds’ eye view.

Somehow we all survive. Carolyn, mentioned above, relates her nomadic decision to “how they keep you in a job for 40 years and a mortgage for 30 years, so you’re shackled as workers for the powerful and rich elite”.

The nomads in the movie/novel aren’t completely detached from “the rich and powerful”, however. One of the standout scenes features Frances McDormand doing seasonal work at a corporate warehouse. The company actually hosts a jobs program specifically for nomads.

So there is a symbiotic relationship with gig labor that allows them to live their lifestyle. What does that say about the companies that host them? That’s at your discretion.

Beyond seasonal gigs, these nomads will also work as campground hosts, for low pay ($800 per month on the high end). This can sometimes be perilous, even if it fits the lifestyle well. On our recent trip to Death Valley, we had the pleasure of being greeted by one of these hosts, who had plenty of stories from the road. He seemed to genuinely enjoy hearing about our journey, and even gave us tips for the next leg.

Death Valley  Abby Kihano on Pexels.com

What You Want vs. What You Need

Many of these nomads believe that they are living better and cheaper than they did when they actually had an apartment or house. Their vehicles are mostly set up to be self-sustaining. Some even have solar panels which can power everything they need, sans electricity bill. One can live the recreational vehicle lifestyle on $500 per month. Your consumption costs will go way down.

They also feel that they are using their “good years in a good way”. One nomad referenced Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”, “Why would you work all your life to have a little bit of freedom at the end of your life, when if you could live efficiently, you could adventure through life now?”

Bob Wells is the leader of the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, a national gathering of the nomads in Quartzsite, AZ. His story is unique. He just finished a divorce, making payments to alimony and child support. Like many divorced fathers around the country, he had lost so much of his life. This was a turning point for him. He decided living in a van was actually a step up for him, hasn’t looked back, and has grown to lead the gathering each year.

Open freeway with rush hour traffic and hole in chainlink fence  Kehn Hermano on Pexels.com

The Places We Left, the Places We’re Going

The towns that these nomads left will continue on without them, but may continue to shrink and dwindle. However, I pointed out something important in my recent articles, Why Are We Ignoring the Midwest? and 4 Reasons You Should Leave the City. The post-virus “Great Dispersal” could repopulate those areas with new infrastructure, regenerating economy and services around it.

In a completely apolitical sense, the “Buy American” act seems destined to pass through Congress. According to a White House press release, “The U.S government should, whenever possible, procure goods, products, materials and services from sources that will help American businesses compete in strategic industries and help America’s workers thrive.”

The electric vehicle (EV) sector is also in review in a White House supply chain order, and solar cell usage is heating up all around the country. These changes could be a replenishment to rural areas, in both the private and the public sectors. Most of these industries fall under manufacturing and union labor, a key driver for these “elder nomads”.

We are in the midst of a seismic change in America. If a rising tide lifts all boats, why not lift up our aging workers?

“Everything in life is security and comfort vs. freedom. You guys live in nice houses, you have all the comforts, you have very limited freedom.”

– Bob Wells, “Perspectives on Mobile Living” Documentary

Gray concrete road beside brown mountain during golden hour  Pixabay on Pexels.com

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How to Take Your “Gap Year” While Working

DISCLAIMER: This article represents my personal views and not those of my employer or any affiliated organizations.

What roads will a gap year take you down?  - Pixabay

2022 is a “gap year” of opportunity! Are you still sitting in a leased apartment or mortgaged home during the virus crisis? If so, why?

There are many who wanted to undertake this journey before the virus, but were prohibited by outstanding cost, time, or just life.

Most companies are trending to support remote work or hybrid offices indefinitely. I’ve written more about this in my recent article here.

In the post-Corona era, you can have both: Work and life!

My partner Elise and I had wanted to become digital nomads for the longest time. The week New York City went into lockdown, we left. Even with an international flight ban, a plane to Palm Springs, CA and a pickup truck rental did the trick.

You don’t have to forgo a “financial gap year” of your career to be a digital nomad. You don’t even have to leave your country!

Even if you have a significant other or children. There’s something for everyone.

Planning for a gap year  - Pixabay

Useful Gear for Digital Nomads:

So how do you get started?

Leaving home is not a small decision. There is a lot of pre-planning that needs to happen before you depart.

While my perspective is in the U.S. – This could work in whatever country you may call home.

I’ve tried to compile many of these steps below, to make things easier for you.

Figure out where you want to go.

A plan is like insurance. Don’t leave home without it.

Are you planning on getting to your destinations by driving? By air?

A general rule of thumb is planning 3 months in advance.

This is long enough that you don’t have to be panicking, planning where to go next.

However, it’s short enough that if a major interruption occurs (family / work event, etc.) you can cancel your itineraries.

Packing for a gap year trip  - Pexels.com

Check your documentation and registrations.

Is your documentation current?

If you’re driving you’ll need a valid driver’s license (surprise).

Is your license renewed? Is there a risk of it expiring while you’re abroad on your gap year? You don’t want to have to go back to your home state to renew it.

Where will you be receiving mail?

It’s important to have a solid home address for important documents and letters.

This could be your parents’ house/apartment or a P.O. Box.

Services like Earth Class Mail will actually act as a “virtual P.O. Box”, and securely digitize your mail into PDFs. No physical interaction required.

For packages while you’re on the road – Always have a tracking number, and it’s preferable if you’re staying in the same area at least 2 weeks.

Secure your travel plans (including a car if you need to)

How are you going to get to your destination?

Do you own a car?

If so, check your registration. We found that some states may require you to return to the state for emissions testing, etc. You may need to re-register in a state that’s closer to where you are.

In the case you don’t, is renting, leasing or buying a vehicle most cost-effective?

I’ll go into detail on this in a later article. There are big differences, and distinct advantages between renting and leasing. See a helpful Investopedia summary here.

If you’re flying, have you looked up travel restrictions and the quarantine times for your destination city?

Do they require a virus test? Is there a limited visa? If so, how many days/months are you allowed to stay?

Expert Vagabond gives other helpful tips on overall logistics and making money as a digital nomad.

 

Breaking apartment lease  Pixabay

Figure out your housing situation

Are you locked into a lease? When does it end?

Most apartments in big cities will let you break your lease. However you have to think about the cost vs. benefit.

A helpful guide by Trulia here breaks down all the things you should consider when breaking a lease.

You also have the option of waiting out until your lease expires.

If you have a mortgage, you’re in a bit more permanent situation. Lucky for you, home buying is at a record high.

No lease? No mortgage? Not a problem. Continue on to the next point.

Booking digital nomad trips  Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Book your first places to stay

During the virus, volume on vacation rentals is ultra-high. You need to book months in advance. The last thing you want is to be is stuck without a lease, and without a place to live.

You would be surprised how quickly places get snapped up. It’s important to keep a wishlist of future stays you wish to book. Some sites will even send you an alert when an item on your wishlist becomes available.

AirBnB not the only option. There are other sites like VRBO that offer a similar service. Here’s a helpful list of other platforms, like Flipkey and Tripping.com, which are all slightly different. You should compare and see what’s best for you.

There are even guides to vacation rentals by yourself, independent of these services.

If you are younger, you may not mind staying at a hostel or co-living space with other people to save money.

Hostelworld is a great resource for this. Just be aware of your requirements for working and living. You’ll want to read reviews and book a location with relatively low people volume.

Moving out for a gap year  - Pexels.com

Move and put your things in a storage locker

Even if you’re not currently tied to a lease, you need somewhere to put your belongings.

You can find some affordable storage lockers if you’re willing to drive a bit out from the city center. If you need a more central location, be prepared to pay more.

Take an inventory of how much “stuff” you have.

The smallest unit most storage facilities offer is 5 ft. x 5 ft. That will perhaps fit one big piece of furniture (not a couch) and a room’s worth of small belongings (such as lamps, clothes, etc.)

The biggest unit is often a 10 ft. x 30 ft. This can fit a couch, a refrigerator, and about 2 rooms worth of “stuff”.

We use a company called StorageMart. This helpful storage comparison site Sparefoot allowed me to find it, which is like the “TripAdvisor” of storage.

Hitting the road!

Have you checked off all these items? Do you have everything together? Congratulations, you’re ready to head off on your “gap year” adventure!

There are plenty more things to learn about working as a digital nomad on the road during the virus. Stay tuned for a guide on that.

In the meantime –

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Why Are We Ignoring the Midwest?

DISCLAIMER: This article represents my personal views and not those of my employer or any affiliated organizations.

2012 report from the United States Census put the population of the Midwest at 65,377,684 people. As of 2019, the U.S. population is projected at 328.2 Million. If we go by that figure, the Midwest represents at least 20% of the U.S. population. So why are we so uneducated about it and its populace?

This summer, I will have been on a road trip through many states in the Midwest: Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio. Many events have unfolded around Minneapolis, Minnesota the past few months. As of August 17th, 2020, Milwaukee, Wisconsin played host to the 2020 Democratic National Committee – The city where I was born. But due to the virus crisis and other circumstances, Milwaukee has largely been left in the dust.

When you think of the Midwest, it probably conjures up familiar images. Wide open fields. Little population. Few jobs. Low diversity.

That may be true of some parts, but that’s largely not representative of the cities. We’ve had intense waves of migration both from other U.S. regions and internationally. We host refugee programs and international students from around the world, who permanently resettle in the Midwest. For instance, Minnesota and Wisconsin play host to large Muslim and Hmong communities, among many others. Midwest cities have the same varied demographics of any major city. This map hints at just how diverse our country is.

“Many Rust Belt cities have minority populations that statistically outpace those in other parts of the country. The largest per capita Muslim population in the United States is here, in Dearborn, Michigan. With so much emphasis placed on the manufacturing sector, many overlook the largest employers in the region: hospitals, retailers, and institutions of higher education. Of the handful of cities in the United States that support an Orthodox Jewish population, many are in the Rust Belt. A century ago, the region’s cities were often populated primarily by non-native English speakers. For example, in 1900, over 75% of the residents of Cleveland, Ohio, were foreign-born or first-generation immigrants.”

“To sum up such a diverse region with a few adjectives, or a rags-to-riches story of exceptionalism with a message of individualism at its core, is both misleading and dangerous.” – ‘Our Collective Ignorance about the Rust Belt is Getting Dangerous‘ – Time

The “Rust Belt”

When hearing about the Midwest, you’ve probably seen an image like the one above in Detroit. Most of us have heard the story. The Midwest was the jumping off point for the drive westward, during the “Gold Rush” and the “Oregon Trail”. Industry prospered during the Industrial Revolution, and gave way to a manufacturing boom up to the 1960’s, when everything went bust. Michael Moore’s “Roger and Me“, coverage of Flint, Michigan‘s water crisis, and reports of Chicago’s crime rate have chronicled this ad nauseam. Now write that image out of your head.

There’s more to the region than that in 2020, even if there’s plenty of truth to the “Rust Belt” story. While the factory boom of the 1950’s gave way to population loss in the 1960’s – Those factories are being repurposed and reused.

The documentary “American Factory” on Netflix is a great case study in this. It chronicles the purchase by a Chinese company of an old GM plant, which they then staff with both American workers from Ohio, and Chinese workers from their headquarters. It’s not all roses though, as the two cultures have heated dialogues and even a union strike. Yet, both of each groups’ humanity shines through. In Wisconsin, we almost saw a similar scenario with Foxconn opening a plant there, attracted by tax incentives. However, closing the deal proved difficult, and it eventually didn’t happen.

Maybe the most telling tale of the Midwest economy, though certainly not the only one, is J.D. Vance’s “ Hillbilly Elegy “. In this autobiography, Vance describes his journey from abject poverty in Kentucky and Middletown, Ohio to graduating from Yale. He talks about the difficulty of adapting from a humble, yet heart-wrenching childhood upbringing to the highbrow cultural motifs of the Ivy Leagues. A childhood plagued by poverty, drug abuse and despair amongst his community, and a sense of being “stuck” where he was.

Though a first generation collegiate, going to college was looked down upon. He had to change the way he talked, how he thought about money, even his table manners. Vance knows so many people on the bottom rungs of social advancement undergo this struggle to assimilate to “professionalism” while maintaining the humbleness or scars of their upbringing. Yet, he’s very level-headed in his viewpoints on helping more people follow the path he did.

Now, audiences of Midwesterners and East Coasters alike listen to his bottom-to-top story. Vance recently founded a Venture Capital fund to literally invest in Midwest businesses. He also became an advisor to Rise of the Rest Seed Funds, which “invests in passionate entrepreneurs that are based outside of Silicon Valley, Boston, and New York City.”

Relocation of Infrastructure

There are also many Midwest investor groups specifically focusing on Black, Latinx, Indigenous businesses. The Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative, “ a coalition of investors, is dedicated to increasing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity on corporate boards of companies headquartered in Midwestern states”. Black Midwest Initiative is a “committed to advocating for the lives of people of African descent as they are situated throughout the Midwest and Rust Belt regions of the United States”. The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, “connecting the vibrant Hispanic Business Community of Illinois”. It hosts LatinX Incubator, which seeks to grow the pipeline of LatinX entrepreneurs contributing to the Chicago innovation economy.

Are We Talking about the Positives?

Cost of Living

This video snippet, “Why government agencies should move from D.C. to the Midwest” makes a very clear case. The once robust infrastructure in Rust Belt cities saw massive mid-century population losses once big companies shut down or moved away. These cities are built to be twice as big as they are. They have international airports, public transit, a well-built highway system, even sports teams and performing arts centers. If these government organizations were to move there, they would lower their overhead, gain access to large talent pools, and bring down cost of living in their home cities on the East Coast.

Smart People

With COVID-19 changing the way people work and live forever, expensive coastal cities have lost their sheen. Midwestern cities represent the perfect foundation for remote work. with less expensive homes, conveniently located resources, and not nearly as much urban congestion. Unlike the Great Recession, where people including myself moved to big cities like New York — We may see the opposite happening post-COVID. Let’s call it the Great Dispersal.

There has been all kinds of innovative new businesses opening around the Midwest. One example: Sherman Phoenix blossomed in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood after 2016 civil unrest over a fatal police shooting that rocked the community. The space reclaims a former BMO Harris bank damaged in the unrest. It now hosts 27 Black-owned businesses, community events, and supports transforming shuttered buildings to functional spaces.

Remote Work

The Midwest has some of the top universities in the country. We are historically renowned for our educational institutions. Northwestern, Notre Dame, and the Big 10 (University of Chicago, Purdue University, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin — Madison and others). While physical location may not be as important in the new paradigm, having many well-educated people clustered in one area is. And while the Midwest has lacked the high-flying jobs of the coasts, many aspects of collegiate jobs are now global.

There’s a cluster of very smart people looking for more opportunities. Some of them have relocated to the coasts, like myself, going up against the cadre of elite schools and finding themselves up against stiff competition and generational pedigrees. However, many have stayed in the area, and helped it blossom. Both of these groups are just looking for meaningful investment in their ideas.

How Can You Help?

One interesting highlight of this was the documentary Generation Startup. The film profiles 6 recent graduates as they undergo the challenge of creating startups in Detroit, Michigan. I attended the screening 2 years ago, and met all these bright young people. While occurring pre-COVID, it shows how much easier it is to be an entrepreneur when you’re not paying most of your income for an apartment in NYC or San Francisco. It also enables entrepreneurship from economically challenged people, not requiring the nest egg that big cities would. According to Crunchbase, Midwest startup exits generate 5.17x the median multiple vs. other regions.

In the time of COVID, remote work has become the norm, for the foreseeable future. Many companies have realized substantial cost savings with their staff working remotely — No need to stock office kitchens, lowered electricity usage, and in some cases, they’ve let their office leases expire, becoming a completely virtual workforce. There’s no longer a need for “location bias” when it comes to work that can be done on a computer. And with distributed workforces comes service economy jobs and more.

So, Milwaukee was good enough for the DNC. The Midwest was good enough to hold America’s 3rd most populous city. Midtown Manhattan is a ghost town.

Remote work is here to stay.

The “Great Dispersal“ is spreading professionals around the country.

Are you ready to hire a Midwesterner?

Are you ready to relocate your office or home to the Midwest?