Serious question, why do so many people think you need a fancy co-working space to be a real digital nomad?

I've been working from cafes, libraries, and even park benches across three countries this year, and the funniest thing keeps happening. I'll meet someone who asks where my 'office' is, and when I say I'm just at a normal coffee shop, they look at me like I'm doing it wrong. Last week in Lisbon, a guy at a shared table saw my laptop and earnestly told me I should check into the local WeWork for 'proper infrastructure'. My setup is a $300 Chromebook and a mobile hotspot, and I've never missed a deadline. It just seems like a weird status thing, where the picture of the sleek space matters more than the actual work getting done. Has anyone else felt pressured to spend money on a space they don't really need just for the image?

3 comments

3 Comments

campbell.evan3mo ago

My buddy got the same talk in Bangkok. Some guy at a cafe told him his cheap laptop was "unprofessional." He just kept typing and finished his contract early.

janac592mo ago

Those laptop gatekeepers always seem to show up in places where the wifi is already fine and the coffee's decent. Maybe the real intimidation tactic is making someone feel bad about their gear while they're clearly getting work done. I've noticed the people handing out that advice never seem to be the ones finishing contracts early or traveling light. Kind of makes you wonder who's really paying for that rented desk space with their lost time.

abby_henderson3mo ago

Exactly, it's a total image game. I got the same looks using a library in Mexico City last fall. People act like a rented desk is a magic productivity button. My rule is simple: if the wifi connects and the chair doesn't hurt my back, it's an office. Paying for fancy decor just cuts into my travel budget. The pressure is real, but my bank account and finished projects are all the proof I need.