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?

2 comments

2 Comments

campbell.evan5d 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.

abby_henderson5d 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.