This is How It Starts

International Digital Nomad : Plan 183

This year will be different.

今年的節奏註定會有些不一樣。

Because of my personal tax plan, I need to stay outside my home country for at least 183 days.
This is not a vacation. It’s not a gap year.
It’s the start of my digital nomad life — working and moving at the same time.
Changing cities, working on projects. Step by step.

因為個人稅務安排，今年需要在境外停留滿 183 天，也算正式開始了 digital nomad 的生活。
不是休假，也不是 gap year，更像是一邊走一邊工作的過渡期，一邊換城市，一邊推進項目。

This journey is part of a new project from my boss.
Our goal is clear: reach 1,000 paying users.
I’ll push the work forward, while also trying a more decentralized way of living and working.

這次是老闆安排的新專案中的一個環節，有明確的目標，要做到 1000 個付費用戶。
我一邊推進事情，一邊試著過一種更去中心化的工作與生活結構。

My short-term plan is to leave first, and start from Japan.
Then I’ll compare places like Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh, Tainan, or maybe some small countries in Europe.
I want to explore markets, meet users, and feel different cultures.

短期計劃是先出境再說，首選日本，也會對比清邁、胡志明、台南，甚至歐洲一些小國。
去看看市場，碰碰使用者，也感受不同文化。

Since I pay for all travel and living costs myself, I prefer cities that are nomad-friendly:
Stable internet, no VPN needed for AI tools, and enough people and ideas to make life interesting.

因為差旅與生活成本自己承擔，所以更傾向於數位遊牧者聚集地——
網路穩定、AI 不用翻牆、周圍的人和事足夠多樣、有趣。

Hong Kong is still one of my favorite cities.

香港仍然是我最喜歡的城市。

But to use AI tools smoothly, I had to let it go for now.
Just to use Claude properly, I tried many times:
two US credit cards, one US number, one Japanese number, one UK number — all failed, one after another.

但為了能穩定使用 AI 工具，只能暫時放棄。
光是為了正常使用 Claude，就已經折騰了好幾輪：
兩張美國原生信用卡、一個美國號、一個日本號、一個英國號，都先後陣亡。

Every city has a different language, rhythm, and cost of life.

每個城市的語言、節奏、物價都不一樣。

Some cities are good for writing quietly.
Some are good for meeting people, working in cafés, or using co-working spaces.
When the place changes, your thoughts often change too.

有的適合靜下來寫東西，有的適合見人、有 coworking、有 coffee time。
人一換地方，思路也會跟著變。

I’ve worked remotely for a while. One thing is clear:

遠端這件事，我深有體會。

People are used to being in different places,
but being in different time zones is the real challenge.

大家對「不在同一地」早已習慣，
但「不在同一時」才是真正的挑戰。

You don’t need to reply right away.
You don’t need to stress when someone replies late.
A good remote rhythm should be async-friendly —
less pushing, more structure.
It needs clear goals, shared docs, checklists, and clear roles.

不是誰在線就要秒回，也不是誰晚回就不配合。
真正適合遠端的節奏，應該是 async-friendly 的——
不靠催、不靠壓力，而是靠節點、清單、文件與責任邊界。

Saying “Are you there?” in IM doesn’t work for remote teamwork.
那種即時訊息只說一句「在嗎？」的溝通方式，其實並不適合遠端協作。

Many people say “I’m on the road.”

很多人說「我在路上」。

But for me, being “on the road” means more than just moving.
It’s about jumping out of my usual rhythm, and asking myself:
“Am I still moving with direction?”

但我覺得，真正的「在路上」不只是換了地點，
而是能不能在切換的過程中，跳出原有的節奏，
重新問自己一句：我現在做的事情，還有方向感嗎？

A new time zone, a different coffee language.

換個時區過一天，換種語言點杯咖啡。

Sometimes, I just want to check if the part of me outside of work is still there.
有時候只是想確認一下：那個工作之外的自己，還在。

The goal is clear. The to-do list is long.

目標清楚，事情不少。

But I hope to find a rhythm of my own,
as I move between cities, and switch between speeds.

但還是希望能在城市與節奏的切換中，
慢慢找到一種真正屬於自己的節奏與邏輯。

No rush.
No fake busyness.
No meaningless hustle.

不急、不裝忙、不瞎忙。

No need to be perfect.
But also not careless.

不求完美，也不是隨便。

Sometimes, doing and fixing is better than thinking too long.
很多時候，邊做邊調，比想半天來得更實在。

Don’t guess needs.
Don’t rebuild the wheel.
Fix small things if you can.

需求不猜、輪子不造、細節能補就補。

Often, the direction becomes clear… only when you keep walking.
方向，往往是走著走著才看清楚的。

I’m halfway through life, still on the road.

人生過半，仍在路上。

And I’m grateful for that.
我很欣慰。