Minor Movements - 5

"Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone."

You call yourself a digital nomad. At least, that's what sounds cool. In reality, you've been backpacking throughout Latin America for the last three years. Sometimes you find work online and often you don't. You still smell the hints of gasoline from fixing an old man's tractor this morning.

When you do find online work, you're a technical writer. You've always been more interested in things than people, yet you've always yearned to see the world. It started with the picture encyclopedias your parents kept at home. Your grandpa would show you the good photos. It was the Mayan temples that kicked it off.

Six years ago, your grandparents paid for you to go see Chichen Itzá in Mexico. You don't forget the bird sounds that came from clapping. It was a gift for having graduated from college with your accounting degree. You used to be a bean counter. You burned out after 2 or 3 years. It's hard to remember. You don't think back on the dark days often.

When you don't find work online, you're a ranch hand, carpenter, electrician, or a good old handyman. You take what you can get. You only need enough to continue living this lifestyle. Your Spanish is broken but it has never been too big of an issue. A smile goes a long way.

The people are nice too. They often let you camp in their yards and share a meal with you. They let you use their shower. Sometimes you really just need a shower. You will never forget the young kid that brought you a bar of soap for you to use in the river. You don't necessarily have any friends anymore. But that's okay. You'll take one day of connection over a lifetime of pretending.