Who is ‘The Professional Hobo?’
Who is ‘The Professional Hobo?’ Nora Dunn, a savvy traveler who’s been on the road since 2007 exemplifying and sharing with others how she has been able to travel around the world in a financially sustainable way – and often for less than the cost of living at home. Aside from an impressive writing portfolio, Nora has just released her new book, How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World. This week she shared some of her experiences and insights with Vagabond Way readers, including how she was able to only spend $173 on accommodation for one full year! Read on to meet ‘The Professional Hobo’…
Thanks for your time to be interviewed for the Vagabond Way! Can you please give us an overview of who you are and how you became ‘The Professional Hobo?’
I’m Nora Dunn, and I feel like I just stood up at an AA meeting. I have a problem. See, I travel….all the time….and all the time….I’m writing about it. Is that bad? It’s bad, isn’t it?!
I’ve been traveling full-time since 2007, after selling everything I owned (including a busy financial planning practice) to pursue my dreams of long-term immersive travel. Since my humble beginnings in 2007, I’ve discovered how to travel full-time in a financially sustainable way, and not only do I continue to do so, but I also help people embrace their own similar dreams by teaching them how to do it. (For example, here’s my free e-course on financially sustainable travel).
Here’s a more detailed explanation of How I Became The Professional Hobo.
Wow – that’s awesome! Over the last seven (correct?) years, you’ve had a lot of different housing options around the world.
What is your most recent accommodation? What has been one of your favorites?
Yep – seven years, almost exactly! And counting. I left my home in Toronto Canada in early 2007.
Most recently I was house-sitting for two months in Panama. I stayed – for free – in a gorgeous home, used their car, and was given carte blanche with their kitchen; all in return for taking care of the place and pets.
House-sitting is one of my favourite forms of free accommodation and I’ve had some pretty cool gigs – my two favourites probably being Switzerland (where I took care of a house in Zurich and cottage in the Alps) and my recent gig in Panama.
Sounds like something so many people would enjoy. You’ve just released a new book giving readers over seven years of tips and resources you’ve learned from all the different ways you’ve gotten free accommodation.
I stumbled on the world of free accommodation while I was still selling my stuff in Canada. Somebody told me about WWOOFing (aka volunteering in trade for accommodation), and I volunteered in trade for accommodation in a number of places including Hawaii, Australia, Spain, and New Zealand.
I also enjoyed some hospitality exchanges, staying with locals for free in places like Australia, New Zealand, ALL over Europe, America, and Canada.
Next I discovered house-sitting, and tried my hand at it in England, Canada, Grenada, Switzerland, and Panama.
In between there while I was in the Caribbean, I realized the boating community is a small one, and proceeded to live and sail on boats throughout the Caribbean for a few months.
These are four of the five forms of free accommodation that I cover in my e-book
How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World. It’s based on years of experience and research; and I walk the talk; in 2011 for example, I spent $173 on accommodation – for the entire year! The rest of the time I used techniques in my book to get free accommodation around the world.
Do you hear a lot of people say, “I could never do that…” – Travel the world, work on a farm or swap their houses to save enough money for their trip?
Yep. I regularly hear from people who say they’d love to do what I do but they know they never could. Whether it’s an attachment to having stuff, or personal space, a need for security, stability for children or pets, or just plain lack of funds, I’ve heard all these excuses and more.
It boils down to what you want and how badly you want it. If you want to travel the world nomadically badly enough, you’ll get rid of your stuff. If you want to experience local life badly enough, you’ll sacrifice some personal space to do it. As long as the rewards outweigh the price (and for me, they generally do), it’s all good.
What are some of the biggest mental hurdles you see people needing to over come so they too can be ‘that person who travels’ – instead of watching other people attaining the traveling life?
The biggest hurdle is the hurdle of doing it. You can research it, talk about it, and pack for it until you’re blue in the face. You can’t know everything you need to know before going; you’ve got to take that leap of faith and get out there.
When you tell people you can live abroad for less than a “normal pay rent or mortgage and work regular job,” do people grasp and believe what you are trying to tell them – or – do you get a sort of ‘deer in headlights’ reaction and they think that could never be them?
Ha ha! You recognize that look, do you?
The nomadic lifestyle is beyond comprehension for some people. If I tell these people that full-time travel costs less than living in one place, they assume I must be massaging the numbers, or I must be making ridiculous sacrifices to do it. Little do they know I consistently stay in holiday destination properties (for free), fly in business class (for less than the price of economy) and utilize a number of other techniques that allow me to live quite the high life….without the high price tag.
What are some of the next places you hope to travel to?
I’m currently considering a (free of course) six-month gig in Peru, where I would be working two days per week as assistant manager of a retreat and conference centre in the sacred valley, in trade for my accommodation. Peru has long been on my list of places to go, and I’ve simply quietly waited for the right opportunity to go there. Maybe I found it!
Thank you so much for talking with us!
If any readers out there are wondering how to take the plunge into long term travel, take some inspiration and knowledge from Nora’s great resources. To read more about Nora, her travels and other ways to accomplish financially sustainable traveling, check her out on www.theprofessionalhobo.com.
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Nora gives a sweet insight to an alternative lifestyle…. NICE interview and a great resource!
I love the name, ‘The Professional Hobo’ and there is so much content and links from her site. I’m still reading and re-reading through everything. I especially like her articles on http://www.wisebread.com.
THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CONNECTION. THE PROFESSIONAL HOBO IS SENDING ME DIRECTIONS I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD GO. I’M ALREADY LOOKING INTO HOUSE SITTING AND THINK I FOUND AT LEAST ONE. THANKS AGAIN
Good luck on searching. We house sat for three months in Australia while we were working. Finding the right house sitting gig can be the best win-win ever.
I really enjoyed this informative post! I will definitely be checking out her site, thank you for sharing!:)
Glad you enjoyed! Don’t miss ‘the week in the life series!’
It is so refreshing seeing women such as yourself and Nora Dunn in “non traditional roles” and willing to share those experiences with the rest of us who cannot. A BIG thank you
Thanks. There are definitely many different ways to carve out a niche and find non-traditional work. There are so many ways of sharing information, it’s great to connect with other strong individuals.
Yet another great post! Such and adventurous and unique life style!
Thanks! There are many ways to have a unique life style. Having a vision and direction over finances definitely helps one achieve that goal.
I have always been an avid hiker, have hiked everywhere I can locally and have been considering some extended out of the area trips but could never afford it. Your links to the professional hobo sites have given me new inspirations! Thank you.
Cheers. When I first started traveling I had no idea about so many of the resources in Nora’s book. There are so many creative ways to save money and barter out there! Hope you get out there soon. 🙂
Very inspirational post, and thanks for sharing some of your views and thoughts. I will be looking to get the book soon!
Cheers. I love getting inspiration from others travelers sites I follow. When I hit a stretch where I miss a couple post or have not been able to be on the internet, it’s like a binge session for me to see what I missed being posted.
Surfing the net for some different travel blogs and stumbled on yours. Very interesting with a lot of helpful links. Keep it up.
Thanks Bobby! Glad you enjoyed. As much as we are having a great time on the road, I’m excited to add some new items and features to the site when we get back to the States in April or later. This trip is providing a lot of new ideas!
Nice websight! You will love Peru.
Thanks. Having just been in Peru, I was telling Nora if that is where the world brings her next, the Sacred Valley would be an awesome place to live!
Thank you all for the lovely comments and support! This interview was a pleasure to do – thank you, Tiffany!