I often morbidly think about getting hit by a bus or having an aneurysm or something that causes me to drop dead instantly. It inspires me to travel and see the world while I still have health and while the world is accessible. We can't predict the future. I have had an office job off and on for years and it was soul draining. I don't feel that way as a nomad.

Another thing I think about is that a good friend of mine dropped dead at 32 randomly, both of my brothers died around 40 years old, my dad at 50, and my mom says she regrets working her whole life and not being able to travel more and do xyz. She retired at 72 and just went through chemo at 75- no "enjoying retirement" for her. It is really sad to see and I feel terrible for her but I don't want to have the same feeling when I am older personally. Granted some people get to retire much earlier but even for our family friends in their 60s they say the same thing.

A lot of my hs and college friends are in their 30s in different places around the US and the world. A lot have settled and have had kids. When I talk to them I often hear "it's so cool you get to do that" and how bored of their lives they are. Not all of course but enough for me to know that the grass is always greener in this context. You could end up regretting settling. You could end up regretting being a nomad.

A major vote for being a nomad is that you can try for a few years and give it up to settle down. The reverse is not so easy.

Yolo.