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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Nomad Life: Wherever you go, there you are

Nomad Hacks: Lightpacking lifestyle (will save you!)

Nomad News: We’re going to Taiwan!

NOMAD LIFE:

Expat Fantasy vs. Queer Freedom: What Nobody Tells You

Let me confess something:
I once thought Lisbon was going to fix me.

I had the whole fantasy—new start, new friends, new me.
I pictured myself writing in cafés, fluent in Portuguese by week two, somehow with a six-pack and mysteriously at peace.

Spoiler: I was still me.
Just sweatier—and surrounded by better food.

Because here’s the thing nobody tells you until you’re unpacking the same emotional baggage in a different timezone—
geography is not therapy.

You can move halfway around the world, but if you’re still dragging decades of self-loathing and people-pleasing behind you, the view won’t save you.
It’ll just make your loneliness look more photogenic.

I’ve watched so many queer folks chase that mirage.
Hell, I was one of them.
We grow up hiding, contorting, trying to earn a love that should’ve been automatic.
Then we hit adulthood and think a plane ticket will finally buy it for us.

It won’t.

You can’t outsource self-acceptance to a postal code.
You can’t build freedom on the same foundation of fear you’ve been living on since high school.

I’m always reminded of this brilliant saying:

Wherever you go, there you are.

Here’s what actually happens when you stop running:
You realize the monster in your head isn’t as big as you thought.
You start laughing again—real, ugly laughter, the kind that feels like rebellion.
And suddenly, places stop needing to rescue you.
They just become playgrounds for a person who finally feels safe in their own skin.

That’s the work I’m still doing, by the way.
Every day.
Because I still have mornings where I wake up and forget who I am.
And I still need someone—or something—to remind me.

That’s why I built The Daily Hug.
One short message every morning.
No syrup. No pep talk. Just a tap on the shoulder that says, “Hey. You’re still here. Don’t forget.”

Most of our subscribers already receive it (and if that’s you, buckle up, because I’ve got a fabulous gift coming for you later today!)

If you want in, it’s free.
And if you ever decide you’re ready to go deeper—to rebuild the muscle that keeps you standing when life knocks the wind out of you—that’s what Hug Society is for (okay, that’s the surprise—I couldn’t wait!).

But start small.
Thirty mornings.
Sixty seconds of honesty before you check your phone.

You don’t need to move to Lisbon to feel free.
You just need to stop ghosting yourself.

👉 Join The Daily Hug — It’s free. And it works.

NOMAD LONELINESS HELP:

Need a Hug?

Let’s skip the festivals for a second.

Because yeah, sunsets and street parades are great —

but what really saves us are the quiet moments in between.

Like this one.

Every morning, over 5,100 of us start the day with one small thing that actually matters:

The Daily Hug.

It’s not therapy.

It’s not a motivational quote with a glitter filter.

It’s just… a moment of truth.

A single message that says:

“You still matter. Even when the world forgets.”

That’s it.

One message. Every morning.

If you already get it, share it with someone who needs to feel seen today.

And if you don’t — join us.

It’s free.

It’s real.

And it might be the gentlest thing you do for yourself this week.

👉 Join The Daily Hug

(Oh — and subscribers? Watch your inbox later today. Something beautiful is coming.)

NOMAD HACKS:

Pack Even Lighter — Travel Minimalist

Let’s be real: most people don’t pack.

They panic.

Two giant suitcases for a three-day trip — “just in case.”

Meanwhile, I’ve been traveling the world for a year with what most people take to the gym.

Here’s my setup:

5 T-shirts. 2 pairs of shorts. 2 pairs of jeans (one blue, one black — so they never look dirty).

A light jacket, a pair of sneakers for the gym, one pair of comfy shoes that can pass for nearly every occasion and a pair of Tevas.

Everything I own fits in one backpack (under the seat) and one rollerboard (overhead bin).

No waiting at baggage claim. No praying your luggage survives.

By the time everyone else is still refreshing the carousel, I’m already halfway to my Airbnb.

So what does “packing lighter” actually mean?

Don’t bring:

• “Just in case” outfits. If you have to say that phrase, you won’t wear it.

• Full-size toiletries. Refill small silicone bottles or buy what you need locally.

• Backup shoes. One pair for walking, one pair for feeling cute—NO!

• That extra jacket. Layers > bulk.

• The guilt of overpreparing. You can buy or borrow almost anything you forget.

Do bring:

• Clothes that mix, match, and layer — neutral colors, fast-drying fabrics.

• Emergency meds—ie pain killers, anti-acid/gas pills

• A power strip or universal adapter — the real MVP of every trip.

• Curiosity. Confidence. Humor. The essentials fit in your head, not your suitcase.

Packing light isn’t just a travel strategy.

It’s a life philosophy.

You stop dragging the weight of what if and start living in what is.

Think of it as emotional Feng Shui for your suitcase.

NOMAD NEWS:

Taiwan is Making a Very Smart Bet on Queer Nomads

Most countries accidentally become nomad-friendly.

Good internet. Cheap cost of living. Decent visa policies.

Then nomads show up and governments go "Oh... cool, I guess."

Taiwan's doing the opposite.

They looked at the global nomad market and said "We want the queer ones."

Not as an afterthought.

As a strategy.

Next month, I'm flying to Taiwan as a guest of their Digital Nomad Association and the Taiwanese government (I’m bringing PrideNomad Mom, too!).

They're not just tolerating our community.

They're actively recruiting us.

They’re betting that if they make us feel safe and seen, we’ll bring the world with us.

And honestly? It's brilliant.

The Signal vs. The Noise

Here's how you know Taiwan's commitment is real...

When Nymphia Wind won RuPaul's Drag Race last year, Taiwan's President invited her to perform at the presidential palace.

The PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

Can you imagine that happening in the USA right now?

We can't even get a Pride flag to stay up at some city halls without a lawsuit.
(And God-forbid we want to have a memorial—even something as simple as a painted rainbow on the street) for those innocent souls slaughtered at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando—despite the fact that it was the deadliest mass shooting in modern Florida history and the worst incident of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in the United States.)

But I digress…back to the land of acceptance and joy…

Taiwan's president literally rolled out the red carpet for drag excellence.

That's not performative allyship.

That's institutional pride.

It’s not about politics — it’s about visibility.
And visibility, when backed by policy, changes everything.

And it started back in 2019 when Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.

While the rest of Asia was still debating whether we deserved basic rights... Taiwan was planning Pride celebrations at government buildings.

The PrideNomad Premium

LGBTQ+ nomads are pickier about destinations.

We can't just look at cost of living and WiFi speeds.

We need to know: Will holding hands get us hassled? Are there queer spaces? What happens if we need healthcare?

This creates a weird economic advantage for truly inclusive countries.

Because when queer nomads DO settle somewhere...

We tend to stay longer. Spend more. Build community.

We become ambassadors for the destination.

Taiwan figured this out.

Beyond Tolerance to Strategy

Look at the data.

Taiwan ranks #24 on our PrideNomad Index globally.

But somehow two Taiwanese cities (Taipei and Kaohsiung) made it into Startfleet’s "top 10 safest cities worldwide for LGBTQ+ nomads."

Kaohsiung?

I had to Google it.

But apparently it's killing the nomad game.

That doesn't happen by accident.

That happens when a government decides "Let's make this work" and puts resources behind it.

What I'm Looking For

This November trip isn't just about confirming Taiwan's rankings.

It's about understanding their playbook.

How do you go from "first in Asia to legalize gay marriage" to "drag queens performing at the palace?"

What does government-level commitment to queer nomads actually look like?

Because most places that end up on "best of" lists just... got lucky.

Good infrastructure. Liberal culture. Things aligned.

Taiwan seems to be engineering this outcome.

The Test

Here's what I'll be watching for:

Are they just slapping rainbow flags on existing nomad infrastructure?

Or are they actually solving the unique problems queer nomads face?

Things like...

→ Partner visa recognition for nomad couples

→ Healthcare access that doesn't require explaining your identity

→ Community building that goes beyond coworking spaces

→ Safety protocols that acknowledge our specific vulnerabilities

Most nomad programs are built for straight, white, solo travelers.

Taiwan might be building something different.

Why This Matters

If Taiwan pulls this off...

If they create a genuinely queer-nomad-optimized experience...

Other countries will copy it.

Because the math is simple.

LGBTQ+ travelers have higher disposable income. Stay longer. Evangelize destinations to their networks.

We're a valuable market segment that most places are still treating like a happy accident.

Taiwan's treating us like customers.

And when your president is personally celebrating drag excellence...

That sends a pretty clear message about who's welcome.

I'll report back in December.

But my guess?

Other governments are about to get very interested in what Taiwan's been building.

Answer to Today’s Quiz

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