Digital nomadism has always been a lifestyle I aspire to. Constantly moving between cities for living and working, my career progression may have stalled, but I fondly recall the leisurely strolls along boardwalks in Vancouver, the food and travels with bookclub friends in Toronto, sipping tea and yellow wine by West Lake, the underground music in Beijing's hutongs, the lively atmosphere of Singapore's hawker centres, bonding over drinks with Mexicans, and making friends on a ferry to the Faroe Islands. These experiences have been the driving force behind my moves. Arriving in the Bay Area just as the pandemic began, my social circle started to shrink. The initial discomfort, the lack of freedom to socialize outdoors, led me through a prolonged period of loneliness and anxiety, which in turn, embarked me on a journey of inward exploration. I began trying out scuba diving, snowbaording, rock climbing, yoga, engaging with local LGBTQ+ and Chinese communities, exploring therapies, psychedelics, mindfulness and other spiritual practices, gradually growing fond of life in the Bay Area. Perhaps this is not my final destination, but my journey's purpose has shifted from escaping problems to a deeper exploration of material possessions, other people, and my inner self, hoping to slowly advance on the path towards true freedom.

数字移民一直是我向往的生活方式，一直在换城市生活工作的我，虽然职业发展停滞不前，但记忆中温哥华海边栈道的闲适，和多伦多书友们吃喝旅行，西湖饮茶黄酒小酌，北京胡同的地下音乐，新加坡大排档的烟火气，和墨西哥人因酒结缘，去法罗岛轮渡上认识朋友的经历，这些都是我搬家的驱动力。搬到湾区正逢疫情开始，我的圈子开始变得越来越小。初来乍到的不适，没有外出社交的自由，我开始经历了很长一段时间的孤独和焦虑，也因此开启了我向内探索的旅程。我开始尝试了潜水、滑雪、攀岩、瑜伽，参与本地LGBTQ+和华人社群的建立，去接触心理咨询、启灵药、正念灵修，也开始慢慢喜欢上了湾区的生活。也许这里仍不是我最后的归宿，但是我启程的目的不再是逃避问题，更多的是对物质、对他人、对自我的探索，希望我能在通向真正自由的道路上缓慢前行。