%D 2023
%T How can one sustain a sense of home on the road?
%L theses_frw4265
%A Csenge Kunos
%X Innovations in technology and transportation led to the emergence of the ‘digital nomad’
phenomenon. With increased mobility and location independence this new lifestyle allows
individuals to simultaneously work and travel, leaving their home behind. This paper looks at the
factors influencing digital nomads' sense of home in Tenerife. It aims to provide an understanding
on their perception of home by proposing the following research question: ‘How has the meaning
of home changed for digital nomads before and after engaging in the nomadic lifestyle (currently
living in Tenerife)?’ In total, seven qualitative interviews were conducted online or via phone and
manually analyzed based on both deductive and inductive codes. The findings indicate that
digital nomads’ sense of home is influenced by several factors, including frequent contact with
family members, attributes of the physical environment and safety. Moreover, a shift is observed
from a traditional understanding of home rooted in a physical location, to more intangible
constructs such as finding home in the present and in established routines. However, prior to the
digital nomad lifestyle most interviewees engaged in frequent relocation outside their country of
origin, challenging the reflections of former perception of home.
Avenues for future research are proposed to explore the effect of complex relocation history on
the perception of home compared to digital nomads who were bound to one place and became
highly mobile only after their new lifestyle. This article is relevant for social geographers
interested in home making or individuals in an attempt to establish a home in an unfamiliar
environment.