seek enmeshment in meaningful webs of obligation. i’ve been reflecting on what feels missing in the increasingly popular digital nomad lifestyle. i’m not a nomad myself, but i know plenty of people who are, including some family members. so, i hear first-hand about the sexy highlights and unsexy shortcomings of living without roots. what i notice is a lot of digital nomads seem to overindex on freedom. the desire to be free from 'the system'. to work for themselves on their terms. to move wherever, whenever. this mindset isn't exclusive to nomads, of course. there is a general cultural obsession with independence (i've got my life together!) and personal sovereignty (i'm in control here!) as key metrics of life success. i've certainly felt drawn to this way of thinking. i don’t think freedom is an inherently bad thing to strive for. it's totally valid to want to be in control of your time and work for yourself. to be free from people you don't particularly like telling you what to do. not to mention, systems are deeply broken in so many ways, so the appeal of breaking free makes sense. but freedom, ultimately, is *optionality*. it’s a currency to be spent, not the destination. when you overindex on freedom as the destination, you risk building a life with no obligations, no hard commitments, no ties to any person or group that have any real consequence if you break them. that sounds pretty liberating, until you remember that we're social mammals hard-wired for mutual reciprocity, for relationships, for feeling needed. if you value freedom above all else, you may get to the end of your life and realize you’ve been chasing the wrong thing. you’ll find yourself untethered, and not in a good way. i worry about this for the nomads i know. thankfully, i see that most of them have started to, or already have, realized some version of the need to ground themselves. some are settling down. others are searching for groups where they can belong, and - crucially - contribute. they find that they don't actually desire independence. they seek interdependence; to be entangled in a web of mutual obligations with others who make them feel seen & needed. while some may flinch at the word, obligation is a precious thing. every deeply good and meaningful thing in life - whether it’s a long-term relationship, raising kids, or serving within a community - comes from sacrificing at least a little freedom.