A man fed up with Britain’s endless drizzle has binned off the UK for a sun-drenched new life abroad – and says he’s never been happier.
Luke Hillan decided he’d had enough of grey skies, overcrowded commuter trains and the feeling he was merely existing rather than actually living.
So the 29-year-old packed up and moved to Northern Italy – a region filled with mountains, historic towns, outdoor cafés and bright blue skies.
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“The weather played a big part in the decision, as did the chance to experience a new culture,” Luke told What’s The Jam.
Back in Britain, Luke said he struggled to find the motivation to even step outside.
But when the chance came to work remotely as a sales executive for a cybersecurity firm, he grabbed it and launched himself into life as a digital nomad.
Now, instead of waking up to cold, soggy mornings, he starts his day with sunshine, fresh air and holiday-worthy views.
He said: “Starting my digital nomad life just before Covid was strange, but I stuck it out once Covid hit, and I’m glad I did.
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“I tend to stay in places where there are digital nomad visas in place, I reckon, so I’ll do this for another five years, at least.”
Although his cybersecurity sales job keeps him glued to his laptop for long hours, everything changes the moment he logs off.
Gone are the evenings spent in traffic or clock-watching – replaced by long walks, warm sunsets and meeting people from all over the world.
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Luke earns a variable commission-based income, sometimes making up to six times his base salary.
And with the cost of living in Italy lower than in many UK cities, his money goes much further.
But the lifestyle isn’t without its hurdles.
He said: “In some countries, the visa application is incredibly laborious.
“It involves proving financial stability, submitting criminal checks, providing work contracts and later things like proof of address or flights.
“There’s often an in-person stage too, with fingerprinting. The whole process can take up to six months.
“The simpler the process, the better – my job is fairly time-intensive, so I gravitate towards countries that make it straightforward to stay and work.
“During the day, I’m pretty much chained to my laptop, but once it shuts off, I’m free to explore and meet new people from different backgrounds.
“That’s what I love. I’m lucky in that while I put in a lot of effort to meet new people, I do enjoy being by myself too.”
And Luke is far from the only one making the jump.
According to The Social Hub – which runs hotels with coworking spaces across Europe – 74% of more than 2,000 digital nomads surveyed said they quit their jobs and moved abroad because a visa made it possible.
Luke prefers to base himself only in countries where digital nomad visas already exist and where the process is simpler.
Despite being miles from home, he stays closely connected to family and friends through video calls and group chats.
He said: “My parents live in Peru, and we have a scheduled Zoom call every Sunday.
“WhatsApp group chats have been a major lifeline, too.
“I think it would have been much more difficult to enjoy this lifestyle while staying connected to the people who are important to you, even a few years ago.
“Although sometimes life means I have to travel back home with little notice, which can be expensive.”
Luke has no plans to move back permanently and expects to continue this lifestyle for at least another five years – travelling, exploring and making the most of his freedom.
He added: “If I could give one piece of advice to anyone considering this lifestyle, it would be to learn the language – you’ll enjoy the place and the people on an entirely different level.”
