No one really cares about owning white goods.

INSIGHT

No one actually needs to own white goods (among many other things).

No one actually needs to own a fridge. Or a thermostat. Or a car. Or frankly, a home. They just need a place to live, where they can have a cool drink in the summer, stay warm in the winter, and get around.

We misconstrue our need for functionality for our need for ‘things’ and this is what the shared economy has capitalized on. I’ve been fascinated by a show on Netflix as of late called “Storage Wars” which is about auctioning abandoned storage units to individuals that only get about a 20-30 second glance at the locker from the outside, placing a completely blind bet on what is often mystery boxes (and the suspense of the show!). Some times they literally strike gold, but more often than not (and what entertains me more than the gambling bit) is why someone would be willing to place a bet on someone else’s crap and not even know whether they could sell it at all?!?! It’s pure train wreck entertainment for someone who works tirelessly to minimize my ownership on an annual basis (the biggest/most complex piece of equipment I own is a Vitamix).

And I’m not alone, the digital nomad culture of roamers, seekers and global expats without a desire to own a mortgage is on the rise; particularly in an era where housing bubbles threaten to burst and if you sit down with a calculator and look at the scenarios of buying vs. renting over a 30-year period, the situations often equal out financially even though the emotional burden weighs far more on the mortgage scenario. The truth of the matter is that the idea of designing a “way of living” and a “space for living” makes more sense than designing just “a house.”

Probing deeper into the functional needs and preferences of people today: as ideals around ownership change, countries make it easier to obtain flexible visas (let’s hope borders stay open and not closed), the nature of work changes and it gets cheaper to travel, we need to design from how/where/what the body wants to live in, not own. How we need things to function in life, not take up space.

INSPIRATION

Roam

Roam is a network of global co-living spaces that provide everything you need to feel at home and be productive the moment you arrive. With what they call “Battle-Tested” Wifi, CoWorking Spaces, a Chef’s Kitchen and diverse community, you can live there for a week or a lifetime. And you can move to San Francisco, Bali, London, New York or Tokyo with more cities to come.

COMFORT - Learn by living somewhere different.

Enjoy privacy and comfort. Every room has its own private bathroom, is fully furnished with a queen or king-sized bed, and even includes cleaning services for your sheets and towels. It’s everything you need to feel right at home.

COMMUNITY - Find supportive and friendly faces wherever you are.

Show up and find community anywhere. Each Roam location is much bigger than a house, so that we can comfortably support a large, diverse community with plenty of gathering spaces for events, meetings and classes, for both members and neighbors.

PRODUCTIVITY - Work from anywhere and pursue your life’s work.

Get work done. With Internet access from anywhere, where we live and where we work are colliding in unpredictable and intriguing ways. Adventure doesn't have to wait until you quit your job or you retire.

INNOVATION

“AirRnR”

The AirBnB of Retreating and Rediscovery programs and co-living. Where AirBnB helps people “live” in other places, we help people actively “learn” in other paces while they move away from mortgage living to co-living or shared living.

• An app that pairs with hospitality owners and individuals who want to work or live remotely/seasonally while they re-evaluate their mode of “settling”.

• Ideal short-term living options from B&Bs to boutique hotels to existing shared living buildings, willing to lower their rates for stays between 1-3 months.

• Full-amenity options to live nomadically without giving up on your mortgage and/or ween you off your mortgage as you get introduced to the availability and affordability of shared living around the world.

• Assists you with obtaining legal visas to live abroad along with the settling comforts you might need to feel at home without feeling stuck.

• Layered in with experiential and educational retreat courses to help with this transition in life as you re-evaluate what it means to become entrepreneurial, retired, remote or unbound.