Some people travel to escape.
Some travel to check destinations off a list.
Some travel because they’re searching for something.
That’s me.
My name is Carter, and Atypical Vagabond is where I share the adventures, lessons, mistakes, victories, and discoveries that come from building a life beyond the expected path.
Today I live in Portugal, explore Europe, create travel content, walk ancient pilgrimage routes, and help others discover the possibilities that exist beyond the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle.
But the story didn’t start here.
To understand Atypical Vagabond, you need to understand three questions that continue to shape my journey:
- Who was I?
- Who have I become?
- Where am I going?
And perhaps most importantly:
- How might that help you on your own journey?
Like many people, I spent years chasing success through work and achievement. My background is in biology and computer science, and eventually I built and operated a successful technology company. From the outside, everything looked successful.
But life has a way of teaching lessons that don’t appear on résumés.
- I battled addiction.
- I experienced failures.
- I learned that money solves some problems but doesn’t necessarily create fulfillment.
Most importantly, I discovered that the most meaningful moments in life rarely come from things. They come from experiences. That realization changed everything.
- I became a digital nomad.
- An expat.
- A slow traveler.
- A pilgrim.
- A creator.
- A student of the world.
Today my wife Sage and I call Coimbra, Portugal home while continuing to explore what life abroad can teach us.
Volunteering
The farther I travel, the more I realize that growth often happens outside of comfort zones. Travel stopped being tourism when I started volunteering and becoming part of local communities. That’s when I learned the difference between visiting a place and experiencing it.
Whether that’s learning Portuguese, navigating immigration systems, walking hundreds of kilometers on the Camino de Santiago, or simply sitting in a local café and listening to conversations in a language I barely understand.
Every experience becomes part of the journey.
Why Portugal?
Of all the places I’ve visited, Portugal kept pulling me back.
What started as curiosity eventually became something more.
Today, Portugal serves as my home base while I continue exploring Europe and beyond.
I chose Portugal because it offers something increasingly rare in today’s world:
A slower pace of life.
People still gather in public squares. Cafés encourage conversation instead of rushing customers out the door. Ancient traditions coexist alongside modern opportunities. Communities still matter.
I currently live in Coimbra, one of Portugal’s most underrated cities.
While many travelers focus exclusively on Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra offers a deeper look into Portuguese culture. It has become the perfect place to continue my search for what “home” really means.
Through Atypical Vagabond, I share practical advice, hidden gems, local insights, and honest observations about living in Portugal as an expat and digital nomad.
My goal isn’t to present a picture-perfect version of travel. It’s to share the reality—the good, the bad, and the occasionally ridiculous.
Because that’s where the best stories come from.
Not just the highlights. The paperwork. The mistakes. The fears. The lessons. The reality.
If sharing my experiences helps someone take their first trip, move abroad, walk the Camino, or finally pursue a dream they’ve been postponing for years, then every article and video is worth it.
Atypical Vagabond exists because information changes lives. Travel changes lives. Stories change lives.
Featured In
Interviews & Media
Expats Everywhere Interview
A conversation about life in Portugal, digital nomadism, building a new life abroad, and what happens when you choose an unconventional path.
Community Involvement
- Founder of Coimbra City Digital Nomads
- Attendee and participant at Web Summit
- Active member of Portugal expat and digital nomad communities
- Creator of Atypical Vagabond
Follow the Journey
Travel doesn’t stop when a blog post ends.
You can follow along across the web:
Each platform offers a different window into the adventure.
Some stories are told through videos.
Some through photographs.
Some through long-form reflections.
All of them are part of the same journey.
Fast Facts About Carter
| Home Base | Coimbra, Portugal |
| Originally From | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Occupation | Travel Creator & Digital Nomad |
| Background | Biology, Computer Science, Technology Entrepreneur |
| Favorite Travel Style | Slow Travel |
| Current Mission | Finding Home Abroad |
| Camino Routes | Camino Português & Camino Francés |
| Motto | A Traveler in Search of a Home |
You’re Not Traveling Alone
One of the greatest lessons travel has taught me is that the journey is never truly about destinations. It’s about people.
- The friends met on pilgrimage routes.
- The strangers who become companions.
- The conversations that change perspectives.
- The communities that form around shared dreams of adventure and freedom.
Atypical Vagabond has become more than a website. It’s a gathering place for travelers, digital nomads, expats, pilgrims, and curious souls who believe there may be a different way to experience life.
If that’s you, welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
Why “Atypical Vagabond”?
Because I never fit neatly into the expected path. I’ve been a business owner, a technology professional, a traveler, a digital nomad, an expat, and a pilgrim.
Each chapter taught me something valuable.
Being an atypical vagabond means embracing curiosity over certainty, experiences over possessions, and adventure over routine. It means accepting that the journey itself often matters more than the destination.
And it means understanding that sometimes the search for home takes you around the world before you discover what home actually means.
Join the Adventures
Whether you’re planning your first international trip, considering a move abroad, researching digital nomad life, or preparing for the Camino de Santiago, I hope you’ll find something useful here.
You can follow along through:
- YouTube
- Blog Articles
- Travel Guides
- Social Media
- Future Newsletter Updates
Contact
Have a question, collaboration idea, or just want to say hello?
I’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out through the contact page or connect with me on social media.
See you somewhere on the road.
Atypical Last Thoughts
Who was I? A business owner searching for success.
Who have I become? A traveler searching for meaning.
Where am I going? I’m still finding out. If this journey teaches anything, it’s that the most rewarding paths are rarely the ones we planned.
Sometimes all it takes is a little curiosity, a willingness to take the first step, and the courage to follow the road wherever it leads.
- Maybe you’re searching for a destination.
- Maybe you’re searching for a new life.
- Or maybe, like me, you’re searching for home.
Whatever your journey looks like, I hope something here helps you take the next step forward.
I help travelers find solutions.
With my wealth of experience, I’m dedicated to helping travelers navigate their journeys easily and confidently.
Blog
This isn’t the most accessible lifestyle, and solutions do not happen at the drop of a dime. But the answers come true with patience, hard work, and community building. I’m still constantly traveling the world. I don’t have a home base today and live out of my suitcase. Many times, it is my passion for adventure that gets me through the rough times of travel. These aspects of the voyage keep me going after all these years.
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