This /now page is inspired by Derek Sivers - it's the place where I record the overarching themes of what I'm thinking about in a given month, as well as books I read and places I visited.
I've been migrating digital tools again. Every time I switch away from the most minimal tools, I regret it. I prefer VIM and text/markdown files every time. I was trying Notion, then Obsidian, and they were fine, but I don't like having to use a mouse more than I need to and I'm much more comfortable in VIM. Any time I forget this, I should just go back to Derek Sivers' site for an inspirational reminder.
In addition I've been thinking a lot about the format and delivery of the content I'm producing. I've discovered digital gardens, and Maggie Appleton, and loving this concept of evergreen, deeply-linked content, forming a web of associations, over the linear streams of information we've become used to on the web.
I read Tiago Forte's Building a Second Brain, and while I enjoy the overall concept, going back in time to the Zettlekasten has been more productive for me. I love the way it ties in to a digital garden.
I've started a digital garden and considering how I'll incorporate it into macmartine.com, and The Curious Innovator newsletter. The newsletter may simply become my best/favorite Zettlekasten's from the previous week.
Books read:
Places visited:
I joined the Small Bets community, and went through the course. I really enjoyed it, and loved the Nassim Taleb references, as he's one of my favorite authors.
Also started the Farnam Street Decisions by Design course which is 12-weeks long. It's also been great.
We've been working on getting ready to apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa. It's been more difficult than it was to get the Croatia one, partly because we're doing it from Croatia, and not the U.S. It makes things much harder. It's the simple things you wouldn't think about, like trying to send a check or money order the FBI, or sending a pre-paid return envelope. It's no-one's fault so much as incompatible systems. Europe doesn't have a notion of personal checks or money orders without having the destination account's routing number and account number on it. We don't have personal checks with us, and the FBI doesn't give out their bank account information for us to get a EU-style check for them. It's that kind of stuff times twenty.
Not to mention Portugal required opening a bank account before applying, which can only be done in person in Portugal. And they require a signed 12-month apartment lease prior to applying, which isn't easy to get from afar, sight-unseen, 8 months in advance.
Books read:
Placed visited:
Places visited:
Places visited:
Arrived in Zagreb, Croatia (to live there for a year)
Places visited:
Places visited: