An observational look into how truly unique interactions occur around waves. A while back I was sauntering back up the sand on New South Wales’ northernmost beach break. It was a wild and stormy day, with squalls and biting rain, yet semi clean 4ft peaks were ensuring the line-up was fairly full. I noticed up towards the bush-line a familiar sight, an umbrella and perched beneath it a cameraman and a kneeling surfer, both scanning the horizon. They were deep in conversation it seemed, as I got closer, I then saw the cameraman begin to gesticulate with hand motions to his audience of one. A spitting barrel with one hand and the 2-finger swoop of his other hand indicating a bottom turn and an off the lip snap. How did I know this? Because I’ve seen it literally dozens of times. From a sunrise lit car park on the beach in England, to a sweaty Bintang soaked back street bar in Bali, these gestures as a surfer are very much universal.  Our phones and media tell us constantly that the world is dangerous and on the brink of destruction, you would be mad to talk to somebody you don’t know It got me thinking, that as a sport and leisure activity surfing actually has a very special and individual communication style between participants. Take for example the openness we have to talk to a complete stranger. You know the one, you’re stood scanning a spot, coffee in hand and analysing the wave quality: is there any girls out there in bikinis? Do I need to visit the toilet before I paddle out? A fellow wave rider might be doing exactly the same and you exchange some small talk about how good it was yesterday, the banks have never been the same since (insert year) and that the tide turned half an hour ago and it should pick up. A complete unknown person to you. Could be anyone. Our phones and media tell us constantly that the world is dangerous and on the brink of destruction, you would be mad to talk to somebody you don’t know. But, like you they decide to step into the ocean and ride waves, this unknown human shares the same passion. This individual has merely been squeezed through a slightly different social and physiological mould to you, and subconsciously you decide that’s ok. A recent experience of this camaraderie involved myself in the lineup and a set wave being missed by everyone. The guy next to me peered over his shoulder and through squinted eyes exclaimed, “it’s still going mate, look!” I turned to look and my new middle aged kneeboarding friend was correct, everyone had indeed missed a great wave. The thing was this; he wasn’t irate because he didn’t catch the wave, he was genuinely irate that nobody had caught it. Shakas, hooting and calling your best mate into the wave of the day are fairly normal occurrences for surfers. Don’t get me wrong though, I doubt the hardy surfers of the Netherlands or other cold regions are throwing out too many shakas as they paddle out into wind blown frigid water, but they still share that fire and stoke. We feed on that energy in the water, it’s that energy that will have you giving, (again a complete stranger) a smile and nod as they make a ridiculous drop right before you, the shout of “GO” to someone as you realise you won’t claw your way onto that wave - the list really does go on. Where else does this happen? it’s hard to pin down another outdoor pursuit. Certainly not on the golf course that’s for sure. depending on the surf spot and how the offence goes down behaviour can range from dirty looks to full blown fist fights in and out of the water With all said and done, surfing can be a confrontational affair. It really is a double-edged sword. That stranger who you had every chance of exchanging pleasantries with has just been dropped in on, and is not happy about it. The aggression can reach boiling point and physical altercations are a real thing, depending on the surf spot and how the offence goes down behaviour can range from dirty looks to full blown fist fights in and out of the water. The switch can flick and that sudden atypical friendliness can just as quickly go the complete opposite way. For those around these affairs they either come off as comical or quite awkward, thankfully most people will leave their egos on the sand and surf for the pure enjoyment. However, you are always going to come across that ‘one guy’ who is out to ruin everyone’s day and thrash around the line-up, trying to catch every wave. These people ultimately attempt (albeit most of the time unconsciously) to kill the vibe in the water. One occasion I witnessed this, a few older guys with a few simple looks at one another and muttered words began working their magic to block the perpetrator, even snaking him on a couple of waves and before you knew it our gate crasher had enough and was heading in. It isn’t every day or session our angry friend and his ilk paddle out beside you, so I can live with that. The genuine connection you can have with somebody you don’t even know or even better still a close friend in the water is priceless though. The excitement and exhilaration you share in the whole experience from the early morning phone calls, spraying your mate off the back of a wave to the post surf dehydrated beers is truly a one off. I fondly hold onto a memory of surfing a little reef break in Indonesia with two close friends, just us, no one else out. As our little taxi boat and its endlessly smoking driver sat bobbing in the channel, we exchanged wave after wave. The last light of that afternoon sent incredible colours across the sky the like I hadn’t really seen before or in fact since, and those hoots and yells we shared echo in my ears still to this day.  Photo credit: Daniel Kimber @dkimber_photography
How coliving spaces (if done right) can be some of the most sustainable living environments around5/6/2020  Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Let’s get things straight coliving and coworking spaces, like all spaces, hotels and homes can have their physical ecological disadvantages and each one along with the supply and travel chains connecting it should be considered and encouraged to transition individually. Coliving and coworking spaces might use more power in regards to laptops and wifi, but they may also save and offset and encourage positive change in even more intangible but equally significant ways. Let’s discuss… Community feeling. A community feeling can help with loneliness and social anxieties vs. solo living that's been glorified for the past few decades. A group setting can help to increase life satisfaction and rewarding experiences. Harvard conducted the longest ever study to determine what leads to a joyful and rewarding life and the answer was surprisingly simple. “Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier”  Meaningful relationships and community are key then. Of course coliving doesn't necessarily equate to meaningful relationships or a community if you haven’t given yourself time to also establish a meaningful relationship with yourself it can also be a way of avoiding that task so a balance unique to every individual needs to be struck here. Why is community and happiness important for the planet? Well, when we’re happier and more engaged we’re less likely to consume our way out of anxiety or boredom. We’re more likely to live a more minimal lifestyle and put a priority on relationships with other people. We’re also more likely to be aware and open to being influenced to changing our lifestyles and habits as we have the base level satisfaction, peace and happiness to be able to understand there is more to life than just us. That almost inevitably leads to more conversations about important topics in society and contributing towards those in a meaningful way. How shared spaces can reduce impacts on the environment.
What can individuals using coliving spaces do to reduce their impact on the environment?
How can our coworksurf partners work towards more sustainability?
What are we doing as a company?
So there we have it. What are your thoughts? What else can we do? What else can you do? What have we missed? What have we done well?  Why it’s ok to confess to all our unsustainable imperfections. Get them off our chests and move along in a more conscious way. Disclaimer: Sustainability is a big topic and one I’m still just learning about as a human. I feel I still have a long, long way to go in terms of a better understanding. I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and personal confessions in the comments. Also I left my beard trimmer outside of lockdown in another "social isolation bubble" and haven't bought another one since as I look to reduce my consumption habits if you're offended by the ginger fuzz it's for the good of the planet. To get started here’s my own personal laundry list of the ways I’ve been having a non-sustainable impact on the environment over the past few years. This is probably just the tip of the (rapidly melting) iceberg of my unsustainable behaviours. Friends and family feel free to call me up on ones I’ve forgotten:
Ok Jesus... that was pretty hard to write and for sure it’s non exhaustive and doesn’t include the plethora of stupid stuff I’ve done throughout my life. I have stopped or reduced a lot of the above behaviours now but not all of them and not completely. So why is it ok to confess to all this stuff if I'm advocating for change? Step one: Be kind. If I’ve learned anything from self development is for us to be kind to ourselves first. There’s no point carrying or attaching stress or guilt to something we have done, but we can gradually address and improve our own behaviours. Step two: Awareness. The more we talk about the stuff we’re not doing in a collective shared way the more aware we become of it. Step three: Learn, adapt and change: Here’s an incredible in-depth discussion on the circular economy a nice bit of learning for anyone who might be interested in making systemic changes. Oh... and that next toothbrush will be bamboo!
Let me know your unsustainable confessions and plans for change in the comments. I promise this is a safe space.  Let's face it. Flying is a common way for many of us remote workers and surfers to get around. But what's the impact of all that? And more importantly what can we learn from this and adapt into our daily lives? Here are some statistics for forms of transport. The numbers below are for grams of CO2 emissions, per passenger kilometre.
In terms of getting around then flying is not beneficial for the environment. We'd be better off driving across the planet in our own car refuelling hundreds of times. As a side note, cruise ships surprisingly are also pretty horrendous because the amount of fuel needed by a big cruise ship to cover a distance is remarkably large, even though they transport more people. Flying as a trend though is becoming more and more popular. As a business we are actively encouraging people to move around by displaying properties all around the world in all these incredible spots. We don't stipulate how you travel to our partner locations but there's an assumption the majority of it often involves some flights. What can we do to reduce our impact with flying?"When it comes to flying, there is a hierarchy, a bit like the reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy." (withmanyroots.com got it pretty damn right with their paraphrasing of Lucy Siegle at the Guardian) "First don’t fly, second fly with the most efficient airline (always in economy) and lastly offset. " How does that translate to easy takeaways for our lives as digital nomads who love to surf, follow swells, friends and seasons?
Much love to you all. Don't be hard on yourselves for having flown a lot. The last thing we need is another thing to feel guilty about, but we can grow from this. We're all learning and we're learning together. Please comment below and start the discussion. What have you been doing, what else should we be thinking about? The ultimate guide to running and planning a team retreat for your company. Decelerate to accelerate. Ideal for remote teams and corporate get aways.  Photo by Annie Spratt How should you plan or structure your team retreat to make it successful? Here's 8 simple steps. Step 1. PLAN, PLAN and PLAN. It doesn’t need to be over the top but getting clear on your goals, vision and objectives is vital before you start looking at where this thing is going to take place. An example of a goal might be to improve the team culture or those human relationships that are not possible whilst working fully remotely. So make sure your retreat will allow for a lot of human interactions. Step 2. Budget Once you’ve nailed your goals. Set a budget. Per person per night. This can be a simple way to figure out what you're going to cover. Are you going to assist with travel if your team is remote? Are you going to feed everyone and take them partying? Take all of these things into consideration. Step 3. Start to research the perfect location Find and decide on the location. How easy is it to get to? How much travel will be required? Where are people coming from? Step 4. The venue Is it just a meeting space for a day? Are you staying somewhere for a week? A month? Think about what's important for the length of stay at your location. How does the architecture of a place facilitate interactions? Step 5. Feed yourselves How are you guys going to eat and drink. Are you near restaurants? Is a private chef an option? Step 6. Build the team and bond A team retreat is designed to bring people closer. What activities can you do to connect people? Surfing is an epic one. Just sayin' Step 7. Get some work done. Whether it’s daily tasks or the new vision for the future. Plan your workspace and work sessions and make sure this is all going to fly. Step 8. Communicate effectively Set up a group Whatsapp or slack channel. Things change people drop out, flights get delayed. Keep everything in a nicely organized spot. Invite the location owner into this chat so you can ask questions directly and save everyone time. The ultimate guide to hosting a retreat - for the venues. How should you host a retreat successfully?  Photo by Kilarov Zaneit Step 1. Align with your passions, priorities and motivations.
Be honest about what inspires you and your location. People love people. People love honest people living their best most aligned lives. Know what you love. What kind of retreat setting can you offer? How involved do you want to be? Do you love cooking and want to share that with everyone? Do you run yoga, surfing or meditation classes that people would enjoy? Do you want a hands off approach and to be purely a logistical facilitator? Get clear about your intentions, this will influence what kind of retreats you should host and how you should position yourself. Step 2. Communicate well and rapidly. Communicate answer questions pre-emptively. When they have a question. Listen. Take on feedback. Make them feel like you've got this covered. Create a mini preview video for teams. Describe what teams can expect at the location. Offer a way to get in touch immediately for a video call if they want. People are often in a rush when they organize these things and it’s one of their 7 tasks at work. How can they get in touch with you quickly and easily? Organize a time with them for a video call if they want. Set up a calendly. Step 3. Prepare and be ready Be ready for a team retreat. Can your venue and staff cope with 20, 50, 100, 1000 people all arriving at once? How are you going to get everything in place? Can you extend capacity into surrounding accommodations? Are there any larger nearby spaces that might come in handy? Is this a regular occurrence that you're used to handling for things like weddings or is this all new to you? Step 4. Set your availability Are you open for team bookings all year? What do you want to offer and what is a no no? Step 5. Clear and simple pricing and availability We know it's a challenge to quote for teams and team sizes but have a think about how you can provide ball park figures. Be upfront about pricing. Save every motherfucker some time. You got group deals? Great display them. You got availability? Great. Plot it into the availability calendar. Are you only receptive to team bookings in certain months. Great be clear about that. Step 6. ADD VALUE Be helpful, organised and add value. What local connections and services can you easily arrange or organise for these teams. Create a FAQ of the most common questions people will have. Getting here, transport, food, drink, activities etc. Lean in and listen to their custom requirements, accommodate where possible but be clear and upfront about what is not possible and what will need a separate price or quote. Step 7. Enjoy We all only have one life. Time is the only thing we can't generate more of. Make their experience as special as possible and try to enjoy it yourself. What is happening at Coworksurf?!
We want to be the best curated selection of coworking and coliving spaces near surf, and to prepare for a big launch pretty soon we got a whole lot of cool stuff in the pipeline. Keep an eye out for us!! :)) This month, we have freshened up the site and added 4 👇 new epic partners: Good ol friend Made is back in Bali, and his space is friggin pumping 
Jonathan and Moa were so excited to join Coworksurf that they gave themselves a little too hard of a high five in Ericeira, Portugal. (Good one Moa on hiding your cast.) 
Holy wow. Anna has totally nailed her space and community in Tenerife. Check it out - it's gorgeous. 
And Radical Rita joined from Cascais, Lisbon 
She's also great at hide and seek. Can you find her in this picture?
Plus Rui joined us with a bang from Areia Branca (near Peniche) securing his first team retreat already for October.  Lastly..We're launching Coworksurf's world only 'Dream jobs around the world'!! Don't have one yet? Get yoself set up!  Questions for you: Know a space we should add to our selection? Please let us know here! We want to be the cutting edge newsletter magazine around community, (remote) work and surf. Got cool remote work & surf videos, articles, podcasts or other tips that are happening? Share them with us by replying to this email (joe@coworksurf.com) + your preferred social media account for a feature :) okthatsitthankyou. MAKE.LIFE.EPIC. Pier and Joe
The 10 Best Coworking & Coliving Spaces Near Surf in 2019Community, wifi and waves. Do you need more in life? What are the best coworking and coliving spaces near surf in 2019? Let’s dive right in. 🌊 From your friends at Coworksurf :)  📸 by Teddy Kelley 10. Outsite Haleiwa - Coliving near surf 🌏 North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii This is a fully-equipped villa with 5 bedrooms, 7 beds, 3 bathrooms and everything you need to experience a beautifully balanced beach lifestyle, including: comfortable beds and luxury linens in a private or shared rooms, spacious workspace with high-speed Wifi, a large kitchen and open air shaded workspace, as well as information and access to fun local activities. - Outsite 💰 $2010 US per month for a single private room 🏡 7 people 💻 134 mbps 9. Coworkite - Coliving near surf 🌍 Cape Town, South Africa CoworKite offers a unique opportunity to combine coworking and coliving with a lifestyle connected to the beach and the ocean. Our mission is to make co-working inspiring, good for your soul, place where you can network with like-minded people and feel like you belong. Deep and focused work is absolutely exhausting. We believe that people are not only happier, but also more productive when they can release some stress with a bit of kitesurfing after work. - Coworkite 💰 €960,- per month for a single private room 🏡 4 people 💻 100 mbps 🏖 On the beach 8. Selina - Coliving near surf 🌏 Bocas del Toro, Panama Wondering where to stay in Bocas del Toro? Selina Bocas del Toro is at the epicenter of Isla Colon, Panama in the heart of Bocas Town. Hotels can’t compete with our friendly group of global travelers and locals. Fall in love with our community and share the good vibes by volunteering with Selina Gives Back. Come by for our super-popular happy hour every afternoon (especially fun on Friday!), the perfect introduction to our Selina family. - Selina 💰 €1440,- per month for a double 👥 private room with shared bathroom 🏡 50 rooms 💻 High (exact speed unknown) 🏖 On the beach 7. Coworking in the Sun - Coworking near surf 🌍 Tenerife, Spain After work, the dream island of Tenerife is yours to explore and enjoy. The year-round spring-feel of the island will give you that holiday vibe and, apart from having the opportunity to make the most of the Spanish way of life, you will be able to go diving, surfing, climbing, hiking, paragliding…or just watch the sun sink slowly below the horizon with an ice-cold drink in hand. - Coworking in the Sun 💰 €160,- per month for a fixed desk 🏡 20 fully equipped desks 💻 600 mbps 📆 Full weekly group activities calendar 🏖 15 minutes from the beach 6. Dojo - Coworking near surf 🌏 Canggu, Bali Dojo is located one minute walk from Echo Beach, Canggu on the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. Our vision is to create a thriving, collaborative community of conscious co-workers that believe in work-life balance, shared knowledge, productivity and positive social and environmental change. - Dojo 💰 €85,- per month for 50 hrs of coworking 💰€940,- per month for a queen room (unlimited coworking and surf lessons included) 🏡 100+ people coworking, 12 coliving rooms 💻 300 mbps 📆 Full weekly activities calendar 🏖 1 minute from the beach 5. The Stoke Works - Coliving near surf 🌏 Aljezur, Portugal The spacious coworking & coliving villa is located in a lovely, laid back location just two kilometers from the ocean. It has a super relaxed, welcoming vibe. Surrounded by the Costa Vicentina Natural Park it is embedded in a beautiful coastal landscape. Your dip in the pool is just an arm’s length from your coworking space! - The Stoke Works 💰€824,- per month for a 2-bed shared room 🏡 8 people 💻 100 mbps 🏖 5 minutes from the beach 🌊 2 high class surf spots within a 5 minute drive 🌊 20 surf spots accessible within a 40 minute drive 4. Surfing Nomads - Coliving near surf 🌏 Canggu, Bali Come and stay at our beautiful villa located 300m from some great surf spots here in Canggu, Bali! We cater towards remote workers, freelancers and nomads of all types with coworking areas and a mixture of private and dorm rooms within our coliving villa. Morning yoga surfing lessons, family dinners, events & activities are just a few thing that are included with your stay, so what are you waiting for? - Made from Surfing Nomads 💰€460,- per month for a neat 4-bed dorm 🏡 12 people 💻 50 mbps 🏖 300 meters from the beach 🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive 3. SunDesk - Coliving near surf 🌏 Taghazout, Marocco SunDesk is founded with the aim to give students, entrepreneurs, and professionals the opportunity to travel and work. Whether you’re a seasoned digital nomad or just someone looking for a focused getaway, we provide a quiet space and the facilities for you to be at your most productive. Keep in touch with your clients, maintain your sales and meet fellow coworkers from all over the world. - SunDesk 💰€768,- per month for a single private room (Daily breakfast and workspace included) 🏡 15 people 💻 200 mbps 🏖 5 minutes from the beach 🌊 10+ surf spots accessible within a 20 minute drive 2. PipeDream - Coliving near surf 🌏 Peniche, Portugal Just a short stroll from the beautiful beaches of Baleal, near the Portuguese fishing town of Peniche, we have the perfect coworking + coliving space for you. This is one of Portugal's top surfing locations with a thriving surf community, only 1 hour drive from Lisbon. The space consists of a four bedroom property with private rooms and two annexed apartments joined by a sunny spacious courtyard with hammocks, palm trees and a shaded chill out area. The property has a very sociable layout, but provides privacy and space when needed. Our black cat Neo (straight out of the Matrix) is also great company when he puts his cat mind to it :) The main coworking space consists of a long wooden table with ergonomic office chairs and hammock for taking that much deserved nap in between work and surf! We also have a standing desk and a few other more secluded spots around the house for your private phone or video calls. We are so close to the ocean, you can hear it when you close your eyes and listen out! You will feel its energy calling all your senses as soon as you arrive. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it. - Paul from PipeDream 💰€1250,- per month for a private double 👥 room 🏡 10 people 💻 100 mbps 🏖 A stroll from the beach 🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive 1. The Arctic Coworking Lodge - Coliving near surf 🌏 Lofoten, Norway Come check out our coliving/coworking space in Lofoten, Norway! Surrounded by Norway´s most awesome nature, we´re located 5 minutes away from the world-class arctic surf spot of Unstad. If you are seeking community/coworking, surf and awe-inspiring nature experiences - there is no where better! Come get inspired in our beautiful playground. - Rolf and Stian from the ACL 💰€1720,- per month for a private double 👥 room 🏡 12 people 💻 100 mbps 🏖 5 minutes from the beach And those are our top 10 coworking and coliving spaces around the world this year! Did we miss any? Let us know!
We hope you found what you were looking for. :) Stay stoked! 🐙 The Undiscovered Waves of the Pacific, Panama |
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Lukie
Freelance Marketing & PR from Amsterdam I'm a freelancer who loves to surf, so I'm eager to explore the possibilities of working from another country. I'm full of energy and always on the lookout for fun stuff to do. I can easily get along with people and enjoy initiating and facilitating group events. Would love to share a workplace with other freelancers, while improving my surf skills :) www.getlukie.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukiestalenhoef. https://www.instagram.com/get.lukie/ |
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Thega-Alem
Digital Marketing Coordinator from San Diego I love exploring this world and meeting new people and learning about new cultures and philosophies. I enjoy creating a space where people feel comfortable being unapologetically themselves. I love traveling and being outdoors in a community and alone and I think Coworksurf will finally allow me to work on my goal of learning to surf by going out into the water consistently. www.linkedin.com/in/Thega-Alem-Berhe-713053137 https://www.instagram.com/thegaalem/ |
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Nancy
Fashion photographer and docu vlogger from Amsterdam I love to surf and to photograph the beautiful country, nature, people and of course the co-working space. Looking forward to work with great inspiring and adventurous people! www.nancyschoenmakers.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZZCUCJKidSv2Lg4VgsjQPg https://www.instagram.com/nancyschoenmakers/ |
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Avery and Sam
Both work in Sales from Arizona I (Avery) stayed at the CoworkSurf in Canggu and loved it! The constant brain storming and growth, developing & creating with the coworking environment was amazing. I was constantly inspired and loved building something with so many different creatives from all over the world. Coworksurf is the perfect combo of work and play. We are from Utah & Arizona and are so excited to come to Panama because we love central america, and we are stoked to learn from you legends! https://www.instagram.com/avemarin_ https://www.instagram.com/samspencer00 |
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Isabelle
Surf Instructor and all round legend from Netherlands I starting surfing four years ago and fell in love with it since day one. The last year I’ve been traveling and surf coaching in Indonesia and Europe. I’m super excited to go to Panama and experience a different culture, meet some amazing people and great food. https://www.instagram.com/isabelleijkelkamp |
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Sandra
Educational design coordinator and freelance photographer from Netherlands Frenchy living in the Netherlands who tries to travel as much as possible. Travel and business photographer (FotoGenoten) who loves life and the challenges it offers. I love working with and being around young(er) ambitious people in the midst of their professional (and personal) development. And I like to help people grow in a way that fits them and their culture and that helps them make sense if themselves and the world around them. Apart from being a photographer, I’m also an educational designer with lots of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation education (hands-on and conceptually sound). Educational design: check out www.inholland.com/IBIS fotogenoten.com https://www.instagram.com/FotoGenoten |
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Jennifer
Branding and Yogi from Richmond Virginia I have been into solo travel for a few years and Central America has been my favorite, this mid-west girl is slowly getting better at surfing each time. I have an advertising background and just finished my masters degree with a premier graduate program in Business and Branding, the VCU Brandcenter. I am looking to start independent consulting (and be a digital nomad myself). I am excited for the beach and time to reflect on how I want to communicate my business. I am excited about the group of people going, I think I can learn a lot from them already working freelance in creative fields. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennroot/ http://www.jennroot.work https://www.instagram.com/jenn010r |
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Ainhoa
Photographer, blogger surfer and skater from Barcelona. My name is Ainhoa and im from Barcelona. I love take photos and write around the life. I have a blog " walkingwithnhoa" and my dream is walk around the world. when no im walking i am surfing the city!! se u soon for walk together!! https://www.instagram.com/ainhoa_garcia |