Hi, my name is Nick, and I am on a mission to help people reset their relationship with high technology.
For over a decade, I worked on academic research ships in extremely remote oceanic regions, often spending up to two months at a time in areas as far from land as you can possibly go. This unique lifestyle deepened my understanding and appreciation for all sorts of technology. From using simple nets to study essential life-giving microbes that produce half of the oxygen we breathe, to deploying high-tech robots to volcanically active seamounts to collect samples of life that have never before encountered mankind or even light.
On these ships, technology was essential for survival, data collection, and communication. With only a few kilobytes of satellite bandwidth shared among 40 people, we relied heavily on our onboard servers for digital needs. Despite the lack of fast internet, we didn’t wallow in self-pity or boredom. Instead, we built a strong sense of community—one rooted in empathy, face-to-face conversations, knowledge-sharing, and teamwork.
Then, fast internet arrived. The introduction of services like SpaceX’s Starlink disrupted this once close-knit environment. Meaningful connections were replaced by constant distractions and the ever-present feeling of being "elsewhere." A familiar loneliness crept in—a room full of people, each staring blankly at their screens. The strongest sense of community I had ever known quietly faded, like a cloud rolling in, casting a shadow over what was once a resilient and deeply connected way of life.
After many years at sea, I took a much-needed break, spending a year off-grid in a travel trailer, parked deep in remote National Forests. Without the distractions of constant connectivity, I rediscovered the joy of living simply—finding fulfillment in observing the harmonies of the untamed wilderness while also forming deeper, more present human connections with my closest friends.
This experience brought me back to my childhood, where I spent endless hours in the woods building treehouses from surplus wood and discarded materials. Growing up, the forests surrounding my family’s suburban home were my refuge, fueling my love for nature, self-reliance, and intentional living. Having the opportunity to relive those moments as an adult reinforced their importance and deepened my commitment to preserving them for future generations.
Now, as a father, my resolve is unshakable. My children—and future generations—deserve a world where technology serves them, not the other way around. With any luck, I will be able to set a good example for my kids so that there is a chance that their beautiful, playful, curious young minds don't get zombified by the internet.
To achieve this, I am developing a tech detox retreat—a place where people can disconnect from screens and reconnect with the real world.
Within the next five years, I plan to purchase several acres of land in rural Pennsylvania and establish a tech detox retreat—a place where people can disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.
The retreat will consist of three phases:
This is more than just a retreat—it's the start of a larger movement. Through my YouTube channel, I am establishing the foundation for digital independence, proving that this vision is not only possible but necessary.
By supporting this initiative, you are helping create an alternative to the status quo—one where we reclaim meaning in our lives, rebuild geographically local networks, and ensure future generations are not trapped in our corporate-controlled virtual dopamine prison.
If you feel as I feel and want a place like this to exist near you, click the next page where you can contact me directly.
Let’s redefine what it means to live within our technological means—and by doing so, live more meaningfully.
Livin Means Trailer