As an atypical DN effectively going from base to base (that is, if I like somewhere I make it a โbaseโ for sometime) yet who grew up without a base, the concept is something close to my soul. @whereskristin sums it up well. If you think you need a base, be analytical, else if you feel emotionally attached to somewhere (other than merely โmissing itโ), then listen to your gut.
My main criteria is the slightly at odds combination of being somewhere I can retreat to when the chaos is too much, and also somewhere I can host the friends I meet around the world (in practice this has yet to really happen for probably obvious reasons ). Oh but also โmediterraneanโ climate! Recently Iโve come to realise that relationships (professional or otherwise) need a degree of stability, which seems the foremost element of having a base.
So originally I was looking for somewhere remote, desolate, beautiful, errm, cheap! I donโt however drive (legally) which makes this quite implausible, as wherever your base is, you need to be able to reach it easily. My current little town has a Ryainair airport, a train station and motorways to neighbouring cities, not to mention tourism. Almost perfect except for the professional element. So Iโm shifting to a town nearer a city, lacking the tourism and airport. Time will see how it works out.
I will say that if youโve got savings enough (because nomads will never get mortgages right?), the unending migration of people to the largest metros means there are astounding deals to be had purchasing property in towns, (observations of Europe). To me ownership and utility are the definitions of a base. This could be shared though. Somewhere just to keep stuff is not a base. If people recognise you, and you enjoy recognising familiar things, thatโs a potential base for sure.
Iโm on my way towards having a second, larger base, and Iโm hoping to make it something that otherโs can participate in too. I really like the idea of a place which nomads can drift in and out of, but feel familiar despite the nomadism.
On the medical point, Iโm diabetic, but everywhere Iโve been it hasnโt been a problem, in India one can walk into any chemist and buy insulin (individually out of the box!), whilst in well-regulated France yes many chemists refuse to serve without a prescription, but keep at it and others will be happy to serve you regardless (particularly if you play the stupid foreigner), albeit for the full box.