Nomadism is a way of life that involves moving from one place to another, rather than staying in one location permanently. In Oceanyka this encompasses hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, but also people whose lifestyle forces them to be on the move, such as traders or survivalists. Nomadic culture has many advantages and challenges, such as adapting to different environments, preserving traditions, finding resources, and interacting with other communities. It is heavily influenced by factors such as climate, geography, technology, and regional politics.
Because of the particular circumstances and constant perils in which Oceanykans constantly find themselves, nomadic culture has developed parallel to its sedentary counterparts and large tracts of land (primarily in the Outback) continue to be inhabited by these peoples. Nomads distinguish themselves for their hardiness and resourcefulness, though they also tend to be extremely conservative and deeply religious; so much in fact, that many aspects of traditional Oceanykan culture are only kept alive within its nomadic societies. The only notable exception to these latter aspects is in traders, who tend to be very open-minded and liberal, a consequence of their constant exposure to new ideas and different cultures, as well as the necessity to do business with anyone.