Resources

Things I return to. Tools, habits, and references that make travel—and coming home from it—more intentional.

This isn’t a packing list or a gear roundup.

These are things I’ve used over years on the road—sometimes daily, sometimes only when things feel off. Some help with logistics. Others help with attention, patience, or perspective. A few exist simply to slow things down.

None of this is required.
All of it is optional.

Take what fits. Leave the rest.

Planning Without Overplanning

Structure matters. Especially when time is limited or energy is low. These are tools I use to build a framework—never a script.

Google Maps (Saved Lists)
Used sparingly. One or two anchors per place, not twenty.
Rome2Rio
For understanding how places connect before committing to routes.
Airalo / eSIM services
Reliable connectivity without the friction of local SIM hunting.
TripIt (light use)
For holding confirmations—not controlling days.

Rule of thumb: if a tool makes me rush, I stop using it.

Staying Present While Moving

These aren’t about productivity. They’re about noticing.

Offline Notes App / Paper Journal
Not for daily logs—just fragments. Sentences. Observations.
Camera (used intentionally)
Fewer photos. Longer pauses before taking them.
Noise-canceling headphones
Not for distraction—for creating quiet when there isn’t any.
Walking without destination
No app. No purpose. Just movement.

Some of the most important moments happen when nothing is scheduled.

Books That Travel Well

These aren’t travel guides. They’re books that understand movement, change, and the space between places.

Zen and the Art of motorcycle maintenance — Robert M. Pirsig
Travels with Charley — John Steinbeck
The Old Ways — Robert Macfarlane
Blue Highways — William Least Heat Moon
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail — Bill BrysonOn Looking — Alexandra Horowitz

I don’t read much while moving fast. These are for slower stretches—or for after.

After the Trip Ends

Most travel advice stops at arrival. The harder part is return.

Time buffer before re-entering routine
Even one unscheduled day helps.
Revisiting notes weeks later
Meaning often shows up late.
Letting trips change future choices
Not every journey needs repeating. Some just need listening.

Travel doesn’t end when you unpack.
It ends when it changes something.

No End Point

This page will evolve. Some things will disappear. Others will surface as the years add up.

Nothing here is sponsored. Nothing is optimized.
If something earns its place, it stays.

If you’re looking for certainty, this probably won’t help.
If you’re looking for space, it might.