Dia Duit, Reader!

I started writing this month's edition from Dublin, so I wanted yous to have a proper Irish greeting. Yes, I said "yous" on purpose!

It has been a travel-filled month, with the focus on visiting friends and having short but deep experiences along the way through six countries.

My trip to Europe was prompted by the 150th anniversary celebration of Pinneberg, Germany (Rockville, Maryland's sister city) followed by the TBEX Europe 2025 conference in County Donegal, Ireland.

Despite only allowing myself three days to "recover" from a month in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, we jetted off to Puerto Rico for a bit of a reset and that's where this newsletter is coming from.

As the final quarter of the year nears, it seems like a good time to slow down, reflect, and take inventory of the year.

There's no question, this year has been a banner year for travel. Truth be told, I'm exhausted and in need of a break.

Even John The Traveler needs to not travel once in a while. And that's OK.

Alright then, let's go with your monthly dose of curiosity and inspiration!

Taking Inventory

After attending conferences and meeting people from all over the world over the past few years, my reward has been to see some of them in their home countries.

On this trip alone, I visited 12 people across five countries. It wasn't exactly planned this way but that's how it played out.

I'm so grateful to these friends for taking the time to grab a drink, share their home, prepare a meal, or just talk.

Some of these friendships began with only a 15-minute conversation.

Think about it: you meet someone and chat for a fraction of an hour of your lives. Something sparks a connection and you stay in touch.

If the stars align, maybe you will meet again and have a chance to deepen the relationship.

That's one of the things I find so special about travel friends. Some people struggle to stay in touch (I'm one of them!), or never see each other even if they live in the same city.

Yet, being separated by oceans and mountains doesn't stop travelers from finding a way to meet.

The warmth of these friends and the kindness and generosity of strangers I encountered always triumphs.

It was especially meaningful to be able to attend the sesquicentennial celebration of Pinneberg, Germany becoming a city.

As Treasurer of the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation for over six years, it was an honor to serve as part of the delegation to visit our sister city for the festivities and see this city for the first—but not the last—time.

My second TBEX event was timely from a business perspective and allowed me to network with knowledgeable content creators as well as meet up with more friends who also attended the event.

The location was particularly special to me as I grew up hearing my cousin Mary Pat tell me stories about the charming people and lush green countryside. It seems fitting that I "saved" Ireland for my official 75th country.

Out of Curiosity...

Inventory is taking stock of the things you have and assessing the value.

I'm feeling gratitude for all the relationships, cultural experiences, and privileges that I have.

It's also time to look at those things that no longer serve me or aren't contributing to my long-term success or life plans.

That's the focus for the rest of this year while I wind down my travels and appreciate all the amazing places and people that made 2025 one for the books!

So, out of curiosity...

In your travels or really anywhere, have you met someone briefly who later became a good friend?

Please, share your story!

The Teal Spotlight

One of the friends I had the fortune of visiting on this trip was Jason Moore. He is the founder of the wildly successful Zero To Travel podcast that features real stories about people making travel a more central part of their lives. I started listening about 8 years ago.

I first met Jason in 2019 in Mexico at an event hosted by Location Indie, the (former) community he co-founded with Travis Sherry to help people achieve more lifestyle freedom and connect with others of like mind.

He was also at the first Camp Indie, and his call there to do something each day of the event "that makes you feel uncomfortable" really stuck with me. It was an integral step to get me to leave my job and pursue the lifestyle I have now.

In fact, Jason practiced what he preached when he resigned from Location Indie to pursue other endeavors, proving that life and career can be ever-changing if you want them to be.

Jason has worked as an event tour manager, including being a roadie for the band Matt & Kim. He traveled throughout the USA and spent more than 10 years traveling nomadically all over the world.

When he isn't busy with new projects or the podcast, he plays in the band Laundry House based in the Oslo area, where he lives with his wife and children.

Whether you're itching to travel more or just want to hear interesting stories, practical tips, and honest discussions about the travel lifestyle, you must sign up for his newsletter and check out his pod.

Tools 4 Travel

I'm excited to announce that I will be published! National Geographic will release The Traveler's Atlas of the World on November 4, 2025. I contributed three chapters based on recent actual travel experience. It's quite an exciting moment and I'd love it if you got one for yourself or a travel lover you know. You can pre-order here. The book will be available at most major retailers including Amazon.

It's official...the third Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held once again in Bangkok, Thailand from October 22-25, 2026. It promises to be bigger and better than ever, with an added day and several add-on excursions. If you're curious about meeting the world's most traveled people or just want to see what it's all about, check it out!

Disclaimer: This section contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you for reading. Happy Autumn!

Be curious!
John

​JohnTheTraveler.com​

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