Hey, Reader! 👋

Last week I made a conscious decision not to write this newsletter, and I think you might find the reason why helpful.

See, I had a random song idea pop into my mind, and felt compelled to get it down right away before it made a mad dash back to the ether.

I was thoroughly entrenched in the songwriting process, as it tends to happen, and really got into the flow of writing and making music to the point where time just dissapears.

I realized I still needed to write this newsletter but instead consciously chose to do the creative thing I really wanted to do in that moment.

I knew if I did write the newsletter I was going to be doing a half assed job, and you don't deserve that.

I also didn't want to pull myself out of the joys that accompany that flow state.

I'm sharing this as a reminder that, sometimes, the right move is to shirk your responsibilities and choose what is making you happy in the moment over the things that need to "get done".

Coincidentally, this week I picked up a fantastic book on time management which reinforced that same idea. It's called Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and I'm loving it so far.

All that said, here's a challenge for you this week...
​
Give yourself permission to say f*ck it to something you "need" to do and instead, go do something for yourself.

I don't think you'll regret it!

--
​

Here's what you'll find inside this week...

• How (and why) to plan a "mini-retirement" to travel
• Why travel can shake up your relationships in unexpected ways (and that's a good thing!)
• Is this the world's most inauthentic city? (c´mon!)
• Getting paid to move (like making $11,700 for example)
• An experience that can take you off the beaten path on any USA road trip.

Let's go!

🎙️ Planning a Mini-Retirement + Why Over 2 Years of Travel Lead to an (Amicable) Divorce

After saving for two years, Helen Lin and her former husband, Tim, put their life into storage, rented out their home, and quit their 9–5 jobs to take off on a mini-retirement traveling around the world.
​
They documented their 25+ month adventure across 26 countries on their YouTube channel, Helen and Tim Travel.
​
Along the way, their relationship was reshaped by the experience, and they ultimately returned home divorced, still grateful for the journey they shared.

In this episode, Helen shares what it actually looked like to plan and take an extended trip as a mini retirement, including the practical runway, the emotional realities, and the unexpected ways long-term travel can impact your relationships.

Tune In To Learn:

• Why Helen thinks “mini retirement” beats waiting for traditional retirement
• How increasing your savings rate can create a real travel runway
• Advice for choosing destinations around seasonality and the adventures you want most
• How guided trips can reduce risk and planning overwhelm for big hikes and outdoor goals
• What Helen learned from campervanning in Norway and New Zealand, and what she’d plan differently
• How long-term travel can amplify relationship patterns, for better or for worse
• Why “wherever you go, there you are” applies to mental health on the road
• How to think about boundaries and personal space when traveling with a partner
• How Helen and Tim earned about 1.5M points and miles over time to support their travels

Or search "Zero To Travel" wherever you listen to podcasts.​
​

📌 Travel Round-Up

🌆 The Least Authentic City In The World?

Travel + Leisure recently published an article sharing the world's "least authentic city based on traveler feedback" and I have a bone to pick.

First of all, how desperate are travel media companies getting for clicks when they feel the need to brand an entire city "inauthentic" simply because of the aspects of it that cater to tourists?

According to the article, the top ranking city is none other than Chicago.

WTF?!?

I love Chicago!

Go to a day game at Wrigley.

Soak in the paintings at the awesome Art Institute Of Chicago.

Sway to the blues until sun breaks at Kingston Mines.

That's a helluva great day (and night).

I've done all of those things, and at no point was I thinking "Man, this city is sooooo inauthentic."

Anyway, if you want to see the other cities on the list go here.

If I had to have a #1 here it would probably be Niagara Falls (the Canadian side).

But even there, you can still meet interesting locals and I'm sure you can find something off the beaten path (somewhere).

In conclusion, I just don't think trying to rank cities in terms of authenticity is a good look.

Rant over...

🏖️ Getting Paid To Move

Every so often I like to remind readers that there are cities that will pay you a solid chunk of change to move there.

Sure, you might not of thought of relocating to Northeast Indiana, but perhaps $11,700 plus additional benefits might make you consider it?

​Make My Move is a great place to track these programs in the states.

Here is a list of 5 European countries that will pay you to move in 2026.​

🗺️ Best Minor League Baseball Towns

I love minor league baseball games. They are intimate, fun, and always packed with local fans.

If you're looking to break off the beaten path consider adding a minor league baseball game in a random town to your road trip itinerary.

USA Today published a list of minor league baseball towns that are "worth the trip" which you can see here.​

🙌🏼 Community Shout Out

Our podcast guest this week (and my friend) Helen Lin recently launched a non-profit called Waves of Color.

Their mission (for her website):

Waves of Color's mission is to support the next generation of women to become surf leaders, coaches, mentors, and competitors.

We offer scholarships, access to surf and ocean education, well-being resources, and opportunities for surf skill development.

50% of our scholarships directly support women of color.

You can learn more and support the organization here.​

Got a story to share? Drop me a line and we'll share it with the community or click here to send me an audio message.​

Do you feel a friend or family member would get value out of this newsletter?

Feel free to forward it or have them sign up here.​

🙏 Travel Tech Tools (Including Great Discounts!)

🦈 Surfshark VPN: Stay Protected Online

Surfshark VPN—Virtual Private Network—encrypts everything you do online safeguarding your data and privacy.

It's as essential as having your passport, takes only 2 minutes to set up, and you can use it on an unlimited number of devices and easily connect to over 4500 servers in 100 countries.

Surfshark VPN can even SAVE you money on everything from flight tickets and hotel bookings to online shopping purchases by connecting to a location where prices are more affordable.

Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! (Comes with a money-back guarantee).

A quote before you go...

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."

-Brené Brown

​Follow us on instagram here.​

​Connect with me on LinkedIn here.​

Thanks for being a part of this community, and we'll see you next week!

Much love ❤️,

Jason

​👉 Subscribe To The Zero To Travel Podcast Here (It's FREE)