Her biggest travel lesson didn’t come from a trip

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here 👋

Two weeks ago we kicked off a little Sunday tradition — every second Sunday one of you gets to share your story. When Alex’s email went out, it clearly struck a chord with many of you.

Today it’s Rachel’s turn. She probably wouldn’t call it a “life change” herself, but her story shows how travel — and especially packing — shifts completely once life throws something new at you. She also dropped a couple of tips I think many of you will love.

So grab your coffee (I’ve already had mine ☕) and here’s Rachel’s story:

Hey Johannes,

After reading Alex’s story last week, I felt like I wanted to share mine too. It’s not as big of a life change as his (haha), but more about how I actually pack and how things shifted for me.

Back when I was 28, I traveled a lot — usually short trips, mostly within the States since I had a full-time job. I always tried to go light, one backpack only, and I loved watching minimalist travel videos to see how others did it. Over time, I found two small tips that always helped me:

1. I keep a “plane pouch” — just the things I’ll actually need mid-flight (snacks, Kindle, earplugs, gum). No more digging through my whole bag.

2. I pre-pack my toiletries in travel sizes and just leave them in my bag, so I never forget the basics.

Fast forward four years, and my life did change — I now have a two-year-old daughter growing up here in Virginia. We just did our first trip together to Spain, and honestly, it was a whole different world. That’s when your video on all-inclusive travel came to mind. I got the white noise machine you mentioned, and it saved us. My daughter actually napped on the plane (!!) and even in the noisy hotel. For me, that one little gadget made all the difference.

I think a lot of moms realize, just like I did, that the way you pack completely changes once you travel with kids. Suddenly those “extra gadgets” are not extra at all — they’re sanity savers.

So thanks, Johannes. Your videos really help in ways you might not even notice. And I hope you don’t judge my little tips too hard, haha.

Warmly,
Rachel

I really loved Rachel’s story — and I’m so grateful for this community we’re building here. Week after week, you remind me why I started this newsletter in the first place: real stories, real tips, and travelers supporting each other.

We’ll see each other again in Wednesday’s edition — I’ve got a special announcement for you and a brand new gadget-focused issue coming, starting with a topic that many of you have been asking me about… but I’ll keep that surprise for now 😉

Enjoy your Sunday,
Johannes

P.S. If you want a peek at what I was up to this weekend, check out the photos I just shared on Instagram— lots of behind-the-scenes moments you won’t see anywhere else!

CLICK HERE