Hey travelers 👋You’re going to start seeing a new Wednesday post here — Travel Mood Wednesday. Yes, it’s fun. But it’s also quietly doing some important work behind the scenes. Here’s why it matters (plain English): Skool pays attention to:• Comments• Reactions• Member-to-member replies• Activity coming from many members (not just me) When more of you jump in — even in small, low-effort ways — it signals:👉 This is an active, valuable community. Active communities get shown. Shown communities grow. 🚀 The Goal (Saying It Out Loud)Help One Step Away Travelers climb the Discovery pages. More visibility → more aligned travelers finding us → more momentum for conversations, connections, and trips. 🎥 How Travel Mood Wednesday Works Every Wednesday:• I’ll post one simple prompt• You respond with a GIF• No overthinking• Mood > clever That’s it. 🔁 If You Want to Help (Optional but Powerful)On Wednesdays:1️⃣ Drop a GIF2️⃣ Reply to at least one other traveler3️⃣ React to the GIFs you relate to That tiny loop goes a long way. 🎥 Why GIFs Work So Well• Low effort to participate• Easy to respond to others• Encourages reactions naturally• Shows personality, not pressure This is a team sport — and this is one of the easiest ways to contribute without adding anything else to your plate. I’ll keep an eye on our Discovery ranking so we can see what’s actually moving the needle. 📊 Current Discovery Rank: 440 👇 Today’s Travel Mood Wednesday Prompt Drop a GIF that captures your current travel mood — dreaming, planning, stuck, ready, chaotic, relaxed… all of it counts. Here’s mine 👇(If there’s a sloth involved, mind your business 😄) [ENG-MAG | SERIES | TRAVEL-MOOD-WED | DISCOVERY | RPT | NEXT: 2026-01-14]

Travel is better when you realize you’re not the only one nearby 👀 👇 Jump in:• Drop a map or travel-themed GIF• Comment your city / region• Tag someone nearby if you spot them 📍 Here’s the community map Quick poll: Anyone near you?

Shoutout to a few early voices helping set the tone here — appreciate you. @Christine Berencz @Cindy Hildner @Bertha Cordova @Adan Garza III

This space is open and judgment-free ✨Share whatever’s on your travel-loving mind: ✈️ A trip you’re dreaming about📸 A travel memory you’ll never forget 💡 A tip you wish you’d known sooner😮‍💨 Or a travel frustration you just need to say out loud No pressure. No right answers. Just travelers sharing real thoughts and experiences. 👇 Drop it below — we’re listening. [TT-OPENMIC | RPT | NEXT: 2026-01-11]

A few days ago I asked where you’d most want to go next…and New Orleans was the clear winner. Not even close. 😉 So here’s what’s happening: We’re officially building a small, hosted group trip to New Orleans for late May. Not a rushed tour. Not a giant bus group. Think: music, food, culture, and time to actually enjoy the city — with people who want connection and comfort. What we’re aiming for: - Late May (great weather, great energy, fewer crowds) - Small, curated group (intentionally limited) - Designed with a 40+ crowd in mind - Hosted experience — not “figure it out on your own” 👉 This trip will live inside the new 2.0 version of this community (One Step Away Collective), and everyone here is invited to join when it opens/No action needed yet .. details, dates, and links are coming soon. Want first access when it opens? Comment “Interested” below and I’ll make sure you’re looped in as we release details. More to come. This one’s shaping up nicely. 🎶🍽️✨ [TRIP-BUILD | NOLA | INIT | DATE: 2026-01-08]