Trip notetaking works well because it conforms to the degree it’s important to the traveler. If you travel frequently, your trip notes will look different than if you don’t. They probably won’t be as detailed, as fewer things will be “new” or especially memorable. Likewise, your trip notes from decades ago will likely look different than they would now. For instance, some aspects of island culture were foreign to me during my first trip or two. I wasn't expecting to see so many feral chickens or dogs, for instance. My trip notes reflect that—both are mentioned more than once. But these days, after a number of island trips, neither would make my notes at all, unless there was a specific incident I was referencing. It's now a non-noteworthy and unmemorable experience for me, so it's not something that gets recorded. Instead, my trip notes will likely focus in on more nuanced details about the experience, which are the new "firsts" for me. Because that's what I noticed, what seemed novel, what changed how I thought about something, or the first time I learned something. Because my perspective is different today than it was five years ago. This is one reason I enjoy [[Progressive journaling]]. What seemed interesting and unusual when I experienced it the first time may feel entirely normal, like second nature, later. Going back to review some of these journals allows me to see my evolution, both as a traveler and as a person.