Hi, I'm [R. Scott Jones](https://rscottjones.com), and welcome to my ideas notebook. For now, these notes primarily serve as a home for a concept I call [[§ 0 - Return on Adventure|Return on Adventure]] (ROA). I started developing this concept as a way to maximize my own personal enjoyment from travel. I figured that since I prioritize travel in my life, I ought to figure out how to make each trip as personally rewarding as possible. # Return on Adventure The magic of compounding interest has been referred to as "the most powerful force in the universe," and it can affect more than just balance sheets. I noticed that my travel memories seemed to be compounding in value over time, too--much like a financial investment might. I got "new" enjoyment from them every single time I remembered them. A little memory dividend, with each subsequent dividend adding a bit more to the overall happiness total. Over time, the enjoyment I got simply from the *memories* of the trip could be worth more than the enjoyment I got during the actual travel experience itself. Wow, mind blown! ROA is the system I started creating when I realized this. # Navigating these notes ==Please note that *some* of these notes are rough, raw, incomplete, or simply empty stubs that point to drafts I haven't uploaded yet.== Instead of traditional blog posts, this network of linked notes[^1] (sometimes called a "digital garden") allows you to explore all of the facets around this concept in an unconventional and somewhat experimental way. While non-linear and non-chronological, it uses bi-directional links, so you can see which pages refer to the one you are currently reading and easily move between component ideas. Since ROA is an [[ROA is an a la carte menu|"a la carte" menu]] of ideas, strategies, and systems, this format allows you to investigate the parts that resonate with you without getting bogged down in what would otherwise be an incredibly lengthy blog post. Think of it as a "choose your own adventure" guide into the concept of ROA. I suggest that you [[§ 0 - Return on Adventure|start here]], but you can also explore notes using the menu on the left, or by clicking on any other links you see. There is no table of contents or hierarchical menu to follow, though you'll find a few [[Map of Content|Maps of Content]] that help organize notes into broader concepts. You can also navigate using the interactive graph. I try to include [[§ Recently added|a listing of recent updates]], too. # A work in progress This format[^2] is also an experiment in "incremental writing," which allows me to continue to build upon these ideas even after publishing. None of these ideas is ever truly "finished," as much as it's often "good enough" to get me thinking or acting in a particular direction. The same can be said for the notes you're reading here. They'll be constantly tweaked, upgraded, and perhaps entirely rewritten. This allows me to publish extremely quickly—I don't need to fret over anything being perfect, prep post images, decide where in the blog archives I want it to be found, adjust any settings, or other such considerations. Here I can simply get an idea on paper and publish with a click. So if a note seems confusing or under-explained or even missing, it’s probably because it's something I'm still developing. After all, [[Writing is thinking]]. Some call this approach learning in public, or [[Working with the garage door up]]. Over time, I plan on including notes on a wide variety of other ideas, strategies, and systems that I use in life or that I'm curious to investigate or develop further. I see this as a semi-permanent home for my thinking around these topics, supplemented at times by more traditional writings on [my website](https://rscottjones.com). # Tell me what you think I'd *love* to hear what you think about these concepts. Send an email to [email protected] or get in touch with [me on twitter](https://twitter.com/rscottjones) with your feedback. I'd be thrilled to hear from you. [^1]: The inspiration for these notes comes from [Andy Matuschak's evergreen notes](https://notes.andymatuschak.org/About_these_notes) and [Anne-Laure Le Cunff's digital garden](https://www.mentalnodes.com/a-gardening-guide-for-your-mind). Maggie Appleton's piece on the history of the [digital garden](https://maggieappleton.com/garden-history) idea explains much more. [^2]: You can read more about [[Why these notes|why I chose this format]] and what influenced me to do it.