More travel notes.
Obviously in terms of front-line gear, I keep my wallet, phone, keys, earphones, and sunglasses on my body at all times. My passport is either on my body or stowed securely in my backpack. Lately, I've kept hand sanitizer and masks in an easily-accessible pouch. No sense in getting sick before a talk.
When traveling for work, I keep three bags in my backpack: tech kit, dopp kit, and a compression bag with one day's worth of clothes. Obviously I also keep my laptop and tablet in my backpack. My backpack has all the equipment I need to survive for a few days if everything else catches fire.
For my carry-on, I keep a suit and clothes as needed. My priority is mitigating damage in case of emergencies. What if I arrive one day late to my destination? What if I need two more days of clothing? What if my luggage is lost? Have a plan for contingencies.
Never check luggage.
When flying for leisure, I keep two bags on me. One is a standard pilot's bag with compass, maps, and other essentials. The other is a survival kit with food, water, a space blanket, first-aid kit, and other emergency needs. You should never have to use this bag, but better to have it and not need it than the reverse.
If you're flying east of the Mississippi and something awful happens, then you should initiate emergency procedures and hobble your plane to the nearest available runway. Make ground safely and call FAA or your airfield's emergency contact.
Flying west of the Mississippi, there are more wide-open stretches of land and you won't always be able to land at a proper airfield. File a flight plan, carry some emergency signalling equipment, and prepare accordingly. Nothing bad should happen but be prepared to rough it for a day or two in the event of a disaster.