Yes - we are creatures of habit and comfort. When we hit our bottom is when we seek comfort most.
I believe comfort to him will be somewhere he has visited along his travels in life, but not travels with Gabby. Somewhere off the beaten path, abandoned structures of some sort. He comes across very in tune to what it takes to make it, at least for a small amount of time off the land. I suspect he would seek a place such as referenced above near a fresh water source. However, I would first eliminate places traveled with Gabby. His running nature and leaving her as he did leads me to believe it will not be a place where he sees her smile haunting him day to day from a prior visit. It would diminish his mental capacity while trying to sustain himself, and is the opposite of comfort.
He could have a seed vault in his back pack. They became very popular a few years ago and do not take up much space. His challenge will be getting through winter because now is not the time to begin a garden. He must get through winter first.
IMO: He will not be anywhere associated with any assets owned by his family. That is too easy for LE to find and figure out.
I also don’t believe his immediate family would be sending him money in any capacity. Again, too easy for FBI to monitor and track.
I don’t feel he would join a homeless community. I don’t feel he would find comfort in being surrounded by others. I sense comfort to him as being alone. However, I could see one off hitchhiking occurring as it is a minimal task to meet a need and beyond the ride there is no companionship or emotional reliance on the individual giving him a ride. It is a one and done. Very different from a community environment.
His comfort appears to be in warmer climates, unless I missed it I didn’t see any photos of outdoor adventures skiing or snowboarding and again, winter is coming.
Did he have a Google account? That could provide historical travel history not on his Instagram.
Did they find current/old laptops or phones he may have used? His search history could point to places LE would check out.
Where did the family vacation or camp when he was a child?
Where would be a place that holds positive memories to bring him comfort as he tries to survive? I think the emotional comfort will come from a place connected to his childhood. Maybe it was someplace he only went one time, but it holds positive memories for him to attempt to wrap himself in comfort.
All JMO and rambling thoughts this morning assuming he is alive. I do believe him to be.