replanning a lifestyle.

I’ve been obsessed with things over the past month.  I keep thinking about that container full of my own things back in Seattle and wonder how far I could reduce it while not eliminating choice completely out of my day.  Could I one day carry everything I own?  Absurd.  Could it all fit in the back of a pickup truck?  This I might be able to do…

Not having much with me has opened my eyes to need versus want and how I perceive my own lifestyle versus what I actually miss.

An Amazon Wish List has been growing in the depths of my psyche, browser window.  I’ve already eliminated a ton - how small could I comfortably go?

Kitchen.  A really good knife.  That and a bread knife solve 70% of life’s kitchen-based problems.  Multi-purpose or used daily or it goes away.  I really miss having a good knife around.

Entertainment.  We’ve come such a long way in the technology of entertainment over the past 5 years!  You can get a netbook-sized laptop that plays most modern games quite well (NVIDIA’s recently-announced 4xxM line of DX11 GPUs has me salivating).  HD projectors are now as large as a hardbound book.  eBooks are everywhere.  My entire movie collection can fit in the palm of my hand.  The iPad** has made us reconsider if we really need a “computer” at all.  Sadly many of my board games will have to go, but only until the table-sized iPad arrives in 2014.  I’ll build a portable set of dice / tile / card games… non-LCD options are vital to mankind’s continued sanity.

(** computer required)

Outdoor gear.  I like camping.  I also like being prepared for the impending apocalypse.  These two compliment each other nicely - a single well-thought out camping pack can fill my needs for  (a) social outdoor time (b) survival option during mankind’s ruin  (c) hammock camping in Thailand.  My existing assortment of outdoor “things” is quite bulky and meant to be carried in a trunk.

Hobbies.  If I don’t actively do it, get rid of it.  The things I do – can I find / rent the raw materials / tools somewhere else?  Surely I don’t NEED my own Dremel.  (the soldering station will require taking by force)

Clothes.  Donate the stuff you don’t wear?  This should be simple.

Furniture.  I have a large frame and large dresser I really like but are QUITE BIG.  I also love giant honking beds, though I don’t currently own a mattress.  Portable comfortable nightly bed option is currently a mystery.  I’m open to ideas.

I have discovered the (small) world of foldable furniture.  I’ve gone as far as choosing the colors to paint future foldable shelving, folding desk with keyboard tray, and rolling folding table with two stools stored inside. !!!FOLD!!!UP!!!!OR!!!!!!DIE!!!!!!

Two foam bags that will fit in nicely with my growing collection of geometric pillows.  Something large enough for 4 people to watch a movie on / guests to sleep on / video game chairs.  Easily squished into storage if need be.

Low tables that can be used as side tables or combined to form a larger table in floor pillow world.  Camping tables adjust and fold up but might look too cheap.

Electronics.  Electronics are stupid and lie about how much room they take up.  Case in point: adapters.  SO MANY ADAPTERS are in our lives I am about up to here being adapted NO YOU ARE ADOPTED.  I would bet a bag full of money there is an equally large bag full of mystery orphan adapters somewhere in the house of you or someone you love.  I’ve decided if it’s “portable” but doesn’t run / charge on AAA / AA / USB I don’t want it in my life.  I don’t miss the proprietary camera battery one bit, even if AAs take longer between shots.

Stereo system.  Holy smokes I’m going to miss mine but reality is harsh: it is far too large and far too loud for my apartment rental ways.  Big speakers are big, aggressive subwoofer is aggressive, heavy receiver is heavy.  Replace with a sweet pair of gaming headphones and a plenty-loud 2.1 system the size of a few books.

- OR -

Burn everything for the insurance money and sublet forever.