Sunday, August 11, 2013

Less

The van is almost complete. I think. It's clear, though, that my stuff needs more trimming.

How many pairs of socks do I really need?

What about the box of art supplies?

One seven-gallon water jug instead of two?

What's on these hard drives? Does not remembering mean there's actually nothing all that important on them? I need to check.

Nearly every shirt I've worn the past six weeks is now permanently stained with something or other. Do I keep some of them for when I need to do dirty work in the future? Or do I just toss them to lighten the load?

Tools. Wrenches (metric and SAE), pliers, screwdrivers, drill bits, clamps. A sledge hammer? Well, something might need to be pounded. Hard. Can I consolidate it into one tool box instead of three? Oh, wait, there's the electrical stuff, too.

Meanwhile, more things are on the way. A small folding table. A cell phone antenna. A wifi booster. Caulk.

I look back at this transitional life, living out of a 6x12 trailer in a friend's back yard, and think about what material things I've actually used—other than tools to outfit the van. Not much. Changes of clothes. Grooming needs. Bedding. Laptop...

I used to be proud that I could leave the house with just my wallet, keys and phone. I used to shake my head at all the stuff I had that was just taking up space. So why now do I worry that I might not have enough things? Because there's no home base? No anchor? Yeah, probably.

3 comments:

  1. WHat have you settled on for "necessary" tools and how many change of clothes? How often do you do laundry? Thanks!

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  2. Let's see, I have a set of SAE and metric wrenches, some screwdrivers and pliers, a hammer and 3 pound sledge, cordless drill and a few other odds and ends. It fits in one toolbox. I have about two dozen sets of underwear, a dozen pairs of socks, four pairs of long pants, six shorts, a dozen or so long and short sleeved t-shirts, a fleece pullover, a hoodie, a down vest, a jacket, a knit cap, a couple of ball caps and a sun hat. I do laundry when the 3' by 1' duffle I use for dirty laundry won't fit back into its cubby hole, which means doing laundry about every three or four weeks, depending on the season.

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    Replies
    1. Now, seven years later, the tools are about the same, but clothing has shifted. I rarely wear socks, so I haven't replaced the ones lost in the laundry. And now, more fitting with the actual weather I've encountered, there are fewer shorts and more long pants.

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