One bag to rule them all
January 9, 2025 9:19 PM Subscribe
Indefinite Backpack Travel. "In 2015 I got rid of everything I owned that didn’t fit in a laptop backpack, and I’ve been living at this level of minimalism since. The idea is to only own what I need, which allows me to focus more, spend less, travel spontaneously and simplify my life." Jeremy Maluf posts yearly summaries of his backpacking adventures. In this overview, he lists the contents of his one travel bag.
"Onebag travel is unquestionably the best way to travel. Traveling without luggage removes just about every pain point associated with flying, such as checking bags, overhead compartments, bag fees, waiting in line, and needing to drop off luggage before an adventure. Just stroll into the airport an hour before your flight, and walk off your plane directly to your destination. I’m not here to sell you on this. r/onebag is a community built around this and a good place to learn more.
As to how I got here, I’ve never really owned much at any point in my life, so once I started traveling frequently this seemed like the natural evolution of my lifestyle. Because it’s so ordinary to me, it’s really not something I think about often.
Of course, I have taken the time to optimize each thing to be the best possible: I’d much rather pack a 4oz jacket over a 1lb jacket. However, it’s worth mentioning I don’t take part in the consumerist side of the travel/hiking communities, which focuses more on expensive brand names than practicality. Buy only what you need; a $100 setup is nearly as good as a $10,000 setup. Sometimes spending more will get better quality or versatility, but it’s never worth obsessing over. Remember, the perfect travel bag doesn’t exist (relevant XKCD)."
"Onebag travel is unquestionably the best way to travel. Traveling without luggage removes just about every pain point associated with flying, such as checking bags, overhead compartments, bag fees, waiting in line, and needing to drop off luggage before an adventure. Just stroll into the airport an hour before your flight, and walk off your plane directly to your destination. I’m not here to sell you on this. r/onebag is a community built around this and a good place to learn more.
As to how I got here, I’ve never really owned much at any point in my life, so once I started traveling frequently this seemed like the natural evolution of my lifestyle. Because it’s so ordinary to me, it’s really not something I think about often.
Of course, I have taken the time to optimize each thing to be the best possible: I’d much rather pack a 4oz jacket over a 1lb jacket. However, it’s worth mentioning I don’t take part in the consumerist side of the travel/hiking communities, which focuses more on expensive brand names than practicality. Buy only what you need; a $100 setup is nearly as good as a $10,000 setup. Sometimes spending more will get better quality or versatility, but it’s never worth obsessing over. Remember, the perfect travel bag doesn’t exist (relevant XKCD)."
I try to travel in a single bag when possible, minus all the weird techninja stuff in this article. I can generally go 4-5 days if I use one of those big zip-lock vacuum storage bags that can be used to compress clothing so it takes less room.
posted by migurski at 9:52 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
posted by migurski at 9:52 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
I like to travel Jack Reacher style, ultra-minimalist: my wallet and a toothbrush.
posted by zardoz at 9:53 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
posted by zardoz at 9:53 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
And then there's this guy (youtube) Watch from
7m38s where they demonstrate their self styled clothing, which stands in for a laptop bag.
posted by BrStekker at 9:56 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
7m38s where they demonstrate their self styled clothing, which stands in for a laptop bag.
posted by BrStekker at 9:56 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
For work I travel internationally about once a month, generally for about a week at a stretch with a 20 l underseat backpack. Wool shirts from Pendleton or similar, a wool cardigan or blazer, and wool boxers and undershirts (yeah just wool everything I guess) makes this easier. Everything charges with a single usb-c hub now, or via a powerbank. I generally miss having a pocketknife with me for picnicking and will sometimes pick up an Opinel or something and mail it home before departure. Besides dressing professionally my trips often require being prepared for outdoor sportiness which is where all the wool stuff really comes in handy. Luxuries include a Ricoh pocket camera and little satchels of instant coffee, just in case.
Next week is a bit of a challenge as I will need to have an especially professional wardrobe and also be prepared for winter activities, which includes studded shoes, but I am committed to my 20 l bag so will make it work somehow.
posted by St. Oops at 10:05 PM on January 9 [11 favorites]
Next week is a bit of a challenge as I will need to have an especially professional wardrobe and also be prepared for winter activities, which includes studded shoes, but I am committed to my 20 l bag so will make it work somehow.
posted by St. Oops at 10:05 PM on January 9 [11 favorites]
I took off on my 2-week Japan trip in 2023 with just the typical Tom Bihn backpack and it was fine but with the prevalence of IC card lockers (you can boop your watch to get a locker and boop it again to open it, no keys or coins required) at train and subway stations I'm thinking one of those compact rolling suitcases all people in Asia seem to have might work equally as well.
I'm going again in April, staying in 4 different locations around Kanto so I think I'll get one of those suitcases and try that approach. Worst case it'll hold my Bic Camera haul when flying back.
posted by torokunai2 at 10:06 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
I'm going again in April, staying in 4 different locations around Kanto so I think I'll get one of those suitcases and try that approach. Worst case it'll hold my Bic Camera haul when flying back.
posted by torokunai2 at 10:06 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]
Every pack list is a lie, and I despise knolling, but I love posts like this.
A fun things about games like Dungeons and Dragons is filling out the character's inventory, preferably with a limited budget. Ten foot pole, 50 feet of rope, rations... How much can a person carry anyway. I like that stuff. I have always liked when computer games include inventory tetris, or similar constrained inventory management systems.
One of the unexpected pleasures of living out of a single pack how much it is like inventory management from one of those games. It's true even if you only do it for just a few days, and it only gets more enjoyable the longer you do it, and each item becomes tested, and either deserves a place, or gets replaced. It's fun to see a list that's not for backpacking, complete with explanations about every single thing.
posted by surlyben at 10:42 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
A fun things about games like Dungeons and Dragons is filling out the character's inventory, preferably with a limited budget. Ten foot pole, 50 feet of rope, rations... How much can a person carry anyway. I like that stuff. I have always liked when computer games include inventory tetris, or similar constrained inventory management systems.
One of the unexpected pleasures of living out of a single pack how much it is like inventory management from one of those games. It's true even if you only do it for just a few days, and it only gets more enjoyable the longer you do it, and each item becomes tested, and either deserves a place, or gets replaced. It's fun to see a list that's not for backpacking, complete with explanations about every single thing.
posted by surlyben at 10:42 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
I neglected to mention that a secondary type of packing is utlized when traveling by train, when suddenly a folding bike gets thrown into the mix. The logistics of packing with and on a bicycle render this immediately not a "one-bag" travel solution but still very down-to-basics. I no longer pack cycling-specific clothes, for example, helmet excepted.
posted by St. Oops at 10:58 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Oops at 10:58 PM on January 9 [3 favorites]
There is a large hostel in the tiny village Roncesvalles in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. It's the first stop on the Camino [Frances] de Santiago. In one of the rooms a large dresser is filled with clobber which pilgrims have discarded after the first 20km stretch of their 700km journey.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:15 PM on January 9 [15 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:15 PM on January 9 [15 favorites]
Please understand I am not criticizing this guy for extravagance, but I must say that it is funny to me what some people consider "frugal."
posted by praemunire at 11:19 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 11:19 PM on January 9 [7 favorites]
Whilst backpacking in Malaysia in '96, I met someone called Daisy.
She'd been travelling for 6 years (was 23 at the time), primarily just following solar eclipses around the world.
She'd left her 'main rucksack' with a friend in another country, and her entire carried possessions at the time was a small fabric bag with a long string to carry over her shoulder. It was smaller than most handbags.
From what I remember, inside was a plastic plate, a folding sharp knife, a spoon, a toothbrush, a vest top, and a change of underwear. Her sarong was her skirt, dress, towel, and her blanket.
She worked for food and accommodation. Always had a flight ticket back home to the UK (flexible dates), but otherwise saved for a flight to the next country.
If you do happen to recognise Daisy, who'd be about 51 now? I'd love to connect again.
posted by many-things at 11:22 PM on January 9 [14 favorites]
She'd been travelling for 6 years (was 23 at the time), primarily just following solar eclipses around the world.
She'd left her 'main rucksack' with a friend in another country, and her entire carried possessions at the time was a small fabric bag with a long string to carry over her shoulder. It was smaller than most handbags.
From what I remember, inside was a plastic plate, a folding sharp knife, a spoon, a toothbrush, a vest top, and a change of underwear. Her sarong was her skirt, dress, towel, and her blanket.
She worked for food and accommodation. Always had a flight ticket back home to the UK (flexible dates), but otherwise saved for a flight to the next country.
If you do happen to recognise Daisy, who'd be about 51 now? I'd love to connect again.
posted by many-things at 11:22 PM on January 9 [14 favorites]
I'm surprised they have a notebook computer, a tablet computer, and a smartphone computer when traveling so light.
posted by fairmettle at 11:46 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
posted by fairmettle at 11:46 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]
^ and an apple watch, LOL.
I did the same in Japan, my 2020 MacBook Air and a 2021 iPad mini carried in their own Sleeve Case, which also holds the separate 100Ah USB-C power bank, and my AirPods and cables.
I also have an iPhone 15 Pro tying it all together when traveling (the mini is on its own annual Mint data plan so serves as my mobile hotspot when traveling in T-Mobile areas).
The MacBook is so light and thin I don't feel it when I'm carrying it. In 2023 when upgrading from my 2018 iPhone XS I decided to downsize to the smaller Pro and use the mini instead as my middle screen : )
posted by torokunai2 at 12:09 AM on January 10
I did the same in Japan, my 2020 MacBook Air and a 2021 iPad mini carried in their own Sleeve Case, which also holds the separate 100Ah USB-C power bank, and my AirPods and cables.
I also have an iPhone 15 Pro tying it all together when traveling (the mini is on its own annual Mint data plan so serves as my mobile hotspot when traveling in T-Mobile areas).
The MacBook is so light and thin I don't feel it when I'm carrying it. In 2023 when upgrading from my 2018 iPhone XS I decided to downsize to the smaller Pro and use the mini instead as my middle screen : )
posted by torokunai2 at 12:09 AM on January 10
and a smartphone computer
Didn't they even mention a backup older smartphone? All these electronics took me by surprise too. I did have my phone crap out on me on a trip once, but managed to get my small Android e-ink tablet to show all my necessary tickets and boarding passes and the like, which was a relief. I chose my laptop for its low power consumption and diminuative charger, which also charges everything else. But sometimes will leave it and pack a folding keyboard instead, which is more useful for answering emails on the go and the like.
posted by St. Oops at 1:03 AM on January 10
Didn't they even mention a backup older smartphone? All these electronics took me by surprise too. I did have my phone crap out on me on a trip once, but managed to get my small Android e-ink tablet to show all my necessary tickets and boarding passes and the like, which was a relief. I chose my laptop for its low power consumption and diminuative charger, which also charges everything else. But sometimes will leave it and pack a folding keyboard instead, which is more useful for answering emails on the go and the like.
posted by St. Oops at 1:03 AM on January 10
Don't forget your towel.
posted by conifer at 2:08 AM on January 10 [21 favorites]
posted by conifer at 2:08 AM on January 10 [21 favorites]
"Minimalist and frugal" apparently means a bag full of expensive computers and accessories, video-taking sunglasses and costly gewgaws. Good for him but we have different definitions.
posted by conifer at 2:16 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
posted by conifer at 2:16 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
I’m not sure if I quite buy this - it’s the camping section that does it for me. Where are the camping things when not in use? Is he buying new camping things every time? Does he take something out of the bag to put the camping things in? He gives the allusion that he travels constantly using this ultra minimalistic setup, but he has to file his taxes like the rest of humanity.
posted by The River Ivel at 2:53 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
posted by The River Ivel at 2:53 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
One of the things that was pointed out to me, and honestly made me look at things in a very, very different way, was the trend towards minimalism, towards getting rid of clutter, is, in a really insidious way, incredibly aspirational. Most of the people whose homes are breathlessly profiled as having nothing unnecessary are just doing without a thing until the time they need one, and then, because they have the money for it, they can just go buy one and get rid of it again when they no longer need it. It's a way of thinking that relies on essentially everything being disposable simply because you've got the money to get another one.
Meanwhile, clutter is likened to hoarding. It's the difference between having something that you only use once a year, and needing to find a space for it, vs a wasteful cycle of purchasing, use, disposal, only to purchase again. If your income is at the level where your lifestyle is being profiled, that's probably not going to be a financial issue for you, but damn, it can be a pretty poisonous aspirational lifestyle to glamorize.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:37 AM on January 10 [75 favorites]
Meanwhile, clutter is likened to hoarding. It's the difference between having something that you only use once a year, and needing to find a space for it, vs a wasteful cycle of purchasing, use, disposal, only to purchase again. If your income is at the level where your lifestyle is being profiled, that's probably not going to be a financial issue for you, but damn, it can be a pretty poisonous aspirational lifestyle to glamorize.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:37 AM on January 10 [75 favorites]
Ghidorah is on point: it's expensive to be minimalist. You can see this directly in his shirt habits: "Six when I’m on the move, twice that if I’m staying somewhere for a while." This implies that he's buying an extra six shirts for longer stays and then dropping them when he's back in travel mode. He's not obsessively replacing his computing gear on a yearly cycle -- that's a six or seven year old iPad, for example -- but he's also able to afford gear that will last a while. He's frugal within a specific context.
I wish he'd said more about the reasons for carrying phone, laptop, and iPad. On earlier versions of this he notes that the iPad is his drawing and sketching device, which makes sense. I'm curious about why he needs the laptop; I imagine it's because he's coding a lot, but I'm curious as to whether or not he's tried to switch to something like GitHub Codespaces.
I'm tempted to generate some sort of gear changes over time from this and his past articles. The reasons people shift gear choices tend to be interesting and informative for me. (While looking through a couple of older versions of this, btw, he mentions that he keeps the outdoor gear he mentions in storage most of the time. I wonder if he mails it to himself for outdoorsy trips?)
posted by Bryant at 4:04 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
I wish he'd said more about the reasons for carrying phone, laptop, and iPad. On earlier versions of this he notes that the iPad is his drawing and sketching device, which makes sense. I'm curious about why he needs the laptop; I imagine it's because he's coding a lot, but I'm curious as to whether or not he's tried to switch to something like GitHub Codespaces.
I'm tempted to generate some sort of gear changes over time from this and his past articles. The reasons people shift gear choices tend to be interesting and informative for me. (While looking through a couple of older versions of this, btw, he mentions that he keeps the outdoor gear he mentions in storage most of the time. I wonder if he mails it to himself for outdoorsy trips?)
posted by Bryant at 4:04 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
Ghidorah and Bryant are on point: it's expensive and wasteful to be minimalist. What happens to those extra six shirts after he's moved on? More than that, almost every thing you end up needing on your travels will get thrown out. Formal events? You'll need formal clothes, but you're not going to take those with you. How about a hat and water bottle for that nice little hike? Maybe you're at a seaside resort where you'll need a swimsuit, towel and snorkel. Maybe you're in the mountains where you'll need gloves.
It's fun to think about traveling light, but I don't think I could do it for more than a few days. Or maybe, travel light and return heavy is more my jam.
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 4:27 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
It's fun to think about traveling light, but I don't think I could do it for more than a few days. Or maybe, travel light and return heavy is more my jam.
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 4:27 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
I've done some middling backpacking trips and bike tours, and I do love the feeling of only carrying exactly what is needed and knowing right where it is in my kit. That said, I can be pretty gross by the end of those trips. After a week of bike touring especially, the less thought about the condition of my clothes the better.
People who live like this for longer periods of time, just a couple outfits or whatever, I always wonder about how they manage laundry. If you only have two pairs of pants (or one), what are you wearing when you're washing those? How often are you washing shirts and underwear? Are there hotels with in unit laundry where you can wash all of your stuff while you sleep? Do you go to a laundromat and sit on your laptop and code wearing a pair of sleep shorts and t shirt like some ultra efficient psychopath? So many questions!
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 4:27 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
People who live like this for longer periods of time, just a couple outfits or whatever, I always wonder about how they manage laundry. If you only have two pairs of pants (or one), what are you wearing when you're washing those? How often are you washing shirts and underwear? Are there hotels with in unit laundry where you can wash all of your stuff while you sleep? Do you go to a laundromat and sit on your laptop and code wearing a pair of sleep shorts and t shirt like some ultra efficient psychopath? So many questions!
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 4:27 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
Interesting experiment. He does hit on one immediate question I'd have:
The most difficult part about traveling with backpacking gear is keeping it airport-friendly.
I'm maybe a bit surprised that the 'keytool' he's carrying is making it through security? I'm not super familiar with the particular item.
just doing without a thing until the time they need one, and then, because they have the money for it, they can just go buy one and get rid of it again when they no longer need it
This is spot on. Popular media narratives like to frown on "clutter" and "hoarding", but if you've lived in precarity, your attitude is going to be different. If I throw this thing away, will I be able to get another one if I need one? This guy is living "simply", not sure if he's living "frugally".
(And, if he's buying new clothes in a new city and then throwing them away, he may be contributing to the trash mountain that fast fashion generates.)
posted by gimonca at 4:34 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
The most difficult part about traveling with backpacking gear is keeping it airport-friendly.
I'm maybe a bit surprised that the 'keytool' he's carrying is making it through security? I'm not super familiar with the particular item.
just doing without a thing until the time they need one, and then, because they have the money for it, they can just go buy one and get rid of it again when they no longer need it
This is spot on. Popular media narratives like to frown on "clutter" and "hoarding", but if you've lived in precarity, your attitude is going to be different. If I throw this thing away, will I be able to get another one if I need one? This guy is living "simply", not sure if he's living "frugally".
(And, if he's buying new clothes in a new city and then throwing them away, he may be contributing to the trash mountain that fast fashion generates.)
posted by gimonca at 4:34 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
those Uniqlo Airism boxer briefs are great, until I sweat, at which point they smell absolutely awful. he can have mine.
posted by entropone at 4:36 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
posted by entropone at 4:36 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
Things I realized about him from his list:
- He doesn't shave
- He doesn't have any health/medical/physical issues that require being treated with stuff
- He either never experiences anything resembling extreme weather (anything particularly hot, cold, or wet), or is content to be pretty unprepared for it
Things I realized about me from my list:
- I like stuff that my ancestors touched
- I'm glad I'm not a snail
- I like clothes
posted by entropone at 4:47 AM on January 10 [28 favorites]
- He doesn't shave
- He doesn't have any health/medical/physical issues that require being treated with stuff
- He either never experiences anything resembling extreme weather (anything particularly hot, cold, or wet), or is content to be pretty unprepared for it
Things I realized about me from my list:
- I like stuff that my ancestors touched
- I'm glad I'm not a snail
- I like clothes
posted by entropone at 4:47 AM on January 10 [28 favorites]
Also, he lives a life where wearing a black t-shirt and outdoorsy pants every single day is acceptable. If one has a job that requires another wardrobe, or one has to meet societal beauty standards, that gets a lot harder.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:37 AM on January 10 [12 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 5:37 AM on January 10 [12 favorites]
I've found that a wallet is unnecessary. All my clothes have pockets, all my cards fit in one pocket. I've also noticed some men struggle to get their head around this.
posted by biffa at 5:40 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 5:40 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
just doing without a thing until the time they need one, and then, because they have the money for it, they can just go buy one and get rid of it again
I'm always confused by the lack of tools in any minimalist's arsenal. OK, they'll have a laptop. But as soon as something needs repairing or general maintenance or some creative task involves a specialty tool they're stuck paying for the service instead. Which in a sense is great: our craftspeople need clients. But it certainly positions the minimalist in a position of privelege to always rely on the services of others.
Also: a hoodie as like the only outer garment? really? And everything black. Ugh.
posted by St. Oops at 5:57 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
I'm always confused by the lack of tools in any minimalist's arsenal. OK, they'll have a laptop. But as soon as something needs repairing or general maintenance or some creative task involves a specialty tool they're stuck paying for the service instead. Which in a sense is great: our craftspeople need clients. But it certainly positions the minimalist in a position of privelege to always rely on the services of others.
Also: a hoodie as like the only outer garment? really? And everything black. Ugh.
posted by St. Oops at 5:57 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
Frugalism and Minimalism can be the result of obsession or a disorder, can cause a jeavons paradox-like rebound of other consumption (more air-travel because you saved on luggage) and can be an obnoxious virtue signalling peacocking. But it can also free you to put your resources to things that you care about, can make it easier for you to share and help others by escaping a scarcity mindset, is a necessary but insufficient component of the lifestyle changes that high-consumers must adopt to return total consumption and pollution to sustainable levels and redirect resources to the materially needy. Thst most minimalists don't do those things is sad.
The head is less flexible than the body. A person can adapt to great changes in lifestyle and circumstance and environmental conditions, but the fear and anticipation of unwanted change and loss are very powerful.
1) it helps reduce the psychological barrier if this mandatory and not self-imposed (you aren't the cause of your discomfort, there is nothing you can do). For example when cooking we all have knicked our fingers with a knife and had the shock and sting of a small wound. No big deal, you cuss and get over it. Yet go to your kitchen now, take a clean knife and try to make even the tiniest cut to your hand and discover how much bigger the fear of a thing is, compared to the thing itself. minimalist lifestyles are hard for those who think they have a choice and are imposing a loss on themselves. Just like " giving up" meat, alcohol, cars and flights, the internet." When its done to you, a few days in you are back to a new equilibrium. When its self impossed, you will grieve and bargain for a few months of saying "but today could be an exception".
2) you had practice. camping, povery, prison, homelessness, being an ascetic, they are not all the same, but it is much easier to go back to sleeping rough than to do it the first time. You never forget how to ride the bicycle.
3) you have company. self explanatory i hope.
4) it doesn't alter your goals and identity, or aids them. Instead of loss of accumulation, it is gaining an identity as a practicioner of frugality or asceticism or a hard survivor. Find the movie or novella trope that fits best and adopt it as progress toward that identity instead of defeat in the game of status and affluence.
5) Many affluent folks substitute inventory for purchasing power and the security of knowing their cash will get them through the unforseen. But most of the stuff middle class folks hold onto is nostalgia and aspiration and status markers (just like the rich hold too). I can't give lifestyle advice to the poor, they know their needs and strategies better than I do, and a vow of povery is very different than no-options poverty.
I urge folks to consider what can become more abundant when we become lean.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 6:16 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
The head is less flexible than the body. A person can adapt to great changes in lifestyle and circumstance and environmental conditions, but the fear and anticipation of unwanted change and loss are very powerful.
1) it helps reduce the psychological barrier if this mandatory and not self-imposed (you aren't the cause of your discomfort, there is nothing you can do). For example when cooking we all have knicked our fingers with a knife and had the shock and sting of a small wound. No big deal, you cuss and get over it. Yet go to your kitchen now, take a clean knife and try to make even the tiniest cut to your hand and discover how much bigger the fear of a thing is, compared to the thing itself. minimalist lifestyles are hard for those who think they have a choice and are imposing a loss on themselves. Just like " giving up" meat, alcohol, cars and flights, the internet." When its done to you, a few days in you are back to a new equilibrium. When its self impossed, you will grieve and bargain for a few months of saying "but today could be an exception".
2) you had practice. camping, povery, prison, homelessness, being an ascetic, they are not all the same, but it is much easier to go back to sleeping rough than to do it the first time. You never forget how to ride the bicycle.
3) you have company. self explanatory i hope.
4) it doesn't alter your goals and identity, or aids them. Instead of loss of accumulation, it is gaining an identity as a practicioner of frugality or asceticism or a hard survivor. Find the movie or novella trope that fits best and adopt it as progress toward that identity instead of defeat in the game of status and affluence.
5) Many affluent folks substitute inventory for purchasing power and the security of knowing their cash will get them through the unforseen. But most of the stuff middle class folks hold onto is nostalgia and aspiration and status markers (just like the rich hold too). I can't give lifestyle advice to the poor, they know their needs and strategies better than I do, and a vow of povery is very different than no-options poverty.
I urge folks to consider what can become more abundant when we become lean.
posted by No Climate - No Food, No Food - No Future. at 6:16 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
I both hate and (I have to admit) like this. I don't want to defend him really, but there are a *ton* of comments here that didn't read the list, e.g. he has a swimsuit, he has a jacket, he has gloves, he has a travel towel (modern technical travel towels are actually amazing), etc. This is, for its flaws, an incredibly evolved list I think. But also, definitely a wealthy, young-ish, tech guy's list. As someone who has bought a bunch of cognates to things on this list and also has seen some genuinely frugal relatives in action, I wouldn't consider this lifestyle frugal. Over xmas a relative was wearing a sweater that they had had for longer than I have been alive.
I guess one main practical issue I have is that I have a pretty sensitive sense of smell, and based on short term trips with vaguely similar stuff, I still can't quite envision the laundry cycle here that doesn't leave me smelling bad a lot of the time. E.g. any one hoodie I wear on a reasonably long airplane trip is toast after that until washed, no matter how technical the material, so I can't bring just one on a trip. Does he really only have one pair of pants (similar issue to the hoodies for me, even with modern materials)? Maybe he's just doing a lot of laundry all the time?
posted by advil at 6:28 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
I guess one main practical issue I have is that I have a pretty sensitive sense of smell, and based on short term trips with vaguely similar stuff, I still can't quite envision the laundry cycle here that doesn't leave me smelling bad a lot of the time. E.g. any one hoodie I wear on a reasonably long airplane trip is toast after that until washed, no matter how technical the material, so I can't bring just one on a trip. Does he really only have one pair of pants (similar issue to the hoodies for me, even with modern materials)? Maybe he's just doing a lot of laundry all the time?
posted by advil at 6:28 AM on January 10 [4 favorites]
Traveling without luggage removes just about every pain point associated with flying, such as checking bags, overhead compartments, bag fees, waiting in line, and needing to drop off luggage before an adventure. Just stroll into the airport an hour before your flight...
Yes, tautologically, traveling without luggage removes just about every pain point *associated with luggage*, but if that's the worst part of flying for you, you are probably flying first class and have enough money that you could have just flown with nothing and bought it all again at your destination, and have a private driver.
For example, how does the size of your bag reduce time waiting in the TSA line? How does it shorten the line for a taxi or wait time for an uber or a bus? How does it quiet the baby whose vocal protests at the altitude change are boring through your earplugs? How does it prevent the muscle cramps and unwanted contact from neighbors from a too small seat ? How does it let you sleep while sitting up, or prevent the nausea from when you try to actually get work done but your inner ear doesn't agree with staring at a laptop screen?
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 6:32 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
Yes, tautologically, traveling without luggage removes just about every pain point *associated with luggage*, but if that's the worst part of flying for you, you are probably flying first class and have enough money that you could have just flown with nothing and bought it all again at your destination, and have a private driver.
For example, how does the size of your bag reduce time waiting in the TSA line? How does it shorten the line for a taxi or wait time for an uber or a bus? How does it quiet the baby whose vocal protests at the altitude change are boring through your earplugs? How does it prevent the muscle cramps and unwanted contact from neighbors from a too small seat ? How does it let you sleep while sitting up, or prevent the nausea from when you try to actually get work done but your inner ear doesn't agree with staring at a laptop screen?
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 6:32 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
As a teen-ager I was on a long vacation with someone who traveled lightly, and...it wasn't great!
Like, he washed the previous day's socks & underwear in the hostel sink and hung them -- but sometimes he laid the socks on the dashboard as we drove, to dry in the summer sun. WTH? You're a grown man! A grown man with a car, so you can carry a third pair of socks! We can spare one afternoon per week of sight-seeing to do laundry!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:32 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
Like, he washed the previous day's socks & underwear in the hostel sink and hung them -- but sometimes he laid the socks on the dashboard as we drove, to dry in the summer sun. WTH? You're a grown man! A grown man with a car, so you can carry a third pair of socks! We can spare one afternoon per week of sight-seeing to do laundry!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:32 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
MeFi: there are a *ton* of comments here that didn't read the list
posted by fairmettle at 6:36 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 6:36 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I originally read this as aspirational. I imagined myself being able to travel the world and not having to worry about the cat's separation anxiety or local elections or tending the small patch of yard that I am responsible for to make sure that non-native grasses don't spread their seed from my yard to the entire neighborhood... I sighed wistfully.
Half an hour later, I put on some chapstick which required me to go through my bag of office things that I have to carry around because I don't have a permanent desk at work. I'm not going to go through the whole thing but I can see eye glass cleaner (cloth and spray), chapstick, post its, stress toys, floss, eye drops, various cables, glue stick, scissors, grip exerciser, aspirin, and acid reducer. These are mostly things that I needed at some point so on my lunch break I walked to the nearby Target and bought them and now it's all hanging around because I don't want to throw out a bottle of acid reducer minus one pill only to buy more later. I appreciate that he can do this because I love seeing the variety in human desires and achievements, but I clearly could not.
posted by tofu_crouton at 7:01 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
Half an hour later, I put on some chapstick which required me to go through my bag of office things that I have to carry around because I don't have a permanent desk at work. I'm not going to go through the whole thing but I can see eye glass cleaner (cloth and spray), chapstick, post its, stress toys, floss, eye drops, various cables, glue stick, scissors, grip exerciser, aspirin, and acid reducer. These are mostly things that I needed at some point so on my lunch break I walked to the nearby Target and bought them and now it's all hanging around because I don't want to throw out a bottle of acid reducer minus one pill only to buy more later. I appreciate that he can do this because I love seeing the variety in human desires and achievements, but I clearly could not.
posted by tofu_crouton at 7:01 AM on January 10 [7 favorites]
I guess I see this list as practical but limited application.
Both my wife and I like to travel with just a carry-on or backpack whenever possible, we don't have kids so this greatly reduces the implied amount of stuff needed at the start. We've found that it's kind of in the spirit of being away from home to be without certain creature comforts and to need to adapt to new situations without just throwing money when something arises.
Beaches, museums, restaurants, and meandering around are not equipment heavy endeavors for us. Iceland did require some extra equipment but, with some planning, we still flew with just a carry-on each.
(And not the overstuffed gigantor-assemble-stack 3 carry-on that the airlines should ban)
posted by djseafood at 7:13 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Both my wife and I like to travel with just a carry-on or backpack whenever possible, we don't have kids so this greatly reduces the implied amount of stuff needed at the start. We've found that it's kind of in the spirit of being away from home to be without certain creature comforts and to need to adapt to new situations without just throwing money when something arises.
Beaches, museums, restaurants, and meandering around are not equipment heavy endeavors for us. Iceland did require some extra equipment but, with some planning, we still flew with just a carry-on each.
(And not the overstuffed gigantor-assemble-stack 3 carry-on that the airlines should ban)
posted by djseafood at 7:13 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Lately I’ve been going to spend nights just across town and realizing that I’m packing as much or more than for an equivalent trip across the country, back when I did that more often. Thing is, though, my medication pouch would probably take up a third or a half of this guy’s backpack. And now there’s a CPAP.
Traveling light is for the young and for those who don’t have to perform femininity too hard. I think wistfully sometimes of old movies and books where travelers on trains or carriages—even planes, before 9/11–could take at least a footlocker big enough for a human body. If they had tip money, they could even take a set of matching luggage, with a train case for makeup. (Do they even sell sets of matching luggage anymore?)
posted by Countess Elena at 7:21 AM on January 10 [10 favorites]
Traveling light is for the young and for those who don’t have to perform femininity too hard. I think wistfully sometimes of old movies and books where travelers on trains or carriages—even planes, before 9/11–could take at least a footlocker big enough for a human body. If they had tip money, they could even take a set of matching luggage, with a train case for makeup. (Do they even sell sets of matching luggage anymore?)
posted by Countess Elena at 7:21 AM on January 10 [10 favorites]
I love this kind of thing. I also like thinking about "what is the list of the fewest things you might need." I recently saw a list of what a Royal Navy sailor was supposed to have in his kit bag, and it made me happy.
I am a disabled person who travels often by train, mobility scooter, and public transit. Travel with a mobility scooter is tricky. I have found that any kind of rolling bag doesn't work—it's too awkward to pull, and most are designed for smooth floors and become huge impediments the moment you leave the building and try to travel via sidewalk.
I travel instead with bags that can be variously hung on the back of my scooter seat, tucked between my feet, or hung from the handlebars. In 2023, after experimenting with some ruthless self-denial when packing, I got my gear down to a moderate 22 liter backpack that hangs on the back of my scooter seat for things I won't need while en route, a tote bag for snacks, toiletries, and things I will need en route, my CPAP, and my purse.
This is a modest amount of stuff, and my scooter carries it perfectly well. It's not that different from what I have on the scooter for daily use. I keep the backpack on the scooter with weather gear in it—I have learned that I do not reliably check the weather before I leave the house, and it's better just to carry a few things, most importantly my fancy scooter poncho, which covers me and the scooter and does a great job of keeping me warm and dry in rain or snow. I also almost always carry a tote bag. I keep a re-usable grocery bag folded and tucked into the backpack just in case (never know when I'm going to decide to stop by the grocery store on the way home—it's literally where my bus drops me off), but often I've got a smaller one hanging from the handlebars with outgoing things in it (stuff to mail, library books to return, and the like) which will be replaced with incoming things.
To get to this point, I had to break long habits of taking things "just in case," taking things I just like to have around, and taking more clothes than I need. I use packing cubes to keep things organized, and this summer bought some compression bags that make a big difference.
One challenge I have is that I'm fat—a size 28 in US women's sizes. My clothes take up a lot of space. But I've really cut down on how many clothes I take. I assume I'll be able to wear t-shirts twice, and skirts more than that, and that I'll do laundry part way through the trip. Since my most common trips are visits to friends who have washers, this is easy. I accept that this means people might not get to see the full array of cute stuff I own, but so far as I can tell, nobody cares. "I'd have had a great visit with you," none of them have said to me, "but you wore your Moby Dick t-shirt three times!"
I was, like other people, struck by how much electronic gear the author of the article carries. I'm not one to judge someone based on their choices being different than mine, so I'm not exactly rolling my eyes, but it really drove home how different he and I are despite both liking to travel relatively light. Of course, I am never gone from home for more than a week or so, so there are lots of things I can do without for a week that he might want to have with him when he's traveling for longer periods. For instance, I use a laptop, a tablet, and a phone for various things at home, but I generally travel with either the laptop or the tablet, not both, accepting that some of the things I might want to do are going to be a bit less convenient than usual temporarily.
posted by Well I never at 7:26 AM on January 10 [13 favorites]
I am a disabled person who travels often by train, mobility scooter, and public transit. Travel with a mobility scooter is tricky. I have found that any kind of rolling bag doesn't work—it's too awkward to pull, and most are designed for smooth floors and become huge impediments the moment you leave the building and try to travel via sidewalk.
I travel instead with bags that can be variously hung on the back of my scooter seat, tucked between my feet, or hung from the handlebars. In 2023, after experimenting with some ruthless self-denial when packing, I got my gear down to a moderate 22 liter backpack that hangs on the back of my scooter seat for things I won't need while en route, a tote bag for snacks, toiletries, and things I will need en route, my CPAP, and my purse.
This is a modest amount of stuff, and my scooter carries it perfectly well. It's not that different from what I have on the scooter for daily use. I keep the backpack on the scooter with weather gear in it—I have learned that I do not reliably check the weather before I leave the house, and it's better just to carry a few things, most importantly my fancy scooter poncho, which covers me and the scooter and does a great job of keeping me warm and dry in rain or snow. I also almost always carry a tote bag. I keep a re-usable grocery bag folded and tucked into the backpack just in case (never know when I'm going to decide to stop by the grocery store on the way home—it's literally where my bus drops me off), but often I've got a smaller one hanging from the handlebars with outgoing things in it (stuff to mail, library books to return, and the like) which will be replaced with incoming things.
To get to this point, I had to break long habits of taking things "just in case," taking things I just like to have around, and taking more clothes than I need. I use packing cubes to keep things organized, and this summer bought some compression bags that make a big difference.
One challenge I have is that I'm fat—a size 28 in US women's sizes. My clothes take up a lot of space. But I've really cut down on how many clothes I take. I assume I'll be able to wear t-shirts twice, and skirts more than that, and that I'll do laundry part way through the trip. Since my most common trips are visits to friends who have washers, this is easy. I accept that this means people might not get to see the full array of cute stuff I own, but so far as I can tell, nobody cares. "I'd have had a great visit with you," none of them have said to me, "but you wore your Moby Dick t-shirt three times!"
I was, like other people, struck by how much electronic gear the author of the article carries. I'm not one to judge someone based on their choices being different than mine, so I'm not exactly rolling my eyes, but it really drove home how different he and I are despite both liking to travel relatively light. Of course, I am never gone from home for more than a week or so, so there are lots of things I can do without for a week that he might want to have with him when he's traveling for longer periods. For instance, I use a laptop, a tablet, and a phone for various things at home, but I generally travel with either the laptop or the tablet, not both, accepting that some of the things I might want to do are going to be a bit less convenient than usual temporarily.
posted by Well I never at 7:26 AM on January 10 [13 favorites]
how does the size of your bag reduce time waiting in the TSA line? How does it shorten the line for a taxi or wait time for an uber or a bus?
At departure, no need to visit the airline counter to check bags. Upon arrival, not having to wait for checked baggage, you get to the passport line and the exit sooner. Walking 2 or 3 km is no big deal. Public transit isn't a hassle.
About a year ago Mrs C and I (average healthy 60-somethings) spent about 3 weeks travelling around France by train, in mid autumn. Rather than checked bags, we each had carryon sized backpacks of approx 38 Liters, and a purse-thing. We used compression cube bags (my wife's idea but I'm now a convert) to compress clothing and also for grouping - if you want a shirt you just unzip the shirt container,; no burrowing through the entire bag.
We brought clothing that was all washable and mostly fast drying. We dressed in layers and our jackets were light and waterproof (and they did get put to the test). We washed unmentionables nightly in the room's sink, and we did serious laundry once a week.
We opted for soft cases with shoulder straps, rather than those hardshell things with wheels. We just put on the backpacks and walk anywhere - no waiting for elevators, no banging up/down stairs, no hassles with uneven ground. This guy was our packing inspiration.
Between us, we had one cellphone, two tablets (one ipad, one 8" Android tablet), a digital camera and a very small audio recorder. No laptop! It's a vacation.
It worked out very well.
posted by Artful Codger at 7:40 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
At departure, no need to visit the airline counter to check bags. Upon arrival, not having to wait for checked baggage, you get to the passport line and the exit sooner. Walking 2 or 3 km is no big deal. Public transit isn't a hassle.
About a year ago Mrs C and I (average healthy 60-somethings) spent about 3 weeks travelling around France by train, in mid autumn. Rather than checked bags, we each had carryon sized backpacks of approx 38 Liters, and a purse-thing. We used compression cube bags (my wife's idea but I'm now a convert) to compress clothing and also for grouping - if you want a shirt you just unzip the shirt container,; no burrowing through the entire bag.
We brought clothing that was all washable and mostly fast drying. We dressed in layers and our jackets were light and waterproof (and they did get put to the test). We washed unmentionables nightly in the room's sink, and we did serious laundry once a week.
We opted for soft cases with shoulder straps, rather than those hardshell things with wheels. We just put on the backpacks and walk anywhere - no waiting for elevators, no banging up/down stairs, no hassles with uneven ground. This guy was our packing inspiration.
Between us, we had one cellphone, two tablets (one ipad, one 8" Android tablet), a digital camera and a very small audio recorder. No laptop! It's a vacation.
It worked out very well.
posted by Artful Codger at 7:40 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
It's an interesting enough list. He and I have differing opinions on a few things and I think he's absolutely wrong on a few points, but it's interesting.
I also travel with one bag but it's 25L, not 9. For context, I often travel for 5 to 8 months and never visit cold places.
I think Merino is just as durable as Cotton, assuming you treat it right (don't put it in the dryer and wash in cold water). So my go to shirt is the Outlier Dreamweight series of t-shirts. I've worn them daily for years.
He's a fan of Western Rise, and though I've never tried their pants or shirt, I do have their hat, and it's my least favorite hat and, functionally, isn't at all as described by them. Yes, it can pack light, but it is not all weather. It is more suitable to a Canadian fall or mild winter than a Toronto summer. For hat I prefer the Outlier Super Marine or Maurice Moves Flight Cap.
He claims his iPhone 15 Pro Max rarely makes it to noon on a charge, which is absurd. I have the 1TB version and it easily last me the day. He also claims Apple Care is cheaper than a phone case, which is a laughable claim, especialy if you keep your phone longer than a year (which he does, or he'd have the 16). I use a Peak Design case, which works with my other PD stuff (bike mount and mobile tripod).
I'm not sure why he needs the tablet, the phone, and the laptop. Seems ridiiculous. I sometimes travel without the laptop and always have my phone and my watch. He complains about having to charge the watch so often but when talking of upgrading, he goes for the base model instead of the Ultra. My Ultra goes about 2.5 days between charges.
He mentions the Mont Bell jacket. I'm not familiar with that brand, but looking at their website and his own photo (jacket in bottom right corner), the claim that it will fit in his pocket is clearly a lie. I use a Vollebak Race to Zero Puffer which probably isn't as warm (remember, I don't travel to cold places) but looks like it packs to about half the size of his Mont Bell. In Toronto, I wear it down to about 4 degrees C and then put a thin wool Icebreaker liner underneath and that'll go down to about minus 12. Colder than that I'll put my Outlier shell overtop of both of them and that goes to -21 or so.
I don't travel with an umbrella because they're bulky, but I do have a 100% waterproof coat, a Vollebak Shell, which is the most expensive piece of clothing I own, but when you spend as much time outside as I do, it becomes worth it. I got tired of non-breathable rainwear as I would sweat so much — and don't wear anything branded if I can help it. My Outlier cap is also water proof.
In Toronto, my umbrella of choice is a Blunt. Best umbrella on the planet.
For underwear, I prefer MeUndies Modal line of trunk. I do not wear socks.
For shoes, I usually travel with the ones on my feet (usually Muki Shoes, Vivobarefoot, or Saguaro) and then a beater pair of water/mud shoes, usually Saguaro, though ocasionally Wildling paper shoes.
I agree with him about a Merino buff, though I prefer Icebreaker.
When not in Toronto, I wear Outlier New Way shorts almost exclusively and they double as swim trunks. I also use their linen grid towel, which is bulkier than his Matador choice, but I love it (I also use them at home in my bathroom). They are very absorbent, resistant to sand, and dry very fast. They used to make outrageous colors and my travel one is safety orange. It's fantastic when you're out in the water because you can glance the shore and immediately see your stuff.
On occasions when I'm forced to wear pants, I like Lululemon's ABC line. They are incredibly well made and miles better than the Outlier pants I used to wear.
I used to use Rolling Square cables as they'll charge anything, but now everything I have uses USB-C, including my razor and toothbrush. For my charging needs, I use one of these, which is heavier than i'd like but durable and does the job and charges my watch just as quickly as the Apple fast charger. I also have one of these but rarely bring it as the battery life on the phone is so good.
I have one of the mythic Waytools Text Blades, which I always travel with, and it's paired with my iPhone. If I leave my laptop at home, I'll sometimes bring a Boox Nova 2 e-reader, and the keyboard also talks to that.
posted by dobbs at 7:42 AM on January 10 [8 favorites]
I also travel with one bag but it's 25L, not 9. For context, I often travel for 5 to 8 months and never visit cold places.
I think Merino is just as durable as Cotton, assuming you treat it right (don't put it in the dryer and wash in cold water). So my go to shirt is the Outlier Dreamweight series of t-shirts. I've worn them daily for years.
He's a fan of Western Rise, and though I've never tried their pants or shirt, I do have their hat, and it's my least favorite hat and, functionally, isn't at all as described by them. Yes, it can pack light, but it is not all weather. It is more suitable to a Canadian fall or mild winter than a Toronto summer. For hat I prefer the Outlier Super Marine or Maurice Moves Flight Cap.
He claims his iPhone 15 Pro Max rarely makes it to noon on a charge, which is absurd. I have the 1TB version and it easily last me the day. He also claims Apple Care is cheaper than a phone case, which is a laughable claim, especialy if you keep your phone longer than a year (which he does, or he'd have the 16). I use a Peak Design case, which works with my other PD stuff (bike mount and mobile tripod).
I'm not sure why he needs the tablet, the phone, and the laptop. Seems ridiiculous. I sometimes travel without the laptop and always have my phone and my watch. He complains about having to charge the watch so often but when talking of upgrading, he goes for the base model instead of the Ultra. My Ultra goes about 2.5 days between charges.
He mentions the Mont Bell jacket. I'm not familiar with that brand, but looking at their website and his own photo (jacket in bottom right corner), the claim that it will fit in his pocket is clearly a lie. I use a Vollebak Race to Zero Puffer which probably isn't as warm (remember, I don't travel to cold places) but looks like it packs to about half the size of his Mont Bell. In Toronto, I wear it down to about 4 degrees C and then put a thin wool Icebreaker liner underneath and that'll go down to about minus 12. Colder than that I'll put my Outlier shell overtop of both of them and that goes to -21 or so.
I don't travel with an umbrella because they're bulky, but I do have a 100% waterproof coat, a Vollebak Shell, which is the most expensive piece of clothing I own, but when you spend as much time outside as I do, it becomes worth it. I got tired of non-breathable rainwear as I would sweat so much — and don't wear anything branded if I can help it. My Outlier cap is also water proof.
In Toronto, my umbrella of choice is a Blunt. Best umbrella on the planet.
For underwear, I prefer MeUndies Modal line of trunk. I do not wear socks.
For shoes, I usually travel with the ones on my feet (usually Muki Shoes, Vivobarefoot, or Saguaro) and then a beater pair of water/mud shoes, usually Saguaro, though ocasionally Wildling paper shoes.
I agree with him about a Merino buff, though I prefer Icebreaker.
When not in Toronto, I wear Outlier New Way shorts almost exclusively and they double as swim trunks. I also use their linen grid towel, which is bulkier than his Matador choice, but I love it (I also use them at home in my bathroom). They are very absorbent, resistant to sand, and dry very fast. They used to make outrageous colors and my travel one is safety orange. It's fantastic when you're out in the water because you can glance the shore and immediately see your stuff.
On occasions when I'm forced to wear pants, I like Lululemon's ABC line. They are incredibly well made and miles better than the Outlier pants I used to wear.
I used to use Rolling Square cables as they'll charge anything, but now everything I have uses USB-C, including my razor and toothbrush. For my charging needs, I use one of these, which is heavier than i'd like but durable and does the job and charges my watch just as quickly as the Apple fast charger. I also have one of these but rarely bring it as the battery life on the phone is so good.
I have one of the mythic Waytools Text Blades, which I always travel with, and it's paired with my iPhone. If I leave my laptop at home, I'll sometimes bring a Boox Nova 2 e-reader, and the keyboard also talks to that.
posted by dobbs at 7:42 AM on January 10 [8 favorites]
This is both interesting to me - I've travelled with wildly variable levels of Stuff - but also, frankly, misleading. He seems to be constantly buying and discarding stuff. His shirts go from 6 to 12 and back down; he carries a specific lightweight compact umbrella most of the time but "during rainy seasons I’ll buy a slightly more durable one." It seems that he's able to travel very lightly because he is regularly purchasing things he doesn't travel with, then throwing them away when he's done with them. That's... sort of misleading when you say you "live out of one bag." The folks I know who live minimally and live out of small bags almost always actually carry what they live with, such as a (lightweight) winter coat that stays rolled up at the bottom of the bag when they're in summer. I don't want to say "he's cheating!" but this is a really misleading list if you don't dig into the details. In addition to having a really specific life/career, he also... isn't actually just living off this list.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:32 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:32 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]
Because I live a very minimalist and frugal lifestyle, I don’t buy much, and one way to make sure that all my purchases are well thought out is to maintain a list and only buy items that have been on the list for some time.
This has strong "Ralph Waldo Emerson's wife complaining about Henry David Thoreau constantly coming over for dinner" vibes.
posted by AlSweigart at 9:23 AM on January 10 [14 favorites]
This has strong "Ralph Waldo Emerson's wife complaining about Henry David Thoreau constantly coming over for dinner" vibes.
posted by AlSweigart at 9:23 AM on January 10 [14 favorites]
10 years ago I traveled for 4 weeks with a single jansport-syle backpack (maybe 15L) in eastern Europe. I brought a small android tablet, 3 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants, and 1 pair of shorts and not enough underwear. It was really nice to travel so light, but then we ended up buying tickets to an orchestra where local Romanians were wearing suits and dresses while I was wearing a 2-day old t-shirt I'd been traveling in. I felt bad.
It's fun to think about what the bare minimum is required to travel, I carried blister packs of travel meds (diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, loperamide), ear plugs, and at one point purchased a motorcycle jacket that I carried in a plastic bag.
The efficiency nerd can nitpick his decisions but they seem to work for him. For example, I've never needed to carry a multitool or knife with me. Definitely his 9L packlist won't work for anyone who isn't a young 20-something that accepts they will be under-dressed in many scenarios.
As for buying disposables, I would guess that he has a home base (parent's or friends) where he can store his handful of camping belongings. I would also bet he's able to borrow camping gear when needed.
posted by just.good.enough at 9:29 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
It's fun to think about what the bare minimum is required to travel, I carried blister packs of travel meds (diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, loperamide), ear plugs, and at one point purchased a motorcycle jacket that I carried in a plastic bag.
The efficiency nerd can nitpick his decisions but they seem to work for him. For example, I've never needed to carry a multitool or knife with me. Definitely his 9L packlist won't work for anyone who isn't a young 20-something that accepts they will be under-dressed in many scenarios.
As for buying disposables, I would guess that he has a home base (parent's or friends) where he can store his handful of camping belongings. I would also bet he's able to borrow camping gear when needed.
posted by just.good.enough at 9:29 AM on January 10 [2 favorites]
It's interesting to me that he's clearly spent years refining this very individualized setup that works best for his own use case, and yet it's nearly indistinguishable from any basic mildly-outdoorsy tech dude business traveler, r/onebag post, or series of Wirecutter recommendations.
In spite of this, he's convinced himself he's some kind of visionary iconoclast, in much the same way that he's convinced himself he's some kind of No Logo anti-consumerist despite maintaining a public list of all the very special things he buys.
That may have come out a little harsher than I intended.
posted by box at 9:35 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
In spite of this, he's convinced himself he's some kind of visionary iconoclast, in much the same way that he's convinced himself he's some kind of No Logo anti-consumerist despite maintaining a public list of all the very special things he buys.
That may have come out a little harsher than I intended.
posted by box at 9:35 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
The thing that has me most confused is the phone. iPhone 15 Pro and ... the battery is always dead by noon? I have the same phone, and it is a VERY rare day when I've hit even 25% battery usage by the time I go to bed. What the heck is he doing with his phone that drains the battery so fast?
posted by caution live frogs at 9:49 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
posted by caution live frogs at 9:49 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
The thing that has me most confused is the phone. iPhone 15 Pro and ... the battery is always dead by noon? I have the same phone, and it is a VERY rare day when I've hit even 25% battery usage by the time I go to bed. What the heck is he doing with his phone that drains the battery so fast?
THANK YOU it's really not the most important part of any of this but this is so strange to me. My phone is usually at least 50% when I go to bed. My only decent guess is he might be tethering a lot, and/or generally relying on cell data rather than wifi a lot, compared to me. But... still, shouldn't a nomad have better habits and practices than that?
posted by Tomorrowful at 10:01 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
THANK YOU it's really not the most important part of any of this but this is so strange to me. My phone is usually at least 50% when I go to bed. My only decent guess is he might be tethering a lot, and/or generally relying on cell data rather than wifi a lot, compared to me. But... still, shouldn't a nomad have better habits and practices than that?
posted by Tomorrowful at 10:01 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
This guy travels with one bag and a lot of money in the bank. Not really all that free from possessions.
posted by olykate at 10:23 AM on January 10
posted by olykate at 10:23 AM on January 10
I've found that a wallet is unnecessary. All my clothes have pockets, all my cards fit in one pocket.
But the nice thing about a wallet is that it turns all your various cards/bills/etc. into a single unit, that can be easily transferred between clothing as needed, as opposed to having to keep separate track of multiple small easily-misplaced bits of plastic and paper.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
But the nice thing about a wallet is that it turns all your various cards/bills/etc. into a single unit, that can be easily transferred between clothing as needed, as opposed to having to keep separate track of multiple small easily-misplaced bits of plastic and paper.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Guy: Look at me and how frugal I am, don't you want to be like me with all my affiliate links.
Also guy: Absolutely wrecking things with his CO2 output from plane flights.
posted by mark242 at 10:35 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
Also guy: Absolutely wrecking things with his CO2 output from plane flights.
posted by mark242 at 10:35 AM on January 10 [5 favorites]
I don't live like that and don't want to, but I was pleased that I also have Darn Tough Vermont socks. They're very nice.
I looked up the Plasma 1000 jacket, and women's sizes aren't available in the US.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 11:02 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I looked up the Plasma 1000 jacket, and women's sizes aren't available in the US.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 11:02 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Tell me you're not a uterus-having person who has horror-movie-level stuff (which requires copious purchasing of products, and let's not even get into flooding which means whatever you're wearing at the time is completely ruined) coming out of you every month without telling me.
And yes, I know all about IUDs and Diva cups and birth control but for the love of god please remember that not every uterus-having person has the ability (or, frankly, the desire) to avail themselves of those options to control menstruation and keep your "Just get a Diva cup! You won't have to buy tampons or pads!" or "My IUD stopped my period 800 years ago and I haven't had one since!" helpfulness to yourselves, k thnx.
posted by cooker girl at 11:08 AM on January 10 [9 favorites]
And yes, I know all about IUDs and Diva cups and birth control but for the love of god please remember that not every uterus-having person has the ability (or, frankly, the desire) to avail themselves of those options to control menstruation and keep your "Just get a Diva cup! You won't have to buy tampons or pads!" or "My IUD stopped my period 800 years ago and I haven't had one since!" helpfulness to yourselves, k thnx.
posted by cooker girl at 11:08 AM on January 10 [9 favorites]
... the nice thing about a wallet is that it turns all your various cards/bills/etc. into a single unit
Exactly.
What I do is either strip down my current wallet before a trip, or prepare a different wallet, so that I'm only carrying just enough ID, cards and cash for the travelling. And I might keep some of the cards and extra cash in my carry-on so the wallet only has what's necessary on a given day.
posted by Artful Codger at 11:17 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
Exactly.
What I do is either strip down my current wallet before a trip, or prepare a different wallet, so that I'm only carrying just enough ID, cards and cash for the travelling. And I might keep some of the cards and extra cash in my carry-on so the wallet only has what's necessary on a given day.
posted by Artful Codger at 11:17 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I’m a woman so I’d need a few more supplies than him, but I was surprised by the amount of toiletries. Does he ever need to wash his hands or clothes at a place that doesn’t have soap? Does he always stay at a place that has soap, shampoo, and conditioner on hand? I carried more toiletries in my every day bag when I commuted an hour one way into NYC.
I also have an iPhone 15 pro max and will only sometimes get below 20% by the end of day. I watch a lot of tv on my phone those days.
posted by Monday at 11:28 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I also have an iPhone 15 pro max and will only sometimes get below 20% by the end of day. I watch a lot of tv on my phone those days.
posted by Monday at 11:28 AM on January 10 [1 favorite]
I looked up the Plasma 1000 jacket, and women's sizes aren't available in the US.
It used to be possible to order off the Japanese website and have it shipped. Maybe you still can. I'm some cases it turned out to be less expensive. Also, Japanese sizes might be different?
Montbell really does make some nice jackets if what you care about is warmth to weight. (see the linked spreadsheets from this r/Ultralight thread.)
posted by surlyben at 12:01 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
It used to be possible to order off the Japanese website and have it shipped. Maybe you still can. I'm some cases it turned out to be less expensive. Also, Japanese sizes might be different?
Montbell really does make some nice jackets if what you care about is warmth to weight. (see the linked spreadsheets from this r/Ultralight thread.)
posted by surlyben at 12:01 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]
One thing to keep in mind is that he's probably buying supplies when he gets there. In many countries, it's cheap to buy small containers for shampoo, soap, toothpaste. He just doesn't feel the need to take them with him when he flies. This is very reasonable if you're staying in one place for 6 weeks to multiple months.
posted by just.good.enough at 12:01 PM on January 10
posted by just.good.enough at 12:01 PM on January 10
We've had this thread recently, I think, but it really does seem like there are two types of "minimalism" at play:
The latter is what a lot of "influencers" portray as minimalism, where they do the equivalent of getting rid of their refrigerator and eating out every meal. It lends itself to a pristine-looking living space, empty of clutter, but it actually ends up as more of a "serial consumerism" philosophy than a genuine commitment to minimalism.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:38 PM on January 10 [5 favorites]
- Avoiding buying unnecessary and disposable items.
- Avoiding buying long-lasting items.
The latter is what a lot of "influencers" portray as minimalism, where they do the equivalent of getting rid of their refrigerator and eating out every meal. It lends itself to a pristine-looking living space, empty of clutter, but it actually ends up as more of a "serial consumerism" philosophy than a genuine commitment to minimalism.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:38 PM on January 10 [5 favorites]
The other thing is that I organise an annual cycling trip across Belgium and the Netherlands every year, and everyone carries what they pack in pannier bags or "bikepacking" bags that tuck into negative spaces in bicycle frames (below the top tube, behind the seat, between the front handlebars...that sort of thing).
I've only done this once, but when people tried to push me on the size of my packed bags, I had to stop one of them and say "Okay, take out all of the clothes you've packed, and let's see how many garments that is." The result was some dozen items. I then pulled out three of my garments and because I am a very fat man, they could not fit them in the space that their entire trip wardrobe took up. We agreed that they'd back me next time someone scolded me for packing too much.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:43 PM on January 10 [8 favorites]
I've only done this once, but when people tried to push me on the size of my packed bags, I had to stop one of them and say "Okay, take out all of the clothes you've packed, and let's see how many garments that is." The result was some dozen items. I then pulled out three of my garments and because I am a very fat man, they could not fit them in the space that their entire trip wardrobe took up. We agreed that they'd back me next time someone scolded me for packing too much.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:43 PM on January 10 [8 favorites]
I only use a wallet when I travel as it's the only time I need ID on me. Otherwise I have one card with me (bank card) and my credit cards are on my phone wallet. I have one of these on order for travelling.
Does he always stay at a place that has soap, shampoo, and conditioner on hand?
I sometimes bring free sample soaps with me that come in little packages like you used to get for ketchup, but otherwise I do not travel with soap. And if you have short hair, shampoo isn't necessary.
But yes, this guy's phone being dead by noon is baffling unless he wakes up at midnight. Maybe he's shooting 6K video while leaving GPS tracking on? That's all I can think of.
Montbell really does make some nice jackets if what you care about is warmth to weight.
No doubt. But there's no way that's folding up to fit in a pocket. If it did, the Mont Bell site would show you a picture of it.
posted by dobbs at 1:01 PM on January 10
Does he always stay at a place that has soap, shampoo, and conditioner on hand?
I sometimes bring free sample soaps with me that come in little packages like you used to get for ketchup, but otherwise I do not travel with soap. And if you have short hair, shampoo isn't necessary.
But yes, this guy's phone being dead by noon is baffling unless he wakes up at midnight. Maybe he's shooting 6K video while leaving GPS tracking on? That's all I can think of.
Montbell really does make some nice jackets if what you care about is warmth to weight.
No doubt. But there's no way that's folding up to fit in a pocket. If it did, the Mont Bell site would show you a picture of it.
posted by dobbs at 1:01 PM on January 10
I can't speak to Montbell, but similar puffy jackets often use one of thier own pockets as a stuff sack, so technically they fit in a pocket, but yeah, they aren't really pocket sized. I often use my puffy as a small down pillow.
posted by surlyben at 1:13 PM on January 10 [2 favorites]
posted by surlyben at 1:13 PM on January 10 [2 favorites]
The latter is what a lot of "influencers" portray as minimalism
It's the difference between being homeless living in your car and #vanlife minimalism.
Previously
And previously, previously, previously, previously, previously
posted by AlSweigart at 2:04 PM on January 10
It's the difference between being homeless living in your car and #vanlife minimalism.
Previously
And previously, previously, previously, previously, previously
posted by AlSweigart at 2:04 PM on January 10
MetaFilter: On occasions when I'm forced to wear pants…
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:59 PM on January 10 [4 favorites]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:59 PM on January 10 [4 favorites]
It is entirely possible to hurt your phone battery life over the course of a few years if you use it heavily and drain the battery every day before fast charging. Seems likely this guy may not be practicing ideal battery hygiene.
posted by Bryant at 4:26 AM on January 11
posted by Bryant at 4:26 AM on January 11
dobbs: "It's an interesting enough list."
evisceration commences
posted by ginger.beef at 10:29 AM on January 11
evisceration commences
posted by ginger.beef at 10:29 AM on January 11
Unless I'm traveling to somewhere that is winter, I can get by with a 30 liter bag about 3/4 full (to leave room for souvenirs) for a multi-week trip. My sister does the same. I sometimes also carry a messenger bag or small foldable cheap backpack (4x6x1) for on-the-plane stuff or grocery shopping at my destination.
A shuttle bus driver in Costa Rica was actually shocked that two older Americans were traveling so light, with just one not-big backpack each.
posted by ITravelMontana at 12:43 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
A shuttle bus driver in Costa Rica was actually shocked that two older Americans were traveling so light, with just one not-big backpack each.
posted by ITravelMontana at 12:43 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
I'm sure I wasn't the first person to post a packing list online but I put my around-the-world pack contents from 2004 online back then. My bag was at least 50% electronics (they were bigger back then) and I had everything packed just so and could find anything in it without looking (helpful when you're in a hostel and can't turn on the light).
I'll second the person who mentioned that this person obviously doesn't menstruate or have to carry 6-12 months of birth control with them. Such a small amount of medicine in his list! His wardrobe makes me just so sad. While I know technical garments are more packable it really takes away your individuality and marks you as a tourist. I always carried one skirt so I could go to any "fancy" event like opera and not look like a total asshole. I guess I didn't put pictures of my clothes on here, but I tried to travel in warm places. When things got cold unexpectedly I had to buy things in local markets and it's probably easy for this guy but I spent a lot of time in rural China trying to find anything that would fit over my chest. I was freezing and the saleswomen just giggled at me that it was too small.
posted by Bunglegirl at 5:49 PM on January 11 [3 favorites]
I'll second the person who mentioned that this person obviously doesn't menstruate or have to carry 6-12 months of birth control with them. Such a small amount of medicine in his list! His wardrobe makes me just so sad. While I know technical garments are more packable it really takes away your individuality and marks you as a tourist. I always carried one skirt so I could go to any "fancy" event like opera and not look like a total asshole. I guess I didn't put pictures of my clothes on here, but I tried to travel in warm places. When things got cold unexpectedly I had to buy things in local markets and it's probably easy for this guy but I spent a lot of time in rural China trying to find anything that would fit over my chest. I was freezing and the saleswomen just giggled at me that it was too small.
posted by Bunglegirl at 5:49 PM on January 11 [3 favorites]
This is probably a useful approach if you're frequently on the move when you travel and have to carry your bags - it's a lot more convenient if there's just one. But it's not really "minimalist", is it?
It's a super-specific, optimized list to allow you to cram as much into that bag as possible. It's not really paring down stuff; it's buying stuff. I guess what rubs me the wrong way about it is how the "one bag" movement conflates these things, thinking that the way they travel is a more revelatory, virtuous way to travel. But it's not - it's really just more of the same.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 7:11 PM on January 11 [1 favorite]
It's a super-specific, optimized list to allow you to cram as much into that bag as possible. It's not really paring down stuff; it's buying stuff. I guess what rubs me the wrong way about it is how the "one bag" movement conflates these things, thinking that the way they travel is a more revelatory, virtuous way to travel. But it's not - it's really just more of the same.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 7:11 PM on January 11 [1 favorite]
Great comments on this thread.
Curious what is the outdoors item he categorized as a sleeping bag? He says, technically a liner? There are sleeping bag liners, made of some type of cloth, used to keep dirty bodies from making clean sleeping bags dirty. But for obvious reasons, they don’t have thermal properties—just like sheets.
And, as others have said, what’s with all the electronics? Seems quite un-minimal. iPad for sketching, plus a sketchbook? Not that it undermines the believability of their story. Though, it’s still a story (and some wonderful comments).
posted by xtian at 8:17 AM on January 12
Curious what is the outdoors item he categorized as a sleeping bag? He says, technically a liner? There are sleeping bag liners, made of some type of cloth, used to keep dirty bodies from making clean sleeping bags dirty. But for obvious reasons, they don’t have thermal properties—just like sheets.
And, as others have said, what’s with all the electronics? Seems quite un-minimal. iPad for sketching, plus a sketchbook? Not that it undermines the believability of their story. Though, it’s still a story (and some wonderful comments).
posted by xtian at 8:17 AM on January 12
the nice thing about a wallet is that it turns all your various cards/bills/etc. into a single unit, that can be easily transferred between clothing as needed
They're effectively a single unit if you put them in your back pocket without the wallet. You don't have to keep track of anything much by carrying them without the wallet.
posted by biffa at 11:13 AM on January 12
They're effectively a single unit if you put them in your back pocket without the wallet. You don't have to keep track of anything much by carrying them without the wallet.
posted by biffa at 11:13 AM on January 12
My wallet contains 7 pieces of plastic (driver's license, credit card, debit card, a couple shopping cards, HMO card, library card), proof of insurance, some assorted business cards and "frequent shopper" punch cards, and a few pieces of paper money. The empty wallet by itself is less than 2 oz (56g); the entire thing full is 3.75 oz (106g) - literally. I just measured it.
It's the work of a split second to pop the whole thing in my pocket without a second thought as I head out the door. I would be demonstrably worse off if I had to juggle those things separately, constantly tasked with determining which things I might need for a given outing.
You do you, certainly. But you're not going to convince me there's any advantage or added convenience to unencumbering myself of a handy 2 oz container.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:01 PM on January 12
It's the work of a split second to pop the whole thing in my pocket without a second thought as I head out the door. I would be demonstrably worse off if I had to juggle those things separately, constantly tasked with determining which things I might need for a given outing.
You do you, certainly. But you're not going to convince me there's any advantage or added convenience to unencumbering myself of a handy 2 oz container.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:01 PM on January 12
Or maybe, travel light and return heavy is more my jam.
That’s my pattern, too, FLS: no amount of walking ever erases all those delicious noodle bars.
posted by rokusan at 1:09 PM on January 12
That’s my pattern, too, FLS: no amount of walking ever erases all those delicious noodle bars.
posted by rokusan at 1:09 PM on January 12
I've seen this list before and my opinion hasn't really changed - it's a nice piece of performance art, but there's a fair bit of smoke-and-mirrors going on here. I do absolutely applaud the intent of intentional minimalist living, but there's a lot of conspicuous consumption going on here that gets glossed over. Not just the throwing out of six shirts every time he moves, but there are lots of things simply missing from the list (particularly basic hygiene materials, as others have pointed out) that would have to be purchased in small quantities and/or discarded, which is expensive and wasteful. There's also obviously some kind of 'home base' or other facility where extra equipment is stored, because there's no way all that camping gear is fitting in the bag with everything else. This is a very expensive way to live minimally, I suspect.
how does the size of your bag reduce time waiting in the TSA line?
Maybe this person doesn't live/travel in the US so, like most of the world, doesn't need to deal with the TSA?
As far as living without a wallet, I used to carry a bulging wallet full of all sorts of essential shit, but have managed to reduce this to a 'wallet case' for my phone that contains a total of five plastic cards, including my license and an emergency $50 bill. Every card I own is stored on my phone and I have never once needed any of these cards in a physical way since I put them away in my 'work bag' a couple of years ago. I very often leave the wallet case behind (having accidentally discovered such cases that use magnets to hold the phone in so can be easily separated) and, as long as I have my watch with me, can manage most things without even the phone.
I've been trying to travel lighter over the years, but struggle to move on from the concept that I'll take everything I could possibly need because then I can be sure I won't need them.
posted by dg at 5:13 PM on January 12
how does the size of your bag reduce time waiting in the TSA line?
Maybe this person doesn't live/travel in the US so, like most of the world, doesn't need to deal with the TSA?
As far as living without a wallet, I used to carry a bulging wallet full of all sorts of essential shit, but have managed to reduce this to a 'wallet case' for my phone that contains a total of five plastic cards, including my license and an emergency $50 bill. Every card I own is stored on my phone and I have never once needed any of these cards in a physical way since I put them away in my 'work bag' a couple of years ago. I very often leave the wallet case behind (having accidentally discovered such cases that use magnets to hold the phone in so can be easily separated) and, as long as I have my watch with me, can manage most things without even the phone.
I've been trying to travel lighter over the years, but struggle to move on from the concept that I'll take everything I could possibly need because then I can be sure I won't need them.
posted by dg at 5:13 PM on January 12
This has strong "Ralph Waldo Emerson's wife complaining about Henry David Thoreau constantly coming over for dinner" vibes.
Thoreau left his cabin at Walden because Lidian Emerson asked him to live with her and help with the children while Ralph Waldo Emerson was on an extended lecture tour in Europe. Nobody was mad that he was a moocher; he was a tremendous help to his family and community.
He had dinner with his family every Sunday while at Walden. Members of his family came to dinner at the cabin on Saturdays. There's a line in Walden where he talks about once having had "20 learned men" in his cabin, and I was, for a long time, not sure if he was being metaphorical and weird but it turns out the local abolitionists, a group he was an integral part of, literally held a conference at the pond. The speakers spoke from the front door of the cabin.
Walden was about a mile from the house he grew up in, and lived in his whole life when not staying with the Emersons, away at school, or living at the pond. He'd been routinely spending time there his entire life, as were lots and lots of people from Concord, as it was a popular spot for fishing and boating. He didn't leave his community when he went to Walden; he wasn't trying to be a hermit. He became something of an attraction, with locals making excursions to visit him and observe his odd behavior.
The two years he spent at Walden were the only times in his life he ever lived alone; when he became an adult, he lived at his mother's boarding house as a boarder, paying room and board for an attic room. Whatever he says in Walden—and the chapters began as lectures that he gave on the very active Lyceum circuit and adapted based on audience responses; he was apparently a very good public speaker and rip-roaringly funny—he went there to "live deliberately" but also to find time to focus on writing his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimac Rivers.
I love Thoreau, even more as a human being whose life was spent endlessly in service to others, from his family to escaping slaves to the Emersons, than as a writer. When Margaret Fuller, her husband and baby died in a shipwreck off Fire Island, it was Thoreau who went there and walked the beaches day after day and questioned locals and witnesses, trying to find anything of Fuller's, most especially the manuscript of her final book (he found her portable writing desk, IIRC, but nothing of the ms.).
I'm so tired of people who haven't read Walden since high school (if then) deciding that Thoreau was some kind of lying hypocrite because he wasn't a total hermit at Walden, when he never claimed to be.
A few years ago, I met someone who was writing a miniseries about the Transcendentalists. I said that I was also a big fan of Thoreau, and that I was really tired of the way that people, almost every time I mention him, pipe up with...
and we finished almost in unison, "You know his mom did his laundry, right?"
This has been a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood 19th century literature scholar of the Queer 19th Century.
posted by Well I never at 2:55 PM on January 14 [4 favorites]
Thoreau left his cabin at Walden because Lidian Emerson asked him to live with her and help with the children while Ralph Waldo Emerson was on an extended lecture tour in Europe. Nobody was mad that he was a moocher; he was a tremendous help to his family and community.
He had dinner with his family every Sunday while at Walden. Members of his family came to dinner at the cabin on Saturdays. There's a line in Walden where he talks about once having had "20 learned men" in his cabin, and I was, for a long time, not sure if he was being metaphorical and weird but it turns out the local abolitionists, a group he was an integral part of, literally held a conference at the pond. The speakers spoke from the front door of the cabin.
Walden was about a mile from the house he grew up in, and lived in his whole life when not staying with the Emersons, away at school, or living at the pond. He'd been routinely spending time there his entire life, as were lots and lots of people from Concord, as it was a popular spot for fishing and boating. He didn't leave his community when he went to Walden; he wasn't trying to be a hermit. He became something of an attraction, with locals making excursions to visit him and observe his odd behavior.
The two years he spent at Walden were the only times in his life he ever lived alone; when he became an adult, he lived at his mother's boarding house as a boarder, paying room and board for an attic room. Whatever he says in Walden—and the chapters began as lectures that he gave on the very active Lyceum circuit and adapted based on audience responses; he was apparently a very good public speaker and rip-roaringly funny—he went there to "live deliberately" but also to find time to focus on writing his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimac Rivers.
I love Thoreau, even more as a human being whose life was spent endlessly in service to others, from his family to escaping slaves to the Emersons, than as a writer. When Margaret Fuller, her husband and baby died in a shipwreck off Fire Island, it was Thoreau who went there and walked the beaches day after day and questioned locals and witnesses, trying to find anything of Fuller's, most especially the manuscript of her final book (he found her portable writing desk, IIRC, but nothing of the ms.).
I'm so tired of people who haven't read Walden since high school (if then) deciding that Thoreau was some kind of lying hypocrite because he wasn't a total hermit at Walden, when he never claimed to be.
A few years ago, I met someone who was writing a miniseries about the Transcendentalists. I said that I was also a big fan of Thoreau, and that I was really tired of the way that people, almost every time I mention him, pipe up with...
and we finished almost in unison, "You know his mom did his laundry, right?"
This has been a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood 19th century literature scholar of the Queer 19th Century.
posted by Well I never at 2:55 PM on January 14 [4 favorites]
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I do confess that I spent most of the weekend feeling like I was forgetting something; the phantom suitcase always seemed to be just in the other room, just out of sight.
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 9:38 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]