These days most western churches record their sermons and put them online. I expect that if a person dedicated all their waking time to listen to all the sermons preached on just one Sunday, they would died long before they listened to even half the recordings. The quality of these sermons is highly variable. Life is too short to waste time listen to poor quality sermons / podcasts. I created (and update) this post so it’s easy for me to share sermons / podcasts that I recommend.
Hebrews 10:25-26 state “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Listening to good sermons is no substitute to being involved in a good local church.
High Quality Church Podcasts
I regularly list to podcasts from the following churches
The following are church podcasts that have been recommended to me. I haven’t listen to them enough to have a strong opinion on them. Think of this as a list I plan to try at some point. The summary is provided by chat-gpt:
Grace Community Church Pastor: John MacArthur Podcast:Grace to You Known for in-depth, verse-by-verse Bible teaching.
Parkside Church Pastor: Alistair Begg Podcast:Truth For Life Offers clear and relevant biblical teaching.
The Village Church Pastor: Matt Chandler Podcast:The Village Church Sermons Emphasizes gospel-centered teaching.
The following are set to automatically get downloaded and put at the beginning of my listening queue:
Up First: 15 minutes of news Monday-Saturday from NPR. Gives me a sense of what’s happening in the world without spending hours doom scrolling.
Tim Ferris: Tim is a great interviewer with a wide range of interesting people. Most shows are around 2 hours, exploring the guest’s life and unique contributions. The earliest shows were about being successful / productive but Ferris has grown and looks at life through a broader lens. I find myself going to the episode notes to explore resources mentioned on each show.
The Drive by Dr Peter Attia about extending health span. Peter talks about training for the “Centenarian Olympics“, e.g. being a healthy and active life at 100. Touches on medicine, nutrition, and exercise. Most shows go fairly deep into the underlying science.
Freakonomics is the podcast/radio show that continues the original book themes. Looks at social/economic issues through a behavioral economics lens. Their tagline is “The Hidden Side of Everything”.
The Hidden Brain by Shankar Vedantam examines factors which drive human behavior
Work Life by Adam Grant. Grant is a organizational psychologist who studies what makes organizational function well. There tag line is “explore the science of making work not suck”.
How to Build a Happy Life by the Atlantic. Original episodes by Arthur Brooks I thought were the best.
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish. Focus on analysis, decision making, and model based thinking. Interviews with innovative thinkers and doers from business and government
The Bulletin: Roundtable from Christianity Today looking at current events through the lens of classic evangelicalism.
Past Recommendations
The following are podcast that I used to listen to every episode, but now sample episodes which seems particularly interesting. I have learned that most of us go through “seasons of life” which changes what we give attention to.
TED Radio Hour is a curated sampling of TED talks arranged around a common theme. I particularly enjoyed the earliest shows hosted by Guy Raz.
A digital nomad lifestyle is a great way to figure out your preferences, interests, passions, and values, but generally is not the best way to pursue what you discover. Most digital nomads settle somewhere to build community.
For many people, the increased opportunities to learn and grow outweighs the nomadic life “tax” for a season of life.
Life as a digital nomad requires you to minimize stuff so that you can increase the possibility of new experiences.
[toc]
I became intrigued by the digital nomad lifestyle in the 1980s. I got to know a number of the early digital nomads, and followed many more via blogs / websites. My minor claim to fame was that Rolf Potts noted in his book Vagabonding that my travel light page provided useful information. The majority of the digital nomads I got to know “settled down” after 2-4 years, almost all within 10 years. The most cited reason for “settling down” was because they had discovered what was most important to them was deep connections, and that the best way to pursue that was to live someplace where they could build a community. An example of this is Mark Manson who wrote a piece about his experience as a digital nomad and after 8 years settled into a city. Four Thousand Weeks (chapter 13: The Loneliness of the Digital Nomad) has insights into how external constraints can make it easier to build community resulting in greater joy. The spiritual aspects of this are nicely explored in the book The Power of Place.
I have experimented working as a “digital nomad” over the years. In the last couple of years I lived as a nomad in Portland, Charlotte, Ashville, Denver, and Santa Cruz. Next will be several locations outside the US. I have been using my “nomad” trips as a way to explore new cities to determine if the next season of life will continue to be based in Mountain View, CA or new city. Rather than reading about possible locations I believe it’s better to check out a location for 1-2 months to get as sense of an area and then lived there for 6-12 months before making a hard commitment.
The first half of 2022 our home was going to be under utilized due the household (except me) taking an extended trip to see family in Taipei, an extended vacation in Europe, and spending time in Santa Rosa to work on a property. This seemed like a perfect time to let someone rent our home via AirBnB which would provide net positive cashflow while provide an opportunity for me to further experiment with a digital nomad life. I work full time for HashiCorp, a remote first company which makes it easy to live pretty much anywhere. Much of my work is meetings with people who are primarily in timezones associated with the Americas which encouraged me to stay in those timezones.
As previous trips, the core of what I will use fits into a 23l, carry-on size bag. I am staying in AirBNBs which have a kitchen so I can prepare my own meals. Originally I was thinking spending the first month in San Jose Costa Rica, but that isn’t going to work out. I will have to try Costa Rica at some later date. Over the next four months I am staying in seven places, three cities, not counting our vacation. The following is a combination of the lessons I learned on past trips and current trips.
There is a “moving” tax
Each move requires around five hours beyond the actual travel time. This includes time to clean out fridge and pack, load/unload baggage, assess a new place, unpack, and prep a new kitchen for real cooking. Emotionally, it seems like it takes two or three days to adjust to a new physical location, and maybe a week before life within the abode is fully settled.
There is a “new” tax
We have refined / optimizing our home and life to support our activities. The utensils we use are easily accessible in the kitchen. Supplies are ready to go and near where they are used. We know the most efficient path to destinations, where to acquire everything needed, what parks have easy access / adequate parking, safe bicycling routes, etc. Daily friction has been minimized.
Each geographical location change requires several weeks to adjust on the basics. During the first couple of weeks normal “life maintenance” activities like getting groceries, exercising, etc take significantly more energy than when doing these activities in a location that is well known. For example:
groceries shopping requires you finding a store has the products you are looking for (some of which might not be available in any of the stores) and then you need to figure out the stores layout. What is a 10 minute frictionless trip to a “home groceries store” could be a 30 minute exercise of frustration which results in only part of a shopping list filled.
running requires finding a good route. Once you have a new route you need to memorize it. Eventually you might have enough context to be able to improvise your routes. When home it’s possible for the run to be almost fully on automatic, allowing the time to be focused on the experience or something you are thinking about rather where is the next turn I need to make, oops… I missed it, can I continue this way or do I need to backtrack?
After the first few weeks the most common activities will proceed smoothly, but there will continue to be friction each time you try to do something that you haven’t tried in the new location.
I know people who move daily or weekly. That wouldn’t work for me. I would want to spend at least two month in a location which provides time to get through the learning curve and to have time to enjoy a location.
Sidenote: High quality Internet service is critical. I have been spoiled by AT&T Fiber. When Internet service has been flaky (thanks Comcast) it really disrupts productivity and produces significant stress which spill into all of life.
Need “Recovery Time” from “Work”
In the last two years my work has been filled with a lot of collaborative meetings over zoom. While I typically feel energized when meeting in person, meet over zoom typically leaves me feeling emotionally exhausted. Others have written about the cost of zooming. When “daily life” doesn’t have a lot of friction, it provided time for me to “recharge”. I could then jump into “fun” without realizing that work had taken a fair amount emotional energy.
The “new” tax resulted in my daily activities often costs emotional energy rather than provide a time to recharge. As a result it’s hard to really “enjoy” a new location on the days I am working. I discovered that it was hard to even enjoy eating out on workdays because when I am tired from work it’s hard to eat healthy food.
During a vacation I can enjoy a “go-go” agenda filling up almost every spare moment. It’s different when I am working remotely. On the days I am not working (the weekend) I need some time to recharge. I have been able to enjoy my new location, but I only have energy for a few activities or experiences. Then I need a recharge so I am ready to work the next week.
I can explore an area more completely in a couple of weeks during a vacation than a couple of months while I am working.
Workspace matters
For much of my professional life, I have done a fair bit of work using a laptop which was actually sitting on my lap. I could sit in our living room or anywhere that had a comfortable chair or couch. I have come to realized that when I was doing that work, I was typically doing focused work. Real-time collaboration was typically not required. When I needed close collaboration I would go into “the office”.
In the world of remote work I have found that my laptop screen does not have enough real-estate. I need at least a second high resolution screen which can hold “my work” while the laptop screen is used for video conferencing. At home I use a 27 inch 4K display mounted right above my laptop which works quite well.
When traveling I initially tried using an iPad Air via Sidecar as my second monitor, but that didn’t work so well. First, I want more real estate. Second, I found that the connection to the iPad was unstable and I had to reset it several times each day due to marginal WiFi in many AirBnBs. Later I realized I should have used a USB to tether the iPad. I switched to using a portable 14” 4K display which is tethered to my my laptop via a USB-C cable. I have found the portable screen’s connect is stable and it’s lighter and more transportable than an iPad. Displaying at full resolution makes the characters too small for my poor eyes, so I scale the display. I don’t have a way to mount it above my screen, so it sits to the side. When I look at it – for example when taking notes during a meeting, I am looking away from the camera on my laptop which can mis-communicate that I am not paying attention. I now know there are second screens that can attach to my laptop. If I was flying between locations I would make do, but since I was driving between locations, I retrieved the folding desk I use at home and my 27″ monitor which easily fit in our car’s trunk for transport. The desk is small enough I can set up just about anywhere. This allows my workspace to be just like home wherever I am.
When working remotely in a space that doesn’t have walls and door that separate me from others I find myself distracted and not able to focus fully on the people in the virtual meeting. Using earbuds/headphones can lessen this need, but I find myself very self conscience in these situations which impacts my ability to be present, and focus on the people I am meeting with. I learned of the article “The invisibility cloak illusion: People (incorrectly) believe they observe others more than others observe them” from a Hidden Brain podcast which reinforced my concerns of doing private things in public spaces. My solution now is to only book locations which proves me with a work space that gives me walls and a door between me and other people.
The Challenge of Community
I value community. Regularly moving locations can make forming and maintaining community very challenging. I keep in contact with my closest friends with weekly “walking” phone calls. We have found talking while we walk in our neighborhoods or nearby parks works better than zoom calls. I think this is because zoom calls require us to process visual signals which is taxing, but the fidelity isn’t good enough to get useful signal.
As a nomad you will need to purposefully engage and initiate to find community. We have found that when we jump in, volunteer to help, initiate time that a fair number of people (outside the Bay Area) are happy to engage. Leverage your interests, passions, hobby, and professional networks to find community. The traveling entrepreneurs I know often look for workspace, professional societies, and alumni organizations to tap into. They have found that if they offer to host gathers for the group they are quickly welcomed. We have attempted to meet people via meetup.com (mostly hiking groups) and by attending a local church. We try a new church each week until we find one that practices grace and hospitality. So notes about finding a good church. Besides attending Sunday morning worship we will attempt to join some sort of mid-week activity to get to know people on a personal level. We expect most of the relationships we start will be short lived, but they have been rewarding. Ten years ago I wrote about how I discovered the benefits of being open to surprising relationships and still find this to be true.
One thing we really miss when being digital nomad is that it can be difficult to host gatherings. Many AirBNB agreements ban “parties” or even having a guest or two. It’s also challenging to find a reasonable cost airbnb which is well suited to hosting gathers.
Some people are using their nomad experience to build community. They do this by staying in shared housing which is filled with other digital nomads. When they “click” with others, they select their next destination as a team. Over time small clusters of people become a roaming band.
AirBNB Expectations
People have different standards. This can be obvious when reading AirBNB reviews. Some people talk about how nice a place is and how well it was cleaned, but others complain about the same location. While the conditions might be different I believe this is more of a reflection of people’s expectations. Some people are expecting the same sort of care found in high end hotels where every surface has been scrubbed by professional cleaners. Other people’s standards would be more typical of someone’s personal home. For example, most people would clean surfaces like counters, sinks, floors, etc on a regular basis, but generally don’t completely unload their cabinets each time they are cleaning their home.
Renting our Place Out While Nomading
Over the years we have simplified our “stuff”. This enabled us to box up and move most of our “personal” items into the garage in a couple of hours. There are a few pieces of art that we couldn’t replace which we moved into a protected space, one closet and one cabinet that we left personal items with with a sign which said “personal”. Otherwise we left all our family gear for our guests to use and enjoy. We have found guest generally treated out stuff with respect. A few things were broken, much like what would have happened if we were living at home.
We have experimented with what to leave in the fridge and cupboard. I though leaving our complete collection of spices, oils, staples, and maybe some goodies in the fridge would be appreciated. Jackie suggested just the bare basics would be better. I have come to believe Jackie was mostly right, that a much more curated and “fresh” set of supplies is preferred with the fridge being sparkling clean on the inside.
When people are staying in your place, everything that has ever been an issue for you, even if it happens only once every six months will happen to your guest within the first few days. It’s likely a few new things will happen that have never occurred in the past or you never noticed. It’s critical to have someone who is local, available, and can help care for your guests. Quick and friendly response is often more important than immediate resolution. Many of the issues were very simple. I expect that if people were in their own home they would have figured things out themselves and not asked for help.
People don’t read “manuals” or long documents. If you want to impose rules or restrictions it’s best to have something that convenes that “just in time”. For example, one place I stayed in put a small dowel which stopped a closet door from opening. This let me know that space was for their private items. The space didn’t need to be secured. I was going to respect their space. There were a few spaces in the same place that didn’t have this treatment which I mistook to be available to me until I later read the manual.
What I am Using (Minimalism)
I have been using being a nomad as a way to further explore minimalism. I am using my typical travel/packing list with “high sweat exercise”, and “sunny” added. All of my “personal” items fits in a 23L daypack. Since I am often driving rather than flying between location I have decided to bring some additional items. I am bringing both my personal and work laptops (Apple MacBook Pros). For the first part of the trip I will also have a 26L daypack filled with various documents and office supplies to prepare my tax return. Finally, I am bringing some family gear which is also discussed below.
Entertainment
Roku stick. Nearly everyplace we have stayed has a smart TV with an accessible HDMI slot. Rather than having to configure the smartTV with our streaming services we just connect the Roku stick to the WiFi and immediately have all our content configured and ready to go.
Bluesound Flex Speakers: Configured as a stereo pair. Surprising good sounding for their size. Allows us to listen to music together without cringing at the sound quality of standard TVs or the speakers on the iPhone.
Fitness
I originally decided to bring some fitness equipment to avoid having to find a gym. I am back to doing a slightly modified “simple 6” workout and riding my bicycle. Items carried include:
Withing Body Weight Scale: Isn’t letting me change it’s WiFi network. My solution was rename my iPhone to be the same as our home network, set the password to be the same as home, and turn on hotspot compatibility mode. This allows the scale to update via my phone’s Hotspot.
adjustable kettlebell
door-jam pull-up bar
bicycle
helmet
cycling shoes
Pump
chain lube
charger for bicycle di2
oLight magnetic battery charger for lights and power meter peddles
Transporting these items is a slight hassle. I would prefer heavier weights, but they won’t fit in the Mini Cooper. If I was going to be a digital nomad “full time” I would either need to development a body weight only workout plan or join a gym near wherever I was staying. For my last stay I joined a gym to get heavier weights, a rowing machine, and a pull up bar because my door jam bar didn’t fit where I was staying.
Kitchen, Food
I (later we) are cooking most of out meals rather than eating out. I am bringing a number of kitchen items which are often absent in the places I have stayed:
Kitchen scale
SodaStreamer + 1L water bottle (to avoid purchasing bottled soda water)
Sharp chef and paring knives (because most places have dull, crappy knives)
I am transporting whatever food hasn’t been consumed and a few staples in a folding cooler and a large re-usable shopping bag. Staples I am carrying:
Favorite teas
Red Pepper Flakes
Cajun Spice
Curry
Olive Oil
Good Balsamic Vinegar
Sliced Raw Almond (which I roast as needed)
Mustard
Garlic
Ginger
Lemon Juice
Sleep
I initially left my ChiliPad behind. Since I am by myself right now I can drop the temperature of the room I am sleeping in without making Jackie uncomfortable. I hoped this would let me sleep as well as I do with the ChilliPad. No such luck. I am finding that without the ChilliPad I wake up each time I transition from REM sleep and am less rested at the end of the night. This has confirmed to me that the ChilliPad is really been useful. Furthermore, my resting heart rate has been higher during this time. The second half on this journey I am using my ChiliPad and find I am sleeping better.
The Story Continued
My wife and I continued to travel for several years after this post was made. For several of the destinations we flew rather than drove. In those locations we left all the extras behind. Everything I used was in a 23l daypack. Within the first couple of days in a new city I would find a gym to join and gave up cycling as a sport since it was not particularly transportable when flying. Instead, I focused on running and using an indoor rowing machine.
Several items on my personal gear list were used by the whole family, and thus, this page was born. I have excluded our furniture. We keep only those items that are useful and/or are enjoyed which allows our family to focus on doing things that we find rewarding rather than devoting ourselves to managing stuff. When we needed to move, it took less than 10 hours to pack which started with acquiring boxes and included breaks to eat. We were able to unpack even more quickly. By the end of a weekend we were not just out of one place, but fully moved into the new with boxes put away and pictures hung on the walls. Items in bold are particularly great, and those with “*” I am not sure we would replace if they were lost or damaged. The (year) indicates when the item was acquired.
Outdoor Gear
In our garage we have a baker’s rack which holds most of the outdoor gear we use.
Hiking pole hanging.
Bin with Xmas decorations. Outdoor in the sense that there is lighting for the front yard, but also has decorations for inside.
Enlightened Gear Accomplice Double Quilts (2014), Montbell Down Hugger Super Stretch #3 (2005) and NuntakUSA Ghost Down Blanket/Quilt (2002). Notes about Sleeping Bag & Quilt
Therm-a-Rest XTherm Air Mattress (2012) Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad (2019). Notes about Sleeping Pads
Duffel bag 50L described below in “Camping Supplies” which has gear for car camping, disasters, and cookware for group backpack trips.
A few packs and a foldable cooler.
Coleman Portable Stove/Grill (2000) with one burner on the right side, and the left can be used as a grill or with a large non-stick griddle.
Coca Cola Crates – 3 (1950) which have a steel frame and cardboard sides holding a number of items
Coke Box 1: Mark’s bicycling: repair / replacement items such as inter tubes, patch kit, CO2 cartridges, second water bottle, chain lube, charger for Di2, crank wrench, bike lock
SteadyRack not shown (2021) to store bikes in the garage.
Topeak JoeBlow Bike Pump (1997)
Camping Supplies
Northface basecamp duffel small – 50L (1987) holds all the contents described below and also some TP, extra fuel canisters, plastic bags and aluminum foil.
Platypus Water Containers, Gravity Filter (2018) because we are sometimes places that don’t have safe drinking water.
Plastic tub (2000) Used to wash dishes and pots when car camping. Use the case for the dinner set for rinsing. Pack Towel (1988), sponge (2002/2021), nylon pots scraper (2002), Dr Bronner’s Soap (1972/2020)
Work Gloves (2008)
Gear “Repair Kit” (2009) zippers, grommets, rope, safety pins, etc. Supplemented with various other small repair items and single use superglue (2014)
Leatherman (2000), Fallkniven F1 fixed blade knife (2002). There are numerous other good knives I would recommend.
REI Dinnerware Set for 4 (2012) including wash basin, drying rack, and cutting board
Misc items for kitchen most of which are stored in a ziplock bag. Durable items from 1992, consumables refreshed as needed Long Lighter, Cooking oil, Hot Sauce, Salt/Pepper, matches/lighter, paring knife, tongs
1.3L Evernew Ti Pot (2001), Snowpeak GigiPower Stove (2001), Fuel Canister, Silicon Cup/Bowl (2010), and MSR folding Foon (2010). This kit is used when we do family backpacking trips. We used to have a set of pots and pans for car camping but got rid of them when we realized that we typically used grill and skillet built in to our Coleman stove. We really only needed one pot for heating up water. On car camping trips the Snowpeak stove is typically not used.
N95 Masks (2021)
Whistle
Rite in Rain Pad and Pen
Trip Tease Cord. So many uses of rope. Stringing up a tarp, a line to dry clothing, etc.
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern(2018) which is a perfect size and amount of light for car camping or emergency lighting in a house in the case of a power outage. Built in rechargeable battery with the ability to use three AA batteries if the internal battery has been fully discharged and you need light.
Zebralight H600 Headlamp, which uses a 18650 battery. A bit heavy, but very bright and long run times. H51 Headlamp (2010) and H52W flashlight (2012). These lights are compact, surprisingly long runtimes due to excellent regulation, and use a single AA that is easy to acquire. There are several other flashlights and headlights I recommend.
GoalZero Power Sherpa 100* (2020) High versatile power system. Has been used during power outage to keep our Internet connection up, as a portable power outlet for small appliances and to charge devices on extended trips without access to car or wall power. Not shown are a few USB cables to be used to charge a variety of devices and an Olight Universal Magnetic Battery Charger (2018) which charges pretty much any size battery including 1.5V NiHM, 3.6 & 3.7V LI batteries
Lijiani Weather Radio – not shown (2022) Had the best reception on AM/FM/Weather bands of 6 radios I tried and happens to be the least expensive. Fairly intuitive user interface when performing basic functions. Downsides are that it feels cheap, power is exclusively 2 AA batteries, and the speaker is mediocre.
Picnicking/Emergency
Arctic Zone 36-can Folding Cooler (2011) is a good size for long weekend car camping trips. Not super insulating, but ice keeps contents cool for 2 days, and dry ice works for 4 days.
Wine Tote (2016) which is a good size for wine and cheese in a park: holds up to two bottles, some snacks, and a couple of glasses, with a small cutting board, bottle opener, small knife.
Alife Mayfly Chair* (2010) is a low slung folding chair which works on any surface and doesn’t have legs so it can be used at Shoreline amphitheater.
GoChair – 2 (2018) which we funding via indiegogo which deploys very quickly.
Pentax S 8×42 Binoculars (1994) Nitrogen filled, excellent visual quality in a moderately compact body.
60w Solar Charger* to provide power off grid over an extended period of time (2020). When people were purchasing excess TP at the beginning of COVID I was beefing up my disaster kit.
“Emergency” Food (not shown) – The box also has some freeze dried food and food I commonly take backpacking but don’t eat a lot of home such as cous cous. We also have durable bag to collect food from our pantry in the event of a disaster. We keep a week worth of food in our pantry that won’t spoil and is easy to cook.
Tools
Dekopro 126 piece Toolbox convient box with most of the tools I need. Quality isn’t want I have been used to, but mostly good enough. Originally purchased when renting out a house so there would be some on-site tools. Many of my tools (Snapon and Craftsman) were stolen a few years ago and decided to see if I could make do with the Dekopro set. So far it’s been ok.
Milwaukee Hex Electric Screwdriver with right angle adaptor and multiple bits. It is mostly powerful enough to use as a light duty drill.
Additional tools that live the the Milwaukee case (avoiding pulling out the Dekopro case): metric hex wrench, screwdriver, precision screwdriver with multiple bits, box cutter, pencil, sharpie, cresent wrench, hex wrench bits, precision needle nose pliers, nitecore nu20 headlamp
Misc other tools not shown: Fluke IR Temp. Meter, Fluke Multimeter, Soldering Iron, Clamps, Calipers, Level, Micro screwdrivers
Electronics
LG OLED55B6P SmartTV (2017) for family / friends movie night and other group activities that use a screen. I would be content using the screen on my laptop or even iPhone for the occasional video streaming I watch. That said, the picture quality is amazing and the webOS based controls work well. Also sometimes used as a display for Macintosh. 4k works nicely when trying to see a lot of pictures using Adobe Lightroom.
Apple Mac mini* (2017) The Mini is compact, low noise, with a good collection of ports, has enough CPU, memory, and disk for our family needs, and plays well in the Apple eco-system which we am committed to until our next refresh in a few years. It is overpriced compared to non-Apple hardware. Used primarily as a media server. Roon for audio, Lightroom for photos, various programs for video / streaming. Retired in early 2022 after Mark got a new MacBook Pro.
KEF LS50 wireless monitor speakers (2017) with a built in DAC and amplifier designed for the speakers. Good quality sound that fills a room, excellent for near field use in a nicely designed, compact package. Can take TOSlink, USB, Bluetooth, analog, and several IP based streaming protocols inputs over ethernet or WiFi. Roon can stream directly to it over the network, but it’s not Roon-Ready so can’t be synchronized with other Roon-Ready systems. The iOS remote application is poor. I drive the LS50 via USB on a Mac Mini running Roon which remove the need for the KEF remote and the speakers can be synchronized with other Roon Ready end-points giving me whole house music. I still prefer the sound quality of electrostatic speakers with audiophile grade full electronics, but I am happy that I downsized our stereo so we can focus on other things.
BlueSound Node Audio Streamer (2021) to remove dependency on Roon for multi-room audio playback. Lets me connect Plus Flex speakers with our KEF LS50s through the house for Spotify or as an AirPlay2 endpoint.
Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker not shown (2017 & 2022) allows us to have synchronized whole house music and plays nicely with other BlueSound products. We have the original Flex speaker and the updated Flex 2i. It also supports inputs via USB, Bluetooth, AUX, a number of streaming services like Spotify, and many free sites via URIs. Has a iOS and Android remote control app which works but has a somewhat awkward UI. Controls on the top let you select one of 5 user-defined “channels” without using the remote. I have the optional battery pack so it can be used in our backyard. It can be used away from it’s home, but you have to reconfigure it’s WiFi settings which is a pain. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for it’s lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me typically prefer. Even cheaper are products from Audio Pro.
Google WiFi Mesh (2017) network access points easily install and just work when you have an area than a single WiFi router isn’t sufficient. There may be faster / more featureful options out there, but the Google devices work flawlessly and are visually appealing. We are using ATT fibre which so far as been a big improvement over Comcast for slightly less money.
Brother MFC-J880W not shown (2017) Multifunction Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier has been a reliable device for us unlike several other multi-function devices which failed within a year. WiFi enabled, supports AirPrint, Google Print, and several other standards. Connected to a Obi device which lets us Fax over Google Voice.
Small Appliances
Vornado 660 Fan (2008) air ciculation in the garage or living room
Vornado Panel Fan (2014) pulls cooler outside air into bedroom to avoid using air conditioner most of the summer
Conway Air Purifier / HEPA Filter (2020) Was a lifesaver during the summer time fires summer of 2020. Took air quality from over 200 down to 25 in our study.
Dyson V10 Cordless Vacuum (2019) Expensive. There are cheaper options but works very well but the battery life is slowly dropping.
Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven (2020) is used for nearly all our baking, broiling and toasting needs. We have a full size, built in oven, but this unit heats up more quickly, seems to heat more evenly, and is the perfect size for almost everything we make.
Oxo 11lb Scale (2014) Easy to use, accurate, the display can be separated to enable viewing when weighting oversized objects.
Soda Stream (2017) To avoid purchasing bottled bubble water. Cheaper, cuts down plastic waste, don’t have to haul water back from costco.
Rival RC101 5-Cup Rice Cooker (2017) Simple to use and faster than a rice cookers with fuzzy logic and other advanced features.
Panasonic Electric Water Boiler (2019) Holds 3.2quarts of water. Insulated to minimize energy usage and allows hot water to be used for a couple of hours when power is not available.
Zojirushi Electric “Hot Pot” (2005) Hot pot is one of our favorite ways to celebrate holiday or when having a small dinner party with friends.
Waffle Maker* (2005)
Amazon 6 sheet Paper Shredder (2020)
Pulse SpO2 Meter* (2020) Purchased primarily for better insight in the face of COVID19. my wife sometimes uses to get a read of pulse rate when doing HIIT.
Baking and Mixing
Silicone Oven Mitts not shown (2014) with inner, removable terrycloth liners. Effective, waterproof, durable.
Pampered Chef Mixing Bowls (2007) Light weight, rubber on the bottom keeps them from sliding around. Useful size. Often use the larger as a salad bowl. Have well sealing lids which aren’t shown.
Electric Hand Mixer (2017) Christmas gift for Amber who loves to bake. Used to have a Kitchenaid but got rid of it because it’s ease of use compared to the hand mixer was overshadows by the hassle of pulling it out of the garage.
Measuring Cups
Rolling Pin
Hand whisk (not shown)
Strainer, Collapsing Silicon Funnel
KitchenAid Immersion Blender (2014) for many mixing, blending, and whisking tasks. There are better models on the market, but this one is good enough for our needs. Has several attachments.
Pots and Pans
T-fal 10″ frying pan (2014/2019) replaced in 2019 when first was warped. Modest price. Anti-stick works well and is durable.
Zojirushi Mr Bento Lunch Jar* (2014) for hot and cold lunch, snack, dinners when we are doing a fun / special “picnic”. Great for personal lunch but unnecessary.
Zojirushi Bottle* (2005) which holds 51 ounces and can keep beverages warm for almost 24 hours. Nice pouring spout with a lid which functions as an insulated cup. Haven’t used for several years.
Propane Hose* (2020) that allows Coleman grill to run from a full size propane tank rather than the smaller disposable tanks. Not really needed.
MSR Duralite Cookset* (2003) Typically cook over grill or use griddle. Evenew backpacking pot is adequate for boiling water for drinks and is easier to pour.
Eton Microlink FR160 Emergency Radio (2009) Internal rechargeable batteries (3 AA batteries in special packaging) can only charged by the crank or poor quality solar cells on top. Should allow to changing via USB or other external power source. AM/FM weather band, but not weather alert.
18650 Battery Charger (2018) and GoalZero AA Charger (2004). Both double as a USB power supply. Not the most efficient charger or power pack, but works. Hasn’t been used for several years. La Crosse Battery Charger – 2 (2007) which does a great job charging any combination of 1-4 AA or AAA NiNH or NiCad batteries. All replaced by a single Nitecore UMS4 charger which does both NiNH and Lithium batteries with more informative display and is powered by a USB-micro jack.
Roon software (2017) isn’t really an item, but it effected many of my decisions related to audio playback. Roon integrates my iTunes library which is made up of CDs ripped using ALAC codex with the TIDAL streaming service to provide loseless audio to multiple speakers around the house. In the last couple of years I found bugs in Roon and in the Roon endpoint of the first generation BlueSound Flex speaker. Today I am using the native BlueSound grouping for multi-room, and doing lossless streaming from Apple Music and from Spotify. If I didn’t care so much about sound quality the family would use Sonos speakers combined with Spotify for whole house music.
Added in 2022
Nitecore UMS4 (2022). Versatile charger powered by micro-USB. Supports most battery formulations and sizes with informative display which describes state of batteries and charging process. A bit larger than I would like but it has to accommodate large batteries. We generally use Eneloop Pro Batteries. Reasonable power density and power retention when stored.
Dimmer for String Lights (2022) Allows use to schedule changes which can include sunset or sunrise as triggers.
I have an updated list which captures what I am using now.
Minimalism led me to simplify my possessions. Each year I review what I used the previous year to determine what changes I want to make. I strive to use items that enable me to have an a healthy, impactful life, while minimizing friction. The following is a complete list of everything I personally own. Making this list was inspired by zenhabit’s one bag lifestyle and Tynan’s Gear posts, and is similar to blackshine’s list. Please don’t use this list to fuel consumption or as a challenge to create a curated list of minimalist styled possessions. Do not allow your possessions to become the basis of your sense of security or well being.
Items in bold are exceptionally great. I happily use items marked with “*”, but not so much that I would automatically replace them. If I was a “true minimalist” I would get rid of them. The (year) is when the item became a standard part of my life, /year indicates when I re-purchased.
While I enjoy simplicity, a bit of variety can be nice. For example, I often wear my pullover hoodie when it’s cool, but sometimes I prefer a sweater. For the first half of 2022 I am between several locations which will blur the differences between “travel” and “everyday” resulting in several items going into storage while my “traveling list” will likely grow. Items that are used by the whole family are on our family gear page.
On My Person / Day Activities
Flexon Eyeglasses (1995/2020) eyeglass frames with Zeiss high index progressive lens. Eyeglasses are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year of getting them. I started to use Flexon frames around 1995. They have lasted an average of 8 years with many prescription changes. In 2021 I tried transition lens but was disappointed. My cycling sunglasses (listed below) worked well in daylight but don’t go clear enough as dusk approached. Transition Xtra Active go clear enough, but don’t darken enough while driving and aren’t polarized so doesn’t cut down glare. There is now Transitions XtrActive Polarized which almost what I long for: goes from almost clear and unpolarized to 90% light blockage that is polarized but isn’t available in high index materials. For me, prescription glasses with clear lens and fit-over sunglasses that are polarized and have >=90% light blockage seem best combination other than looking silly.
N95/KT94 Masks (2021) have replaced my cloth masks because N95 are more effective and now available without taken them away from medical professionals. Masknerd has great reviews. My family really likes one of his top recommendations, an appropriately sized BOTN KT94, but they are sometimes hard to acquire.
Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler (1999/2015) is the smallest, usable tool I have found with a blade, phillips head & flat screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener, and nail file. When flying I switch to a Swiss+Tech Utili-Key which is not as usable as the Rambler, but has made it through TSA checkpoints over 100 times since 2002 without being confiscated. I am on my 3rd Rambler after losing a couple. I have some notes about other knife options.
Flowfold Minimalist Wallet (2012) which holds my IDs, 2 credit cards, a few bills, while taking up minimal space.
Uniball Vision Elite .5mm Pen (2015/2021) has a good “feel” and doesn’t leak after plane flights! I think the Pilot V5 has the best writing feel, but they leak 🙁
Apple iPhone 12 Mini (2020) on Verizon. Not as small as the original SE… the upper right corner is a stretch for one handed use but smaller than most phones. I am somewhat locked into the Apple eco-system because they rest of my family is deeply committed. I found the UI on Android 10 and later has caught up with iOS and has superior notifications and speech recognition. Can someone please make a thin smart phone with a high resolution screen that is 4″ on the diagonal? Maybe Unihertz will do this someday? Verizon is expensive, but gives me the coverage I want in the USA. I will give GoogleFi a try when they support multi-carrier / network switching on the iPhone. Airalo and Gigsky make it easy to acquire an eSIM for wireless data while traveling internationally.
Apple AirPod Pros (2021) are nicely integrated with the Apple eco-system and just work. I found Bluetooth connects quickly and the connection is reliable. Noise reduction is decent, and the “ambient mode” provides situational awareness. I have written about other headphones options. These replace a pair of AirPods that died and often use on shorter flight so I don’t need to hassle with my IEM + bluetooth receiver.
Garmin 935 Watch (2017) accurately tracks my activities and measures my fitness level. The watch is light enough that I don’t mind wearing it continuously. It originally could last ~5 days without charging while using GPS 12 hours during this time. Now I can get 9 days without using the GPS, and each hour of GPS uses 10% battery, so I typically see 3 days with 6 hours of GPS. Has decent integration with smartphones and notifies me when I have left the paired phone behind. I find the data I get from Garmin to be significantly higher quality than other wrist worn sensors, being close to medical grade instruments when paired with a HRM and a power meter. When battery dies will likely replace with a Garmin 255. There are other good sport watches.
Zojirushi Double Walled Mug (2013/2017) can easily be used one handed, locks so it doesn’t open accidentally, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and insulating better than every other mug I have tested. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which I picked up after misplacing my silver mug at work. The striking color make it easy to spot when searching for it. In many countries you you can fill it with ice (no water) and get through security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight.
Nicore NU25 rechargeable headlamp – not shown (2019) Very light-weight, especially when the headband is replaced with shock cords. Decent regulation, electronic lock so it doesn’t turn on accidentally. Use when I need hands free light: repair work, hiking, backpacking, running in the dark, and it has been used when I forgot to recharge my bike light. Can be powered from a remote USB power supply making it useful in extreme cold. There are many other good flashlights.
Office / Electronics
MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) provided by Hashicorp and a MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) – not shown for personal work. Been using MacBooks since 2006 as my primary computer. There are better performing laptops for the money, but I like the ergonomics of the Macbook touch pad and OS X because it gives me high quality commercial applications and full UNIX tooling. When I purchase a MacBook for personal use I select a configuration with the maximum memory available which has allowed me to use the same Macbook for ~6 years before it feels too sluggish. The 2021 MacBook Pro is a return to what it should have been. I hope Apple brings back the ultra-portable 12″ MacBook someday.
LG 27BN88U 27-inch 4K Display (2020) provide by work. Historically I have worked from the display on my laptop, using an external monitor only occasionally when needing to visualize a lot of data. In the era of Zoom meetings I use the laptop screen for displaying people, and the external monitor for notes, presentations, and general work.
RAVpower 120w USB-C Charger* – not shown (2021) A compact power source with 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A ports allows me to rapidly charger all the devices I use each day. Purchased so the previous charger could move into the garage. has 2 USB-C cables, a UCB-C to Micro adapter, a Garmin and an Apple Lighting cable attached to it. It sometimes gets confused how much power to deliver to which port and I need to disconnect / reconnect devices until each is getting powered 🙁
Apple iPad Air 4* + Smart Keyboard Folio* (2021) Purchased as a second monitor (via Sidecar) for MacBook for when I am working away from home. I have found the iPad also works well for consuming media. The Folio keyboard is compact making it a good choice for onebag travel, but the keyboard feel is mediocre and not stable enough to use on the lap. I tried to do most of my “personal” computing on the iPad with a Magic Keyboard (works better than the Folio keyboard) to see if a iPad could replace a laptop: it was a failure. There is too much friction integrating information from several windows and often the app experience on the iPad fell short when compared to the experience on a real laptop or Chromebook. This is my third iPad since they were introduced. While each was useful for a particular task, I have yet to find it a compelling device for general use. A portable UCB-C powered screen is more effective for me as a second screen. I have abandoned using the iPad. Jackie is now seeing if she can “live on it”. It looks like it’s no better for her.
Patagonia Tres 25L Bag (2016) 23andMe swag which holds my current “working set” of paperwork and office supplies. Much of the year it’s not really needed, but it is required during tax season. I haven’t succeeded in getting all my tax documents into electronic form yet. There is still room to add my MacBook Pro and power supply. Switched from the plastic file folder for easier transportation.
Small fabric tape measure – not shown (2012) to measure packages and other smaller items.
USB Power Task Light* (2020) to replace a task light my wife needed somewhere else in the house. Most of the time I don’t need task lighting, but it works well when I need the extra light.
Foldable Desk (2012) which my monitor is mounted on. When folded up small enough to fit in the trunk of our car for transport.
Bathroom
REI Micro Shower Bag (2017) is the perfect size for my toiletry kit while providing just enough organizational features to make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Inside pocket holds a few doses of medicines for allergies and colds. Main area has: Violife slim sonic toothbrush (was thinking about some other options but replace heads are back), lip balm, toothpaste, a micro fiber cleaning / storage bag for my glasses, a small HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve, and most of the bathroom items listed below. Outside pocket holds first aid kit which includes waterproof Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. No longer made. The GOX Organizer looks to be similar.
Matador Flatpack Soap Case (2020) to carry a 100senses body bar which takes care of all my cleaning needs without drying out skin or making my hair feel like straw. Replaced Dr Bronner’s soap, Aveda shampoo, and Pacific shaving oil. One bar lasts me around 1/2 a year. I am sure there are better shaving creams and shampoos, but it’s been good enough and simplifies life for me.
Listerine Floss (1996/2021) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out.
Oral-B/Braun 6000 Electric toothbrush (2016) and USB powered charger. A recent meta analysis concluded that the rotational approach of Oral-B is likely superior to approach of Sonicare, but both are significantly more effective than manual brushing and the lower power electric toothbrushes like my Violife which relies on a brushing motion. When traveling for less than a month I leave the Oral-B behind.
Linen Towel – not shown (2020) Lighter weight, dries faster, and less likely to get smelly than a traditional cotton terrycloth towel, but isn’t as soft.
Sleep!
ChiliPad (2019) which cools or warms water which flows through a mattress topper. I need to be significantly colder than Jackie to sleep soundly. Allows me to sleep without requiring the room to be cold and Jackie needing heavy blankets. I had problems with the heat exchanger isn’t able to dump enough heat to hit the cooling target with the unit under the bed (it has the specified clearance) but it has been fine when I move it from under the bed. The eightsleep system is more advanced, much quieter, but also more expensive.
Newvanga Sleep Mask (2021) helps me get longer / better sleep because it stops external light from disturbing me. Since 2015 I have gone through 4 Bucky 40 Winks Sleep Mask which are similar. The Newvanga is cheaper at purchase time, hoping that it is more durable than the Bucky. If I was a hard core minimalist I would use my Buff as a sleep mask.
Clothing
I have notes about selecting clothing for an active life which goes in detail about how I select clothing for a wide range of activities and conditions. All the clothing, shoes, and outerwear listed below (excluding the “Variety” section) easily fits into a 46L bag.
Core Everyday Clothing
Outlier New Way Shorts – 3 pair (2014) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, don’t have cargo pockets, durable, dry reasonably quickly, and resist stains. They are pricy but at the time that I purchased them, I hadn’t found any shorts I like as much and have had no need to replace them.
Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt – 2 shirts (2014/2021) merino wool with a bit of nylon for durability (3x longer lasting 100% merino in the the same fabric weight) with just a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after several days of wear, dries fairly quickly, and my wife likes how the shirt looks on me. I still find synthetics technical-tees superior in two ways. First, synthetics work better when I am heavily sweating while exercising [See Xenith shirt mentioned below]. Second, synthetics are more cost effective because they tend to be cheaper and longer lasting. I get around 500 days of wear before an Anatomica Tee looks tired, and 600 days before holes appear. There are a number of other good merino wool tee shirts from Smartwool, Outlier, and Wool&Prince.
Icebreaker Spector Tee* (2021) I decided to try a lighter weight tee that isn’t as body hugging and is more colorful. I quickly decided that I prefer the Anatomica fit, and grey or black for daily wear. When this shirt wears out I will replace it with another black Anatomica tee-shirts.
Black Webbing Belt – not shown (1996) Easy to adjust to exactly the right length and has no metal so metal detectors don’t get triggered.
Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs – 4 pairs (2014/2021) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. First generation developed holes after around 150 days of wear. All my original pairs have worn out. The newer version has a bit of nylon with the wool. I have gotten >600 days before the waist band deforms and small holes appear. Some people prefer boxer style but I see no reason to have extra fabric. Good alternatives are the synthetic travel oriented briefs from Ex Offico, Uniqlo, and the comfortable but expensive underwear from Saxx.
Darn Tough Socks– 6 pair (2013/2019) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. I have a mix of no-show mesh and light cushion crew. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives. Worn out and replaced 2 pair.
Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks (2019) which protect my feet when using flippers or with sandals if I am on a trip which is constantly going in and out of water.
Western Rise Evolution Pants (2020) Slight stretch nylon pants in the style of jeans. Compared to Slim Dungarees: less expensive, lighter material which makes them pack smaller, are more comfortable in hot weather, less stain/water resistant, not quick as dressy looking, but over all pretty good. The coin pocket is too deep.
Outlier Slim Dungarees – 2 pair (2014/2019) High-tech nylon pants in the style of jeans. Wonderful fit, looks good, excellent mobility. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect except when it’s >80F and I am active. They seem pricey, but the per day cost of wearing is about the same as denim jeans. I have gotten more than 550 days of wear before my original pair started to pill in a high wear location. I have yet to completely wear out a pair. Buffworks, Maker&Rider and Wool&Prince makes nice alternatives. Current pants acquired in 2017 and 2019.
Montbell Wickron Dry Touch Short Sleeve Shirt* (2021) for when I need to be more dressed when it’s is hot. A gift from my wife. The seersucker fabric is more comfortable that my tee-shirts in hot, humid conditions, but the lighter colored are estimated to be 15-20 UPF. Late in 2022 replaced it with a UPF 50 shirt.
White Button-up Shirt (2012) when I want to wear something more formal than a tee-shirt. Appropriate in almost any setting.
Muji Sport Jacket* (2013) for events when I should be more dressy than a shirt but I don’t need to wear a formal suit. Doesn’t easily wrinkle. Gift from Jackie.
“Variety” Clothing
The following I sometimes call my “Jackie clothing”. I know my wife get tired of me wearing the same thing every day (sometimes I do as well), so when we are doing a special activity together, I will select something than isn’t my daily wear. While we are moving about in 2022 thee cloths are going into storage. When rolled over their hangers these items and my “optional” shoes fits nicely into a $4 Ikea Frakta Duffel (2022).
Toni Richards Hawaiian Shirt (2019) Everyone needs at least one shirt for “Hawaiian shirt day” though some might argue that white and blue with sharks rather than flowers isn’t very Hawaiian. I find the cotton lawn fabric used by Toni Richards to be one of the best materials when it’s hot and humid.
Peach Button Up Shirt* (2014) for a change from a white shirt when we are going out for the evening. Birthday present.
Black/Grey/White Checked Button Up Shirt* (2013) for something that is casual but a bit more dressed up than my tee-shirt or hoody. Gift from Jackie.
Grey Cashmere V-neck Sweater* (2019) for fall and winter evenings when I need more warmth than just a shirt and my hoody is too casual. Love cashmere but durability is low, it pills very quickly.
Outlier AMB Merino Wool Button Up Shirt (2019) Very comfortable. It doesn’t wrinkle and if I don’t spill food on it can be worn many days without washing. Good air permeability, surprisingly comfortable in warmer conditions. Might replace white button-up as my default “dressed up” shirt.
Banana Republic Purple Merino Wool Sweater (2013) for cool days or when some color is called for. Purple is the color of royalty… so it can function as a Christmas or Easter sweater. Gift from Jackie.
Boss Blazer Jacket* (2014) for dressy events in the fall and winter that don’t require a formal suit. Christmas present.
Boss Wool Suit (2012) slim/european cut in super 140 wool. Fits me perfectly though not bespoken. First suit that I wear rather than the suit wearing me. Light enough that it’s usable in the summer. I use it for weddings, funerals, and special nights out on the town. I won’t naturally choose to wear a suit, but sometimes it’s appropriate.
Footwear
Vivobarefoot Gobi II (2017) are comfort, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which are acceptable to wear with casual clothing and when fairly dressed up, though I have been told aren’t appropriate when wearing a formal suit. I have even been known to run in them. I have been very pleased with their durability.
Altra Running Superior Trail-runners (2017/2021) zero drop, modest cushion, trail running shoe which are light weight with a fairly grippy sole for mixed trail conditions. Beside wearing them running, they are my primary footwear in the backcountry, and I wear in town when my feet are sore and need some extra cushion. I am on pair 14. Wish I could get more than 400 miles before they wear out.
Keen Clearwater CNX (2014/2018) are the lightest sandals Keen makes. I liked the minimalist sandals made by luna but the toe protection of the Keens makes them a clear winner for me. When worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes most of the time. Comfortable in a wide range of conditions. Replaced in 2018 when my first pair wore out.
Carots Shoes* (2017) are formal looking zero drop shoes. These are the only minimalist shoes I have found that looks like traditional dress shoes (heels and and tapered toe) that are sufficiently comfortable for an evening. Going in storage while not living in our home.
Montbell Unbrero (2021) is a 1.8oz folding hat with a brim which fully shades my face, ears, and neck. It’s fully waterproof but still provides the best ventilation of any hat I have used. It deforms but usable in 20mph winds. Montbell says the hat doesn’t provide UV protection which I fixed by applying UV absorbing paint on the inside. I think it’s silly looking, and sometimes I have had people point and laugh at the hat, but others have said it’s pretty cool. There are lots of hat options.
PolarBuff (2003) Generally I use the hoods on my garments, but sometimes I want extra insulation for my neck or head.
Outerwear
Macpac Nitro Pullover (2021) Made from Polartec Alpha Direct. Highly breathable! Very light insulate without a shell, surprisingly warm under a shell. Great when active in cold conditions. I can feel air flow by walking in still air. Worn whenever my tee-shirt isn’t warm enough. I am comfortable down to 40F with a tee-shirt, this pullover and a uninsulated shell doing light work and sitting inside when it’s 68F. There are Lots of good options for an insulation layer if you need something warmer.
Gore Gear R7 Shakedry Hooded Rain Jacket (2020) is a compact, ultralight, ultra-breathable rain jacket designed for trail running. I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when active! No other rain jacket has worked as well. I am also using it as a wind shell. Need to be careful not to jam the zipper. Huge downside is that the fabric is fragile. Expect to replace after 1-3 years. I have a a few pinpoint holes in the shoulders but so far they have not impacted performance. Other options are discussed in my post about rain gear.
Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (2018) are simple, light, breathable, waterproof rain pants. Used when in cool rain when commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking. After a few years of use I am getting some leaking – maybe through the seams. Will be sealing the seams to see if that fixes the problem.
Outerwear in Car
We carry some warm clothing in the back of the car for those days that the weather was cooler than expected. I rarely need to use these garments but have often loaned them out to friends.
ArcTeryx Squamish Wind Shell (2012) is a 5oz windshirt with an air permeability of ~35 CFM. When combined with an air permeable heavy base or middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Comfortable against the skin.
Icebreaker Quattro Hoody (2012) is a medium weight merino wool sweatshirt. After several years of near constant use starting to pill.
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (2020) Keeps me comfortable ~25F lower than I would be without the jacket. Provides just the right insulation for me for winter nights in the SF Bay Area and shoulder season backpacking in the sierras. Combined with down vest it’s just right for winter trips in the sierras. Reasonably light and compresses well. Has a good hood. Long enough to be worn over suit jackets without looking silly.
Tilley LTM6 Hat (2014) provides good sun protection while offering ok ventilation. If I was going to pick a single hat to own, it would either be this hat, or the LTM8 which offers more ventilation. I used a canvas Tilley hat for more than 20 years, purchasing the LTM6 because I lost my first Tilley on a river trip.
Winter (Outside Bay Area)
Generally not used “at home” because the Bay Area never gets cold enough to need these items, but pulled out when traveling to winter destinations. Lots of good options for an insulation layer.
Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Vest (2021) Incredibly light weight vest which provides moderate insulation for my core. I have the Japanese version which has pockets. When mix/matched with a tee-shirt, Macpac Nitro, and Gore R7 Shell allows me to be comfortable while casually walking to 25F. Combined with Nitro and Micro Puff keeps me warm enough in any winter conditions I am likely to encounter in the next few years. Boxy in cut and the neck doesn’t seal well.
Mountain Hardware Grub Gloves (2015/2020) medium weight PowerStretch gloves with a quilted mitten cover which folds away into the back of the glove making it comfortable to wear in a wide variety of conditions. Alas, this model has been discontinued. On my second pair. The PowerStretch palms are starting to wear out on the second pair and they are now discontinued so I won’t be able to replace them.
Patagonia Cap 3 Tights (2007): added to my legs when facing continuously below freezing conditions.
Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody (2009) for cool/cold weather outdoor activities. Without wind protection the grid weave lets air flow through speeding the release of heat. With a shell it provides some insulation. Comfort down to 30F when running without a shell, below that with a shell. When walking around town keeps me comfortable down to 45F when combined with a wind shirt with hoods up. I am reasonably comfortable engage in high energy activities when it’s 65F by fully opening the zipper and pushing the sleeves up to my elbows. Dries amazingly quickly and feels more comfortable than any other shirt I have used when it’s wet in cool conditions. Mine was actually called Capilene 4 because it pre-dates the renaming to “thermal weight”.
Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts (2004): which have a removable 300wt fleece inner mitt which folds back to let you use your fingers and a durable, waterproof shell. Can use the shells without liner when it’s warmer. The magnets on the inner mitt detract from overall comfort. Many people replace the liners. Dries faster than all-in-one handwear.
Traction Devices (2020): Gives trail runners and other shoes grip on snow and ice. Picked up when we were facing icy trails in Grand Canyon. Don’t remember the brand and it’s not stamped into the chains.
OR Gaiters: (<1988) for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs dry.
Beach
When we spend extended time near a tropical beach I pull my “beachwear” out of storage.
Bluesmith Spartan Board Shorts* (2016) For days that I am living in swimming suit, going in an out of the water. These shorts dry very quickly. Could use my Tri or New Way Shorts if I was trying to minimize more.
Bluesmith Kanaha Shirt* (2021) Hydrophobic treated shirt which protects from the sun and absorbs very little water. Replaced a misplaced “rash guard” shirt. I experimented with it as a general fitness shirt but I don’t think it’s hydrophobic approach to moisture is better for me that Polartec Delta in hot weather. Downside if not used for water sports is it quickly accumulated body odor, upside is that a quick rinse seems to wash the odor away.
Matador Droplet Wet Bag* (2019) which holds items on the way to the beach, and wet items on the way home.
Yeesam Prescription Snorkeling Mask* (2019) which lets me actually see underwater life when snorkeling rather than just blurs and flashes of color.
Exercise / Active Clothing
De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (2018/2021) works well cycling, running, and swimming. I also use them backpacking. They are comfortable for all the activities I engage in when the temperature is above freezing. They have reduced issues with chafing, dry fairly quickly, and are reasonably comfortable when wet. They have side pockets large enough to hold some nutrition and my phone so I don’t need to use a special cycling jersey. I never need to think about to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab a pair of Tri Shorts. I get around 1000 hours of use from each pair, around 1 year worth of physical activities.
Xenith Delta Shirt (2021) is the most comfortable shirt I have worn in hot weather, especially when I am exercising. The shirt maintains breathability and doesn’t stick when wet. The shirt dries at the perfect rate: faster than wool or cotton, but slower than classic “fast dry” shirts feeling cool against the skin. I have also found that is the most odor resistant synthetic shirt I have tried, though not as good as wool. Replace a shirt that wore out.
Castelli Light Arm Sleeves (2021) combined with Xenith shirt when I don’t want to hassle with sunscreen. Arms actually feel a bit cooler than when uncovered in strong sunlight. Stains easily.
Nike Dri-Fit Visor (2012) keep sweat and sun out of my eyes while maximizing air circulation for my head. Worn anytime I go for a run.
Black Diamond Alpine Start (2021) is a 6oz hoodless ultralight soft-shell which is very air permeable and extremely water resistant thanks to the Schoeller NanoSphere treatment. Very comfortable bicycling at pace (~220watts / ~18mph) when it’s <55F or doing a zone 2 HR runs when it’s <50F. In a light rain find it easier to manage moisture than the R7 because the higher air permeability helps me dump heat (reducing the amount of sweat) while keeping the rain away from me. Normally I like a hood, but the lack of a hood is useful when cycling and running with a hat. Could be eliminated but expect it will prolong the life of the R7 (which is more expensive) and is slightly better adapted for my activities.
Exercise Equipment
MX Select MX55 Adjustable Dumbbells (2021) 20-55 lb in 5 lb increments. Smooth and fast to change weights. Considered the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, but local store told me they stopped carrying them due to mechanism failures (they were a service problem).
Pullup Bar (2020) To work upper body without going to gym.
20lb Rucking Plate* (2020) – Held in a backpack and used to add weight to my pull-ups, squats, etc. I have stopped adding it to my daily walks, hikes, etc. It seems the weight continuously on my shoulders is causing pain in other parts of my body when walking on concrete sidewalks.
Bowflex Adjustable Kettlebell (2020) Useful for numerous exercises. Max weight is 40lb, would like it to be 60lb, and there is a 10lb jump between 25-35 lb. Used for several of sets in the Simple Six workout.
Garmin HRM-Pro (2021) because optical heart rate monitors aren’t sufficiently accurate for HRV measurements and aren’t responsive enough to track interval training. Works when I am heavily sweating and swimming. Does both ANT+ and Bluetooth. Replaced a ANT+ only HRM so I can I could connect it with software running on iPad when using KickR.
Withering Body WiFi Scale (2014) makes it easy to track weight which is well integrated to Garmin, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and numerous other health tracking eco-systems.
Entchin Fanny Pack – not shown (2020) Inexpensive fanny pack which is the good size for most of my done in a day activities. Unfortunately, it is cheaply made, the main bucket broke after just six months of use. I was able to repair it, it broke a second time, and I repaired it again. Can hold a headlamp, water bottle, a protein bar, and small volume jacket. I switched to a fanny pack because the strain of a courier bag or sling on a single shoulder was painful after several hours.
Specialized S-works 2019 Roubaix (2021) an endurance bike with a responsiveness that approaches a race bike while smoothing out the road making it easy to be confident on less than ideal road surfaces. This is a older model that I purchased on sale when my R3 drivetrain wore out and was going to take months to repair due to supply chain issues. I found this version of the Roubaix approach the handling on the current generation Cervelo R-series, and was significantly better than the Cervelo Calidonia-5. A huge improvement from the 2013 version of the Roubaix. Fitted with an Infinity Seat (weird looking but the most comfortable seat I have used), 2 water bottle cages, and a small seat bag which holds a pump, inter-tube, bike tool, and 2 tire levers.
Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp and Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 (2019) which was purchase when my Expilion 850 and an original Hotshot were stolen. The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I think I slightly preferred the quality of light from the Expilion, but the BC21R works well enough to stick with it, and I do appreciate that the battery can be charged outside light housing.
Power Tap P1 Pedals (2015) because I like objective measures about how my physically condition is changing. The Garmin Vector 2 pedals integrate better into the Garmin eco-system, use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter / more streamlined at about the same price point.
Bicycling Shoes (2013) with Cleat for PowerTap peddles.
Giro Air Attack Shield Helmet (2013/2016) provides protection, good ventilation while having a streamlined aerodynamic profile. Has snap on optical shield. On my second Air Attack helmet due to a crash which broke the helmet but protected my head. If you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet!! I have been able to walk away from at least two accidents thanks to the protection of a helmet. Helmets don’t lead to more injuries due to a false sense of security. These days there are helmets which are more aerodynamic than mine, and also cheaper while providing equivalent protection.
Rudy Project Ketyum Frames with Transitions DriveWear manufactured by Sports Optical* (2021) provides excellent protection for my eyes while cycling and any other daytime activity. Ketyum is one of the few wrap around frames that can handle a prescription as strong as mine. The lens are thick but not too heavy. Transition lens work well during daylight but are a bit too strong at dusk.
Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Cycling Gloves (2021) Keep hands comfortable on winter rides when it is wet and/or cold. Cheapest gloves I could find (thanks sierra.com) to slow down wearing out the palms on my Grub Gloves.
Cervelo R3* (2013/2015 replaced stolen R3). Pricy but amazing road bicycle. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, responsive like a race bike, great for climbing. Drive train has been mostly replaced… still looking for Rotor chain rings which are fairly worn. Now my “spare bike” which I use if my Roubaix is needing service and on Kickr when “riding” indoors.
Wahoo Fitness Kickr* (2013) is a trainer for when I don’t want to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controlled via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Wahoo built the Kickr with an open API so there are numerous companies which have applications which can control the Kickr. At the beginning of 2020 I was thinking about selling it, but once shelter in place started, I found having a way to exercise at home was useful and held on to the Kickr.
Hiking / Backpacking
I have a 3-season packing list which makes use of a number of the items on this list and has several items which are specific for backpacking. In addition to the items on my backpacking list, I have several items which come out when I am heading to the mountains and expect snow. I have not taken pictures of any of these items. They are stored in a plastic bin which holds my backpacking gear. One item which was on my clothing list last year but is purely used backpacking is an Outlier Air Forged Oxford Shirt which I use to protect my upper body from sun and mosquitos.
Travel
Tom Bihn Synik 30 Backpack (2020) is my luggage for most trips. Wonderfully designed with just the right amount of organizational features. Large enough for every trip I have taken, while small enough that it fits under seat and is not viewed as “luggage” by transportation operators. Replaced a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 purchased in 2014 which worked for 80% of my trips but on trips that I needed to have a suit, warm outdoor clothing and beach wear was too small. Have notes about other travel packs.
Osprey Transporter 46L (2004) very similar to the current Osprey Porter 46. Used for 10 years as my primary travel bag until I downsized to a Tom Bihn bag 8 years ago. It is large enough to hold all my core clothing and possessions not in “storage”. It’s coming out of storage because we will be living a semi nomadic in the next year and I might want to carry more than my typical onebag packing list. Specifically I might want to carry items for our kitchen and some exercise equipment.
Gossamer Gear Vagabond Packable (2021) Comfortable to carry. Use it around town to bring groceries home (carry handles are useful) and for done in a day outdoor activities. I have used it for as my primary bag on some multi-week long trips. Have a Osprey Ultralight Drysack which can be used as a liner when expecting particularly wet conditions.
Tech “Survival Kit” is stored in a small pouch from Muji. RAVpower 10Kbattery with USB-A&C outlets, Sharge 3-power USB charger which is small, can put out 65W across 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A ports. [No longer made? The Anker 735 is a good alternative.] Cables slightly different from picture. 2 6” USB-C cables, 4ft USB-C cable, 1 3ft USB-A and Lighting cable (use in cars), with adaptor tips from USB-C to (A, micro, Lighting, Garmin)
AWS AC-650 Digital Pocket Scale (2012) a small scale which makes it easy to weight food on the go. Going into storage, because we will bring our full size kitchen scale with us.
PackTowel Ultralight (2009) Bodysize/XL – dries amazingly quickly, is compact, and is very effective. The XL is large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. For awhile I used a medium/face size which packs in a tiny space. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry myself after a swim or shower, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use. If continue to use it only on beach trips will store with those items.
Westone 5ES custom In-ear-monitors – not shown (2012) with excellent sound quality and comfortable enough to wear on 14 hour flights. They reduce noise by 35db which makes travel much less fatiguing. They are more effective at blocking noise while providing high audio quality than active noise canceling headphones. I short flights I might leave behind and just use Apple AirPod Pros which reduce noise a bit, are more versatile, and less hassle.
Sentimental
There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love.
Box which I store these things, my spare glasses, some old documents, etc.
Various buttons collected over the years related to projects or movements that were important to me.
Libby’s pins (<2000) of a nativity scene, a mother and child. Originally worn by Libby on special occasions, they became daily decorations on the hats she wore during chemotherapy during the last months of her life. They remind me of Libby’s courage and the two things most important to Libby, family and Jesus.
Gumby (2011) which was given as a reminder that when life is difficult, we need to be flexible.
Dad’s (<1980) tie tacks and Alox Swiss Army Knife which remind me of his love of the outdoors and his care for his students.
Knit Cap with 23andme logo (2016) Used to wear to show company spirit. Not used regularly because my jackets have hoods, and I try to show my Hashicorp spirit rather than 23andme.
CatBus Plushy (2018) given to me my Jackie because it reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro which has delighted my family. I wanted a real CatBus, but no one can find one for me 🙂
Computer Wizard’s Tee Shirt (1977) from high school group club… still fits.
Grandpa’s Yamaka (<1980)
In Storage / Maybe Retire
These items, and my sentimental items have been stored away a box while we move between a variety of locations.
Small combination lock (2012) for use at the gym. Not using locker room in the gym right now.
RunScribe Plus* (2020) to get information about running form. They have been a bit troublesome to use due slow sync times. So far I am not getting particularly actionable insight but provides more data on running form that Stryd. In the future might work with a coach which using data from these.
Immersion Water Heater* (2019) carried primarily for Jackie when taking trips to cold destinations where the hotel rooms don’t have any way to heat water. We generally stay places that it’s not needed.
Magic Keyboard* for iPad (2021) Works much better than the Folio Keyboard, decent feel, can actually be used sitting on my lap, and the keys are lighted which is handy in the evening. Alas, the weight of this keyboard + the iPad is as heavy as a real laptop and I am primarily using an iPad for display so I don’t need a good keyboard..
Kindle Oasis* (2019) Lets me carry the majority of my library and every book can be displayed with large print for my aging eyes. Love being able to quickly search for notes / highlighted passages. I miss physical books and I know knowledge retention is better when reading paper books, but the convenience of the ebooks outweighs this for me. The Oasis ergonomics allows reading with a single hand and I like the warm backlight in the evening. I was tempted by e-paper Android tablet such as those made by Boox which are a more versatile devices. If I lost the Oasis I would not replace it and just use my other devices to access my Kindle “library”.
Ultrafino Santa Fe Hat* (2021) is “Panama” straw hat. It isn’t a durable or packable as a Tilley, but much nicer looking. In the past I found straw hats feel cooler in hot weather, but this hat’s weave is so tight that the ventilation is minimal.
REI eVENT Rain Hat* (2013) a discontinued ball cap made from waterproof / breathable eVENT. Used when hiking or running when I know it’s going to be raining. Keeps rain off of my face and glasses.
Matador Freerain24 2.0 (2017/2020) The waterproof zipper on my first, a v1 wore out after 2 years which included a daily run to 6+ miles to/from work with my laptop. Weights only 5.5oz, carries well. easily folds into a small stuff sack, and keeps contents dry in the worst rain. Likely being replaced by a Gossamer Gear Vagabond which is more comfortable to carry, a bit more versatile for daily use, and almost as good in the rain when used with a waterproof liner.
Radsome EarStudio ES100 (2018) bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use Westone IEM (or other wired headphones) with devices missing a headphone jack. Can also function as a USB DAC. The ES100 is tiny, with good sound quality (though Chord Mojo is better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels. I have written about other DAC and Players. Retiring because AirFly Pro can do an adequate job and is usable to transmit and receive.
I have “extra” clothing in storage for when my existing clothing wears out. Most of the extra clothing were purchased on sale, lightly used, or I had been wearing and decided to drop the number of items I have in a weekly rotation. I currently have 2 pairs of outlier slim dungarees, 2 outlier new way shorts, 1 western rise evolution pants, 4 tee shirts, 4 pairs of briefs, 4 pairs of socks, Macpac Nitro hoodie, delta tee-shirt, tri shorts, and a Montbell Peak Shakedry jacket. These cloths will be pulled out when my current clothing wears out. It’s useful to have have an unused items purchased at the same time as one which is in “heavy rotation” to see how much wear and tear accumulates over time.
Stolen 🙁 So Now “Retired”
We were sad to have our car burglarized twice. The first time items that would keep people warm, bags to hold things, and flashlights were taken. The second visit took everything else. A few days later the thief put warranty paperwork, a checkbook, and gym membership card in our mailbox but kept the owner manual and my wife’s prescription eye glasses?! We hope that the thief was someone who was homeless and needed warm clothing more than we do. Items from my “gear list” that was lost:
Wool Blanket originally owned by my grandfather from his service in WWI. It has been on countless fishing and camping trips and to virtually every picnic and outdoor concert I have ever attended. Everytime I see the blanket I think of my dad and many wonderful moments. This was the biggest / saddest loss.
Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket (2004/2013) is a very light weight fleece. About the same warmth as a sweater but much more convenient to put on and take off.
Uniqlo Ultralight Down Vest (2012) is decent quality, low price down vest. Combined with a fleece and a shell keeps me warm enough in the coldest weather I encounter in the SF Bay area.
Patagonia Down Sweater with 23andMe Logo (2016). Swag from work. It was too warm for me to use in the Bay Area, but it has often been used by family and friends.
Water Bottle Sling (2004) which Nancy brought back from South America.
Retired
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger (2001/2019) The small size is just the right size for my daily needs. My first bag was used from 2001-2017 and was still usable (gave it to someone in need) when I switched to a backpack when I was primarily running to work. I purchased a new Timbuk2 when my commute switched from running to biking. I prefer courier style bags over backpacks because they are easier to access on the go and leave my back with ventilation. I appreciate the water resistant fabric and that the fabric is heavy enough to retain it’s shape, but light enough not to be a burden. It’s been retired because it’s highly unlikely I will commute by bike in the future. I think Hashicorp is the last company I will work for, and my company is remote first.
Drain-stopper (1996) to make sure sink can fill with water to wash clothing. Haven’t used in years even though carried on many of my trips.
Montbell Trekking Umbrella (2012) has the best balance I have found between small/light and useful canopy size. It has survived 40mph wind/rain storms but one of the ribs has broken (and then repaired). In warm to hot weather much more comfortable than wearing a rain jacket but doesn’t adequately protect my legs in a hard rain. Lost.
Stryd Footpad power meter (2015) to capture run’s intensity better than using pace or heart rate. Replaced with RunScribe which should provide better information about run form. Easier to use than RunScribe and fits better into the Garmin eco-system. The Garmin Running Dynamics Pod is a cheaper way to get running power metrics. Not adding that much value today because my runs are mostly on level ground. Gave it to a neighbor who is trail running in the hills.
Garmin Swim Heart Rate Monitor (2019) replaced with HRM-Pro which has BlueTooth support allowing me to use it with software that controls my Kickr. Gifted to a friend who wanted to replace his HRM which just broke.
Xero Terraflex (2020) are zero drop trail shoes with has a sole reported to survive 5000 miles, rather than the <600 most trail runners. After wearing them for several weeks they seemed to contributed to my development of plantar fasciitis.
Merrill Vapor Glove 4 (2019/2020): are the most minimalist running shoes I have found that fits me, “like a glove”. Great for travel because it packs into a very small space. Sole last around 400 miles for street running. Downside is that any moisture (rain, wet grass, etc) goes right through the uppers. For people who need more cushion and a wide toe-box I would recommend Alta Running & Topo, or if you need extreme cushioning Hoka OneOne. Worn out and replaced 7 pair. After I recovered from plantar fasciitis they were still comfortable running, but would sometimes have pain while walking.
Montane Prism Booties (2020) keeps my feet warm around the house on particularly cold days. Replaced with slip ons that have a sole I can wear outdoors.
Flower Print Short Sleeve Shirt (2019) gift, not worn much, prefer my sharks shirt when I want to wear a fun, casual shirt.
Wool and Prince 130wt Blue Oxford Shirt (2014) Slim fit, crisp look while still having all the advantages of 100% wool. Very business casual. Did need business casual for several years and it was a bit tight in the shoulders.
Columbia/Montrail Titan Trailrunning Shirt (2018) After an bike accident a hole and somewhat stained. Replaced with a Xenith Polartec Delta technical tee which is more comfortable in hot weather and more odor resistant, though the Titan shirt is slightly lighter and dries more quickly.
Vissla All-time Surf Tee Shirt (2019) Rash guard shirt to protect my skin from the sun while engaged in water sports. Body hugging without being overly tight. Misplaced.
Patagonia Down Shirt with 23andMe logo (2015). I now work for Hashicorp! Away with the old, in with the new. Gave to someone who needed a jacket. Micro Puff is a better match for the conditions I regularly encounter.
GoLite Snow Cap (2002): polarguard insulated bomber style hat which can be layered over other hats. Fairly windproof, warm, and light weight. Not needed due to Micro Puff hood.
Lacrosse Ball (2021) – Purchased at recommendation of several people to help roll out sore muscles. I haven’t found it that useful.
Grip Strengthen (2020) to build my hand strength. No longer gaining strength.
Refurbished Google Chromebook Pixel LS (2020) – Tired of Apple prices, the time it takes for OS updates to run / machine to restart, and increasing security threat. Given that most of my work is web based these days seeing if I can make do with an Chromebook as I make a hard separation between work and personal use. Purchased refurb unit for $100 to run the experiment. Used March 2020 – Dec 2021. While I prefer a MacBook, I found I could largely live on a Chromebook, and could use Chrome Desktop Remote to family Mac Mini when I needed a “real” computer. Just wish was a bit lighter and have biometric unlock. The last OS update was May 2021 :(.
Google Pixel2 Phone on Google-Fi (2020): Android 10 fixed most of the issues I had with audio out being routed to the “right” device. Notification management is better than iOS. Normally left deactivated, but brought out when traveling internationally. Purchased refurbished for less than $100 + a month of Google Fi is cheaper than international roaming on Verizon, and more convenient than purchasing local SIMs in each country. Alas, just after I purchased it our plans for a lengthy international trip was canceled due to COVID and Google stopped doing OS updates. Replaced by using Airalo Esim for my iPhone when traveling internationally
Sony RX100 VI Camera (2020). Great quality image capture in daylight, so/so performance in low light situations, with a 200mm optical zoom that fits into my pocket. The features on the VII didn’t justify the extra cost compared to the VI. Geotagging mostly works through Sony’s smartphone ImagingEdgeMobile app. Computational photography in current iPhone is good enough for my needs.
Original Joby GorillaPod (2012) for when I need more stability for the Sony RX100… which I no longer own.
Apple AirPods(2017/2020) have decent sound quality while letting in ambiance noise providing situational awareness, stays in place during exercise, no wires to get tangled, has good user interface with iOS, so/so with Android. They aren’t rated for water resistance, but after more than four years of using them while sweating heavily, rides and runs in the rain they continue to function. In 2020, after three years the battery life was poor, so I paid $98 for Battery Service (which is really a replacement). I used to love the AirPods, but recently the microphone is not always connecting to the phone when receiving phone calls. This is happening with both Android and iOS and I have heard other people complaining about the same things. What’s going on?! After less than a year of use the right AirPod doesn’t always charge, and has a run time of around 1 hour.
Mikikin Fan* not shown (2020) Gift from my wife for hot days I need some air circulation. It’s too noisy for the amount of air that it moves.
Portable File Case (2002) Has been used to hold paperwork / office supplies. Switched to Patagonia briefcase because it is more transportable.
Purchased in 2022
Twelve South AirFly Pro BlueTooth transmitter and receiver used on long flights to listen to audio. I am sure there are cheaper options but this was available quickly.
MagSafe Charger a charging puck which makes use of an existing USB-C cable. Hard to remove material accumulates in my iPhone’s lighting port resulting in unreliable charging.
Portable 14″ 4K Monitor so I have enough screen real-estate for remote work which stays reliably connection which wasn’t the case using an iPad Air + slide car. Not nearly as effective as a large 4K monitor, but good enough. A better solution might have been xebec since the screen is attached to the laptop rather than sitting to the side.
Biosense ketosis breath meter to simplify measuring ketosis when experimenting with diets and fasting
Lactate Plus Meter for determine my zone 2 and zone 5 thresholds to optimize training.
TB Smart Alec Backpack I had an opportunity to get this excellent but discontinued pack. Perfect size for trips to grocery store and Costco when on my bicycle. Very durable, so perverse the life of my Gossamer Gear Packable Vagabond which has been discontinued and will wear out in a couple of years if used every day.
Western Rise Unlimited Button Down blue merino / polyester blend button down shirt. My wife tells me it also looks like it was just ironed as it comes out of the my luggage. My new default “nice” shirt. Reported to be UPF 40. Fairly air permeable, resists odor, adequate comfort in hot weather.
Solbari Weekend Shirt for UPF 50 protection because I learned that my existing shirts aren’t providing enough protection. The most comfortable shirt I have tried that is >=UPF 50 when >80F. Resists stink for a few days, formal looking.
Patagonia R0 Rashguard Shirt for UPF 50 protection during water sports and to replace a shirt Jackie really doesn’t like the style.
ArcTeryx Cormac Zip Neck Shirt for UPF 50 protection. In hot weather about as comfort as my merino wool tee, but not as good as Polartec Delta. Resists stink / feeling “icky” for a couple of days .
arcteryx incendo trail running pants for cold weather outdoor exercise that’s lower intensity than running (like tai chi in the park)
Luna Venado Sandals because I really missed the light and dynamic feel and the Keen’s feel “dead”.
Xoskin Toe Socks which last way longer than merino toe socks, stink a lot less than coolmax socks, and have completely eliminated blisters between my toes.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
If you listen to popular culture and the ads which “inform” us about acceptable conduction you would be inclined to believe that there are numerous specialized products and activities that we must engaged in for the sake of properness. I ran a series of experiments in the last fifteen years to see if these were actually necessary. Here are a few results. This was possible because I have friends and family who were willing to humor my experiments and give me candid feedback.
[toc]
Wearing Clothing Multiple Days Between Washing
I discovered that the number of days I could wear a particular clothing item without washing it varied significantly depending on the material of the garment and the conditions I experienced. For example, denim jeans worn in extreme heat felt like they needed to be washed after a few hours. Polypro long underwear would get super stinky after a day of use, and after extended use would still smell after being washed. All clothing, including wool, does accumulate at least a minor odor (at least for me) after a day of vigorous activity in hot weather. At the other extreme, I found I could wear wool clothing for several weeks in cool conditions without any noticeable odor or feeling of uncleanliness provided I didn’t spill food or end up in the mud. I will note that determining odor / cleanliness wasn’t just me, but others who were willing to give me candid feedback. This was how I learned that while wool is generally odor resistant, that it will pick up a mild odor when using the same shirt at the gym, engaging is highly vigorous (HIIT) exercise over multiple sessions. Many clothing manufacturers will recommend to maximize the useful life of a garment, it is best not to wash it after each use, because the washing introduces wear and tear that isn’t necessary needed. The one exception I found was underpants. See below.
Rules of Thumb
untreated polyester – 1 day
good anti stink polyester – 1 day highly active, 2-3 days normal
cotton – little testing with inconsistent results
nylon treated – 2 days highly active, 3-4 days normal
wool – 4 days highly active, weeks normal
Underwear
People seem to divide into three camps. First are people who go “commando” and generally think underwear is unnecessary at best, and a problem at worst. On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who believe you should wear a fresh pair of underwear each day. They are disgusted at the suggestion that someone would wear underwear two days in a row. To them it’s gross and/or unsanitary. Some of these people are comfortable wearing pants or shirts multiple times before washing them. These people will either have enough pairs of underwear to be swapped daily until the rest of their clothing are washed (typically 5-7 days) or the have a few pairs of underwear and wash one pair each night. Finally, there. are people who are comfortable wearing underwear several days in a row. Often they will do a “sniff test” to determine when the underwear should be changed.
I am mostly in the underwear changed everyday. There are some situations that going commando makes sense, but in most cases wearing underwear helps keep the rest of your clothing clean reducing the frequency thy need to be washed. Underwear is small. light, and can be quickly washed and dried. I have tried wearing underwear for multiple days. The number of days that the underwear passed a sniff test and felt fresh varied greatly. The daily temperature and my activity level had a great effect on the number of days I would reuse a pair of briefs. For most of the year it seems like I could get 3-4 days of use, especially when in locations that had bidets. While wearing underwear multiple days seemed to work fine, I noticed that after several months my bottom was more prone to irritated.
When I travel I typically bring three pairs of underwear, and try to wash the worn pair at the end of the day. When home, I have enough underwear that I can switch each day while doing laundry once / week.
Handwashing Clothing
In my experience, using a machine to wash clothing takes less effort and is more effective than hand washing. Hand washing can be effective, but it requires some patients. Besides taking time on agitate the clothing, you need to give it time to soak. I know that I have a tendency to not to spend enough time when hand washing. After a couple on weeks doing hand washing, the clothing seems slightly fresher after running through a machine washing and drying cycle. I am sure part of this is the machine is more efficient. I suspect another part of this is that laundry detergent is more effective as cleaning clothing than products designed to clean the body. It’s worth noting that some fabrics have their lifetime shorted by machine washing. Don’t be afraid of hand washing, but take advantage of machine washing when appropriate.
I am sure that body odor varies person to person and is impacted by diet (like eating a LOT of garlic). My personal experience is that if I washed my arm-pits at least once a day (either shower or using a damp wash cloth) and after vigorous exercise, no one noticed when I stopped using deodorant. This wasn’t just because they were being polite. I explicitly said “I am running and experiment not using deodorant. I had expected you would notice… and it’s ok if you did. In fact, if you don’t tell me I am smelly I am going to continue the experiment… so if I am smelly tell me and save yourself and everyone else.” While there is a slight odor if someone was to stick their nose into my arm pit, there was no perceivable odor for everyday activities. No one indicated I “smelled” or should end this experiment.
While I went years without using deodorant without any issue, I now use Potassium Alum crystals. Ammonium Alum is supposed to be similar. It’s best to apply right after a shower since it needs to be wet and works best on clean skin. It’s not an anti-perspirant and doesn’t cover up existing odor. Rather it produces it environment that is hostile to the odor creating bacteria. My $5, 1.5oz crystal is now 1oz after three years of daily use, and it has nearly eliminated odor, even when I am doing a hard workout without the risk of underarm stains or clogged pores. I found my shirts go an extra day or two before I can detect any sort of smell from use.
Shampoo
I went two months using no shampoo, though I did get my hair wet when I took a daily shower and/or swam. The first week I felt my hair was a greasy mess and didn’t feel good. After around a week things stabilized. My hair no longer felt greasy and looked fine. I asked several people if they noticed a change in my hair. No one had. While my hair didn’t feel greasy, I noticed that it felt “heavier” than when I used shampoo. After several months I went back to using shampoo because I enjoyed the activity of washing my hair and I preferred the “lighter feel” after I used shampoo on my hair. Note: hair care products are critical if you regularly using a chlorine swimming pool. The chlorine is extremely damaging to hair, you should use a shampoo formulate for swimmers.
I tried to use Dr. Bronner’s all-in-one liquid soap as a shampoo. For a bit more than a month it seemed to work well but then my hair texture begin to feel more like straw than hair and I abandoned the experiment, concluding that it was too harsh for continuous use on hair.
For several years I have used 100 sense body bar as my all-in-one soap/shampoo/shaving cream and found it works well. One of my experiments was getting my hair cut, and then using the body bar on one side of my head, and Aveda products made for my hair type on the other side. After two months I met with a couple of hair professionals. I told them that each side of my head had been treated differently, but not what was different. I asked them if they could detect any difference. Both indicated that both sides were “healthy”. One didn’t think there was any detectable difference, the other (ironically an educator for Aveda) had a very slight preference for the side using Aveda but couldn’t identify why she preferred that side. The 100 sense bars lasts around 200 showers when used for hair, body, and shaving and I don’t have a plastic container to recycle. I have tried some less expensive bars, but so far I like the 100 sense bar the best and find it’s worth the price for the simplicity it gives me.
Body Wash / Soap
Unless I was working in a dirty environment (digging in the garden, backpacking in dusty conditions, working in the shop, etc) I don’t need to soap to clean most of my body. Just letting water run over my skin is sufficient with four exceptions. I found that washing my hands, armpits, groin, and ass greatly benefit from some sort of cleaning product. I know some people who will add feet to this list. I found that my skin that was sometimes “dry” and other body parts that tended to be “oily” generally cleared up after a few weeks when I stopped using cleaning / moisturizing products and gave my body’s system time to adapt. The exception to this is during dry winters I sometimes need to moisturize my hands and forehead. I expect this will vary person to person. I have never had extreme skin problems which may need serious treatments.
Backpacking Hygiene
It’s often reported backpackers on extended trips are extremely smelly. While this can be the case, it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of things that can enable a backpacker on an extended trip, without access to regular showers reasonably clean and not stinky:
Washing your hands after pooing and before every meal or snack.
Each night take a hiker’s bath: with a wet cloth clean under your arms, your groin, and your feet. This helps keep odor down and removes minerals which accumulate on the skin from sweating.
Whenever possible (I try to every day or two) rinse hiking clothing out in water and when possible hang on the sun. When available, run them through a machine with soap. Don’t use polyester clothing. Even if washed in a machine, it has a tendency to hold on-to odors.
Sleep in something other than your daily hiking gear.
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Effective contact tracing combined with quarantining individuals at risk is highly effective with the least impact to most people’s lives.
COVID vaccines are highly effective. If you over 30 you should get one. For healthy people under 30, COVID has had very low mortality rate which has lead some people to recommend skipping it. Most medical professionals recommend getting a vaccine for the under 30, and I think it’s wise because it significantly lowers the likelihood of long COVID which can be devastating.
Masking slows the spread of COVID, but there are social costs to masking. Mask, or don’t mask to achieve desired impact, not as a way to signal political identity (for or against).
There are bad actors who are spreading misinformation, unless there is a peer reviewed paper from experts, don’t believe it.
Just because people are sharing misinformation doesn’t mean those people are bad actors. They could have been taken in. Take the time to understand and assume good intent.
The best COVID response I have see is in Taiwan, an island nation of 21 million people (about the same as the state of Florida). Early in the pandemic Taiwan required people entering the country quarantine for 14 days and then everyone was free to continue on with life. Any break out cases were contact traced with people possibly impacted quarantined. When the number of infections started to climb Taiwan instituted a 2-week lock down and mask wearing. Other than those 2-weeks people have been completely free to move around, large public gatherings have continued, masks not required. There was excellent government support. Taiwan has a national health care system which is accessible to all. Financial support was provided to people who were quarantined. Quarantines were “enforced” with Geo-Fencing of people’s phones and large fine if people violated their 14 day quarantine. The results? Taiwan had 2 deaths and 40 infections in the same period that Florida had 150 deaths and 12,000 infections even though the vaccination rate is similar.
I have growing increasingly frustrated by the politicalization in the USA when it comes to COVID. Vaccines and masking have become tools to signal political identity rather than tools whose use is driven by good science. Worse yet, it seems like conversations about this topic is dripping with contempt. Can we move this back to a discussion of public health like when we were battling polio?
There is strong evidence of the following:
Vaccines are an effective means of limit the spread and lessen the impact of infections. Before vaccines, many children did not live into their teen years. The history of vaccines in western culture dates back to 1700s (Asia the 1500s?). Famous successes include the elimination of smallpox (Catherine the Great an early advocate); diphtheria, cholera and typhoid control; and the near elimination of polio.
The COVID vaccine is a vaccine developed by scientists, just as the previous vaccines that most of us have trusted in the past. People are not being injected with poison or micro chips. The development process was accelerated and the testing was streamlined compared to the past, but at this point we have far more data about safety and efficacy in the field after a year than that traditional testing would have produced. In other words, the COVID vaccine is as safe and as effective as other vaccines. BTW: A Brief History of mRNA vaccines is fascinating. Katalin Karik is a real hero in the story!
In very rare cases vaccines cause severe reactions which can impact people’s health. First of all, there are allergic reactions which can lead to shock. This is why you are asked to sit for 20 minutes after your shot. If you have a reaction like that a shot of adrenalin will stop the reaction and with a dose of Benadryl no damage is done. Other reactions are myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) which is usually mild and goes away on its own. Finally, there are blood clots, a condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome which happens to women younger than 50 on the J&J vaccine. (Just avoid this vaccine!) Since 100’s of million people have had the vaccines, these serious side effects are very rare. Statistically, the “average” person will have better health outcomes by taking a vaccine, but these with the serious side effects still have a benefit from the vaccines. If they do not have the vaccine, Covid19 tends to cause these same serious effects in these people and can lead to hospitalization.
All of “evidence” that vaccines are responsible for diseases like autism has been discredited. The sample size of the original study was 8 with no controls or determination when the autism symptoms started! There is a big difference between causation and coincidence. There was a good paper that evaluates the original study link between vaccines and autism. There is the attempt explain the increase in autism over the past decades by blaming factors like vaccines, but in fact autism is a genetic disorder which seems to be caused by the increasing age of fathers like down syndrone is related to the age of mothers.
Physical distancing and wearing masks slow the transmission of viruses in general, and COVID in particular. Masks preventing the spread of respiratory infections have been common doctrine for more than 100 years. Masks have been demonstrated to be effective with COVID in a randomly assigned trial. [Full paper]. Paper about mask impacting upper bound on one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles. N95 are the best, surgical masks are more effective than double layer cloth masks. Single layer cloth masks are more a fashion statement than an effective tool. A common issue with most masks is that they don’t seal very well. Aaron Collins, aka mask nerd, a mechanical engineer who specializes in nano materials has produced a number of documents and videos reviewing and ranking masks. Projectn95 is a clearing house for informational about PPE and COVID tests.
Against this are some observations that I don’t have randomized controlled experiments but I believe to be true:
Wearing mask is causing significant stress for all people, but especially children because it makes it much harder to connect with others.
In several Asian country wearing masks in public has been somewhat common in public since SARS and has not disrupted society and connections. That said, when with family, eating in restaurants, attending classes, etc masks come off.
Lockdowns and other restrictions disproportionally impact the most vulnerable people because they have not been able to work remotely, often lost jobs, and when working are at elevated risk due to their regular contact with others.
Schools being closed has been very hard on the children, and extremely difficult for parents, especially single parents, and have been extremely difficult for teachers to teach. Germany has been able to keep their schools open by using better ventilation and masks, unlike many US school districts.
There is growing evidence that unmasked children in school tend not to be a large vector of COVID being spread. Closing schools or place extreme distancing protocols seems to harm the children far more than it has stopped the spread of COVID.
The scientists I know believe the evidence we have today favors a natural process bring COVID to humans. There are several scientists who have questions this conclusion. Several of the papers by these scientists have been built on faulty data or assumption. Most have not been written by people who specialize in this field. Likewise, they have not gone through the peer review process, rather have been released as positional papers, editorials, or letters to the editor. Examples of some questionable reasoning:
We should have found it animals. It took 15 years after SARS to find these links. There are some close relatives of Covid19 have been already been found in nature.
the Wuhan lab has very poor protocols and controls. The lab in question was built by the French at BioHazard Level 4, is reported by visiting researchers to use excellent safety protocols. The director is well regarded by all of the leaders in the field. Counter-point is that there are entrenched interests which are inclined to cover-up mistakes and we should continue to be open minded about the origin.
Mis-Information
Covid has killed more people who have received the vaccine than who haven’t received the vaccine is simply not true. Since less than 50% of the world’s population has been vaccinated this is preposterous at a world level, since the vaccines are widely known to reduce the death rate from COVID. In Israel where 85% of the population (9.3 million) has been vaccinated, there are more vaccinated people than unvaccinated. But of course more people unvaccinated are dying than vaccinated even in absolute numbers. On October 1, 2021 the number of serious Covid cases in Israel was 644, with 472 unvaccinated, 123 with two shots and 49 boosted. In the week previous to October 1, 129 people died of Covid, 65% unvaccinated (84), 26% one or two shots (34) and 8% with booster (1). So even in Israel with 85% vaccinated, more unvaccinated die than vaccinated. This shows that the hypothesis that more vaccinated people die of Covid than unvaccinated is wrong, even in a population where 85% of the people are vaccinated. (Israeli data is more reliable than US data because they have universal healthcare and good record keeping.)
Questionable Position
Great Barrington Declaration signed by folks who are bucking against the common narrative of the larger medical community. I find myself sympathetic to their position, but have some concerns about their reasoning. First, we have evidence of re-infection which suggest herd immunity will never be achieved.
Some of the countries which did early masking / lockdowns has worse outcomes than countries that were looser. Of course there are many factors which impacted both infection rates and mortality rates. Any way to understand which factors have what prepositional impact?
At the end of 2020 models suggested risk of death from COVID vs flu was lower under 14, higher above 14, growing significantly the higher the age. How has another year of data plus better treatment changed these numbers?
To Deepen understanding of science method (and frequent failures) in the medical space
Contempt is extremely corrosive and will destroy relationships and society if not countered. Rather than encouraging people to repair a breach, contempt encourage people to separate, widening the gap. The solution is to truly listen to people you disagree with, looking for how you share values “the why” even when you disagree about what’s the best course “the what”.
When an issue comes up repeatedly via multiple sources I take it seriously and strive to figure out what I can do. Contempt is the most recent issue that has surfaced in my life. I am striving to remove contempt from my life and encourage people I am interacting with to do the same. This post is an attempt to take the battle against contempt beyond the people I regularly interact with in person.
Often I will read a book which leads me to other books. It is not surprising that common themes emerge for books which are clustered together in this way. However… when I find a common theme emerging from multiple books which I came to from different sources I take notice. This suggests that either the issue is quite common, or that it is an issue that providence, fate, God, (whatever you want to call it) is asking me to pay attention to. Contempt has been a significant feature in several excellent books I have read in the last month which came to me through varied sources:
A Freakonomics interview of Arthur Brooks prompted me to read his book Love Your Enemies. A call to not just be tolerant and be polite, but to actively care for others and to look for shared values. Reading this book helped me recognize spots of contempt in my life, which ironically included the organization that Brooks was the president of for 10+ years, the American Enterprise Institute. Learning something of Brook’s values has me taking a second look at their materials. I don’t necessarily agree with their positions, but I am learning from them rather than dismissing them.
Many people in my church are reading Saving Us, Katharine Hayhoe’s book about climate change. In this book Katharine suggests that only 7% of the US population are hard core climate change “deniers”: people who have taken a stand based on identity, and will be very hard (if not impossible) to effectively engage with. She encourages her readers to engage with everyone else by finding common values, and then show how those values naturally lead to working on the issue which have beneficial outcome rather than focusing on “climate change”. The book also touches on the science of climate change, and actions people can take.
For years I have intended to read Miroslav Volk’s writings due to Tim Keller regularly citing Volk. I found an audio version of Volk’s book Flourishing freely available from Mountain View public library’s digital service. In this book Volk discusses of how all the “universal” religions, and especially Christianity, call followers to treat everyone well, not just their “tribe” because our values are universal, not just for our people. As he noted from the Bible, rain falls on righteous and the wicked, so we should shown respect and embrace “the other” recognizing God created and cares for all people, not just “our people”. I really appreciated his description of how religious identity can be weaponized by taking something universal and shrinking it down to serve a “local” cause in a process that Os Guinness called “cultural containment” in the book The Gravedigger Files.
Contempt has become increasingly common since the 2016 presidential election season. I see people not just disagreeing with each other, but going a step further to attack each other and attribute bad, immoral, or evil motivation to people taking a different perspective. As this has continued I have seen the “middle” get hollowed out and people going to more and more extreme positions. Many people who I considered “reasonable” are taking increasingly extreme positions. Especially heart-breaking is to see people attributing terrible attributes to the opposing side, which then excuses them from doing exactly the same thing. The short version of this is “They hate people, so I will hate on them”. I have heard people I know and love say:
All republicans are liars. They are all racist at best, Nazis at worse. Well, except the 14 that voted to condemn Trump…. but the rest of keeping quiet. I can’t trust anyone who is a republican.
The liberals want to turn us into a socialist society which would rob us of our freedom and remove God from society. We have to stop them by any means necessary.
The core of the media and Hollywood are part of the Illuminati. They have literally sold their souls to the devil (a real being) in exchange for success. You can’t trust anything they say and resistant anything they advocate. One encounter like this prompted me to write about Bono.
When discussing COVID related issues like masks and vaccines are not approached as a matter of science, but have become a marker of identify, with hatred if not violence flaring up when people from the two different camps encounter each other. I have seem people who have been friends for 10-20 years stop talking to each other because one voted for Trump and the other opposed Trump. I have heard stories of this happening within families. I know several churches that are being torn apart by the forced described in the article the evangelical church is breaking apart.
If you want to have an impact rather that merely feeling smug and self righteous I would encourage you to join me in the struggle to respectfully listen to “the other”, assuming they have good intent, even if their ideas are different from yours. Find common ground and work to solve problems! Beside the books above I would recommend the following resources could help develop your listening skills, resisting contempt, and to be more present with others:
Nonviolent Communication – Marshall Rosenberg suggests that more conflicts can be resolved if all the parties take the time to understand what the other person‘s needs are and clearly explain their needs. Marshall explains that once all parties understand the others needs, they are willing to find accommodations so that the other parties can meet there reasonable needs.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
In the face of an ever accelerated and complex world, I have found seeking simplicity to be a shelter. Rather than getting caught up in, and reacting to our fast moving and complex world, embracing simplicity has enabled me to take a step back, providing space to deepen my understanding, make better decisions, and gives my heart space. Using simplicity as a “lens” has improved my thinking, designs, and the quality of my daily life.
Dad’s Simplicity
My dad taught me to appreciate simplicity by the way he lived and reasoned. What had the deepest impact on me was that he was able to take the most complicated topics and explain them in a way that just about anyone could understand. Nearly every Wednesday we would go out to dinner, often the Ground Round for tasty burgers and unlimited popcorn and peanuts. During dinner dad would ask us about what we were learning and what we wanted to learn. I was typically interested in sciencey topics like what he was working on. (He was a physicist working at the frontier of integrated optics which resulted in 18 patents and more than 100 peer reviewed papers.) He would grab a few paper napkins from the dispenser, remove the fountain pen from his pocket, and procedure to explain whatever topic we asked about. In 5 to 15 minutes I got it.
Dad believed if a device, solution, principle, etc wasn’t simple enough to be explained on one to three napkins, then you had the wrong approach and were making things too complex. When he couldn’t explain something to us in this way he would say “I don’t think I understand this as well as I thought. Ask me next week.” My dad believed that the inability to explain something so everyone could understand it revealed that you didn’t truly, deeply understand the topic. A close corollary is teaching is the best way to learn as subject because it forces you to understand the subject well enough to explain it to someone who knows nothing.
Simplicity in Thought
Occam’s Razor, coined around 1317 says when faced with multiple options, it’s best to select the simplest. History has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. If you want to learn more, there is an extensive article about Simplicity in the Philosophy of Science
I have seen that the more complex an idea is, the more ways there are for something to go wrong. Additionally, the more complexity you are trying to manage, the more likely you are to miss one facet going “off track” making it more likely than you end up somewhere completely unexpected and might not even notice. I often wonder if this is why people who consider themselves technocrats or policy wonks don’t recognize when the programs they are supporting are far from what is theoretically “core” to their beliefs.
Simplicity in Design
When faced with an extraordinarily difficult problem, I have often found “taking a step back” to see if there is a way to simplify the issue often revealed a solution. When building secure software, the solution was often simplifying the execution path and removing code rather than working on complex logic. I found the paper Hints for Computer System Design by Butler Lampson is filled with good reminders which helps a designer apply simplicity to their designs. I appreciate the insights in the book Subtract, the article Simplicity Advantage but Commodity Sells and Why a toaster from 1949 is still smarter than any sold today.
When Steve Jobs returned to Apple he built a company which used simplicity as a key touchstone and the company thrived. When discussing possible product features, the surest way to have you feature cut was leading off with the phrase “Wouldn’t be cool if ____”. Rather you needed to say ” ____ is absolutely essential to the customer experience”. Apple more than any company understood the power of simplicity. 6 Factor Consumers Use to Evaluate Simplicity highlights ways a product can simplify the consumers’ life.
When properly designed, simplicity provides a transparency which makes the product or system more understandable and less fragile. This is one way that Apple sometimes failed, opting for things which appeared simple by hiding complexity under a veneer rather than seeking deep simplicity.
Simplicity in Possessions
Advertisers buy our attention to convince us more stuff will make our lives better. They tell us we should “keep up with the Jones” if not the rich and famous. This encourages us to be dissatisfied with what we have rather than to be grateful. This sort of outlook leads to a consuming hunger that never satisfies our hearts. People are discovering once their basic needs are met, that more stuff doesn’t make them happier. In fact, have less (but enough) possessions leads to better life experience than having too much. I have found the process of simplifying my stuff was extremely liberating. I found life is easier, less friction, few decisions. Walking the Camino de Santiago with a <8lb pack was wonderful. I was thankful for what I had and never felt a lack. The simplicity of walk, eat, talk, sleep, carrying just what we needed was restorative. Be challenged by Leo’s living lightly.
Simplicity in Life
In life, I have found keeping life simple, doing less, being attentive to “basic things” like being kind to others produces the best outcomes. The world calls us to invest our time, energy and resources in countless directions. All these bids of our attention can make it difficult to focus, and increases the likelihood that we will invest in things which ultimately have a low return on investment. Our society calls us to achievement, where connection is often much more meaningful. The discipline of simplicity, and its close cousins minimalism and essentialism can help us make wise choices.
Jesus explained God’s “simple” path for us in Matt 22:37-39 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This is nothing complicated or heroic. Simply being attentive to those around us and acts of care and kindness can change the world.
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free, ‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain’d, To bow and to bend we will not be asham’d, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning, turning we come round right.
I recently came across a wonderful interview which featured Eugene Peterson and Bono talking about the Psalms. I was touched by both mens’ humility, their genuine friendship, and their love for the Psalms.
There is also a nice follow-up series of mini interviews between David Taylor and Bono called Beyond the Psalms which are inline later in this post.
Art, U2 and My Life
I purchased U2 first album, Boy, as soon as it was available at my local record store and became a real fan after U2 played the Agora in April 1981. The concert was great: $12 for seats near the front of a hall that held several hundred other fans. At the time I couldn’t have told you why I liked U2… just that their music moved me.
Between first hearing Boy and U2 coming to Columbus I became a Christian. Before the concert one of my new Christian friends told me that a number of the members of U2 were Christians. I thought it was cool that a band I was into shared my new found faith, but I wasn’t going to see them because they were Christians. I was going to see them because I liked their music. My criteria wasn’t “gospel music”… it was that the music that moved my heart and told the truth, often music that was about justice, compassion, beauty, hope, or despair.
I was encouraged to cherish art by the writings of Hans R. Rookmaaker, Francis Schaeffer and the example of a number of Christian men who had been “in the faith” longer than me: Frank, Andy, Joe, Rick, and Doug. I didn’t subject artists or musicians to a narrow theological litmus test to be sure they matched my version of orthodoxy. I looked for truth and beauty and sought art, music, film that inspired or challenged me. I was not interested in passing judgement on the art just because the human creator didn’t conform to my narrow theology.
That’s not to say that I am a relativism, or that I believe each person has their own truth. I believe in absolute truth and am pretty sure I know what is true :). And yet, I am aware that I could be wrong so nearly every encounter could teach me something. Sometimes an encounter might strengthen my existing belief, sometimes it might lead me to refine or even change what I believed. As Salman Rushdie wrote:
ideas stood (or fell) because they were strong enough (or too weak) to withstand criticism, not because they were shielded from it. Strong ideas welcomed dissent. “He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill,” wrote Edmund Burke. “Our antagonist is our helper.” Only the weak and the authoritarian turned away from their opponents and called them names and sometimes wished to do them harm.
This is a long way of saying that I don’t reject or embrace people or their work because the agree or disagree with with me. As a result, I haven’t bother looking for people’s hidden agendas or evaluating their complete theology or trying to gauge if they were a “true Christian”. Rather I ask the question “Is there something here for me to learn or to appreciate?”. In the case of U2, there are numerous songs which have touched me over the years. The day Libby died, U2’s 40 ran through my mind, helping me process my grief and encouraging my heart in a way nothing else did. I didn’t feel the need to ask the question “Are they really Christians?” or “Do they have an orthodox faith?”. I just needed some truth for my heart and they provided it by putting part of Psalm 40 to music.
Bono is a Shill?
I shared the video of Bono and Peterson talking with a number of my friends. I was surprised when one of my friends dismissed the video and indicated that they thought that Bono was a shill, not a real Christian. I was surprised by their viewpoint in light of the conversation between Bono and Peterson. I had a generally favorable view of Bono and U2. My friend was so concerned that I decided to look into their concern. After a bit of time my conclusion was that I saw no evidence that Bono is a “shill”. Rather I saw quite a bit of evidence that Bono has an authentic faith.
An Orthodox Faith
I found an interview with Bono which discussed some of his experiences growing up, his activism, and then explores the core of his faith. The link to the full interview has been removed, but there is still a clip which discusses Bono’s understand of who is Jesus. What I hear is that Bono believes
in a historical Jesus
who is the Messiah
who was raised from the dead
This certain meets the requirements of Romans 10:8-9 for an authentic faith. Bono uses an argument much like C.S. Lewis’ Liar, Lunatic, Lord debunking that Jesus was merely a good teacher. Bono certainly has confessed with his mouth what the Bible says is saving faith.
I also appreciated his understanding of how Christianity is distinct from other religions, namely grace rather than works or karma.
An Authentic Life?
I can’t know for certain that Bono’s words reflect what’s in his heart, and I think it’s very dangerous to judge other people hearts because we can’t see them, heck, we have enough trouble understanding our own hearts (Jer 17:9). We can attempt to discern what is inside a person’s heart by their outward actions, to look to see the fruit of the spirit in their lives, but this is a pretty risky endeavor. In the case of Bono I am inclined to say his external life and his words seem largely consistent with someone who is authentically following Jesus.
He is not shy to talk about his faith and willing associates himself as a christian even though this identification is likely more of a liability that an asset in collecting fans
He has invested his time and energy is advocating for the poor and the powerless, the very thing God asked of his people thousand plus times, Jesus modeled, and the Jerusalem church asked Paul to attended to (and he was delighted to).
He seems to have a humility. He regularly talks about how much he needs grace. He takes interest in other people rather being focused on himself.
He has a generous spirit
He seems to be devoted to his family
He expresses a real love of God’s word, seems to know it pretty well, and says he desires to have a life shaped by God.
Some areas he has been criticized
Advocating for the poor while owning several huge homes, a yacht and private jet
His business moved countries to avoid taxes while advocating the companies pay their share of taxes
Some of his charities seem to spend a significant portion of their money on sponsoring events rather than actually helping people (e.g. overhead ratio).
Some people say wealth and power corrupt, but I say they just remove people’s restrains revealing what’s in the heart. While Bono is quite rich, it has not turned him into a raging ego-maniac. This suggests a gentle heart. Bono is far from perfect as he is quick to point out himself. He, like the rest of us is in the need of grace. Bono seems to have an understanding of how grace is radical and life changing. He is not religious, but does align himself with Jesus, which is as it should be. We need more people who love Jesus while not being religious.
Other Material
A few links I found in the last day or two which I enjoyed:
beyond the psalms: short discussions between David Taylor (who made the Peterson&Bono Video) continuing this discussion. The videos are also embedded in this page below
