Six Things I Carry

Six Things I Carry

Original inspiration from brilliant British author Chris Fowler’s blog, seen here, as 6 things I carry.

Six Things I Carry

When I travel, I’m less inclined to bring six specific items. More like a generalized grouping. Towards that end, though, I do keep a “Go-bag” provisioned and packed, one is for work, and one is for not scheduled work.

  • something to read
  • charger and cables for i-things
  • notebook, that is, paper notebook
  • pen/pencil
  • tarot cards
  • chapstick

And a toothbrush. I tend to forget that I keep one packed. That’s 7 things.

When I just head out the door? Pocket knife, wallet, keys, and phone. Super simple. Wallet, keys, phone, knife, chapstick, and earbuds for the phone. Yeah, that’s keeping it simple.

Six Things I Carry

  • something to read

Always try to have something to read. Never can tell when I’ll get stuck, like, at a bus stop. Formerly, traveling so much by commercial air, I got used to required patience in departure lounges, waiting rooms, and — well — never in a train terminal. Take that back, early double-aughts, I used Amtrak. There was a recent post elsewhere about always have a notepad when traveling by public transit. True.

  • chargers and cables for i-things

Within Apple’s current iterations, the easiest for me is to have two bags, one for a laptop, which would include a power source, power cord extension, and micro plus lightening iPhone/accessories cables. In the other bag, another set of the diminutive Apple chargers and requisite Lightening cables, and for the time being? Isn’t it great that an i-tablet & i-phone can use the same cable?

There are times when nothing else will suffice. For a way to record ideas, observation, or draw a quick astrology glyph? Nothing beats pen and paper, real paper.

  • pen/pencil

One bag has a Mont Blanc (ballpoint) in it, along with a myriad of other writing devices. However, I’ve become much more guarded, and at work, I’m less likely to leave the expensive heirloom pen out, but I do have a selection of disposable ballpoints, which, in and of themselves aren’t bad. Plus the ever-present sharpie that has long replaced the more expensive options, just because (utility, price, ubiquity, &c.)

  • tarot cards

It’s my day job. That simple. Large, “show” deck for serious work like the big shows in Austin, and a smaller copy because I never know when I might want to look at the pretty pictures for myself. It’s a touchstone and talisman for me.

  • chapstick

Rarely, these days, do I carry real chapstick brand chapstick, although, come to think of it, my current lip balm is just that. For several years, much of the terrain I covered included two distinct regions, the Gulf Coast and the Desert Southwest. To this day, my fishing kit still includes several flavors of lip balm including the “Life Guard” with its waxy, white coating. That’s for sunscreen, and the Desert Southwest? To help prevent chapped lips from the high desert dry.

Couple of years back, on one trip, my suitcase got lost, and I had just switched out the kind of carryon I was using. Forgot a toothbrush. Weirdest thing, to not have a toothbrush for a night. Stranger, yet, I tend to carry one in all EDC, just as a matter of form.

Leftover habits, I would guess. Always be prepared. Well, try to be, anyway.

Six Things I Carry

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