Far Beyond The Stars: The Archives

Writing and Photography by Everett Bogue | Follow me on Twitter

Far Beyond The Stars subscriber Jeff Morris just sent me an email wondering if I had completed the 100 things challenge. I have indeed! I figured now was a good a time as any to whip up a quick list of my possessions.

The history and reason behind of 100 things.

100 Things is a challenge originally issued by David Michael Bruno. The idea behind it is that human beings only need 100 things to survive, but most of us have way more than that. By restricting ourselves to 100 things, we’re creating less waste, we’re more flexible in how and where we live. It’s a win-win situation! One of the more famous bloggers who has 100 things is Leo Babauta.

I mentioned in my 100 Minimalist Ideas article that I had 79 things. I was wrong, I have 97 things!

You’ll notice that some of these things are in New York, in a box that my friends are keeping at my old apartment at the School House in Brooklyn — I’ll be fetching these at some point. I also have some warm winter clothing in Chicago, which I sent to my mom when I left New York. I’ve counted all of these in my 100 things, even though they’re not with me right now.

I did NOT group my underwear or socks into one thing. I believe it’s fine to cheat on underwear and socks, but I didn’t need to so I listed them all. You’ll also notice that I don’t have any kitchen stuff (except the coffee grinder in New York,) this is because I’ve only lived in shared houses where kitchen stuff was already present. I’m probably never going to live by myself, so these things will always be shared. I also didn’t count food that I have in the fridge, because I’m going to eat that. I also didn’t count absurd things like cords and power plugs, assume these go with the computer, camera, hard drive, etc.

You’ll also notice that I have no books or CDs. I read my books in the library, or at the bookstore. When I do buy books, I donate them or sell them after I finish reading them — they’re in my head, I don’t need them anymore. Books are freakin heavy, why don’t we put them back into the system after we’re done with them? I mp3ed all of my CDs years ago, and donated them to the universe. I get all of my music online now.

Here are my 95 things, as of November 12th 2009.

1. Black Macbook
2. Canon Digital Rebel XTi Camera
3. Wide Angle Zoom Lens
4. 50mm Lens
5. Off-Camera Flash
6. Slingshot Camera Bag
7. Yoga mat
8. Lightweight black jacket
9. Medium-weight army-colored jacket
10. Heavy weight bomber jacket
11. Grey work pants
12. Belt to keep gray work pants from falling down
13. Gray hoodie
14. Fleece sweatshirt
15. Gray sweatpants
16. Brown sweatpants
17. Faded pink hoodie designed by Nathan
18. Knitted hat made with love by girlfriend
19. Tibetan hat with fleece on the inside
20. 1TB hard-drive for backup and photo storage
21. iPhone 3GS
22. Black Diamond backpacking bag.
23. Sleeping bag with fleece insert
24. Bike that I’m trying to sell before I go to Chicago
25. Heavy-duty unbreakable bike lock
26. Eureka two-person backpacking tent
27. Gray Brooklyn Industries bag for laptop
28. Work boots
29. Brown ripped up t-shirt
30. Gray v-neck t-shirt
31. Gray v-neck t-shirt
32. Purple v-neck t-shirt
33. Gray t-shirt
34. Black v-neck t-shirt
35. Gray awesome baggy shirt with buttons that I never button on the neck
36. Purple tank shirt
37. Gray tank shirt
38. Green tank shirt
39. Black tank shirt
40. Blue tank shirt
41. Red tank shirt
42. Gray underwear
43. Gray underwear
44. Gray underwear
45. Red underwear
46. Red underwear
47. Bright blue underwear
48. Black underwear
49. Black underwear
50. Pair of socks
51. Pair of socks
52. Pair of socks
53. Pair of socks
54. Pair of socks
55. Pair of socks
56. Pair of socks
57. Pair of socks
58. Pair of hiking socks
59. Pair of socks with a hole in them
60. Green scarf
61. Moleskin notebook (contains the story of Aspire and Thain, literary agents: call me.)
62. Three little Moleskins for notes, counting as one because they’re so small and rubber-banded together
63. Silver pen for writing in Moleskins
64. Deodorant
65. Dr. Bronnor’s Magic Soap (I use this for everything: bathing, laundry, etc.)
66. Razor for shaving
67. Toothbrush
68. Tom’s organic toothpaste without fluoride
69. Lightweight travel towel
70. Needle and thread for sewing damaged clothing (just used this to sew crotch rip in work pants!)
71. Parachute cord, just in case.
72. Hand lotion
73. Lip balm
74. Headphones
75. Computer screen wiping cloth
76. Business cards
77. Leatherman (in New York, I think?)
78. Computer lock (in New York, I think?)
79. Green puffy winter jacket (in Chicago)
80. Giant furry black trapper hat (in Chicago, I need this to survive the cold harsh winter)
81. 500 GB hard-drive with backup of life’s work just in case the drive I carry with me dies (in Chicago)
82. Motorcycle boots (in New York in a box – I need to get these, because my work boots are starting to leak)
83. Bike helmet (in New York, I know I know, I’m going to die.)
84. Leather jacket (in New York in a box)
85. Tweed jacket (in New York in a box)
86. Coffee grinder (in New York in a box)
87. Leather polish for motorcycle boots (in New York in a box)
88. Nice jacket for interviews and dinner with fancy people (in New York in a box)
89. Button up cowboy shirt (in New York in a box)
90. Button up cowboy shirt (in New York in a box)
91. Herringbone scarf (in New York in a box)
92. Gray blanket and sheets (in New York in a box)
93. Small JBL speaker system (in New York in a box)
94. Small freestanding halogen lamp (in New York in a box)
95. Small Freestanding halogen lamp (in New York in a box)
96. Small Freestanding halogen lamp (in New York in a box)
97. Small Freestanding halogen lamp (in New York in a box)

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Take the 100 things challenge and let me know how you’ve done in the comments or on Twitter!

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