100 things – me

NOTE — I wrote this prior to leaving the camper (Feb. 2009).  Once I noticed this, it became the catalyst for all the purging that I’ve been doing!

A while back I had read about the guy who decided to live with only 100 things. I read about him 3rd hand via productivity and simple living blogs. After packing, I wondered how close we got.

In explaining this to my husband, he asked lots of questions about the spirit of the challenge that I couldn’t answer. So I looked him up and actually found him relatively easily (online, not in real life). Essentially, he didn’t include communal property and certain things HAD to be lumped as one. Underwear, for example, and his library as another. Man after my own heart :). That was the hardest part–picking which books to bring. And I’ve already bought a handful since I’ve gotten here, but I digress.

Anyway, here is my list of things that I brought for ME and me alone.

1. library 🙂
2. underwear & socks
3. yarn
4. crochet hooks
5. notebooks/journals
6. pens
7. post it notes
8-15. pjs – 6 pr. In various weights and forms
16-19. pants – 4 pr.
20-23. capris – 2 pr. + 2 pr. (reg & exercise)
24-26. shorts – 3 pr.
27-31. tshirts – 5
32-35. tank tops – 4?
36-39. camisoles – 4
40-44. long sleeved shirts – 5?
45-47. jackets/coats – 3
48. skirt
49. 3 piece suit
50. makeup, brushes & toiletries
51-60. My DVDs – maybe 10 that were MY favorite.
61. Computer #1 with accompaning junk
62. Computer #2 with accompaning junk
63. Exercise equipment – 2 bungies & running shoes
64. iPod
65-69. shoes – 4 pr. Including my aquasocks, not including my running shoes which I’ve lumped as exercise equipment.
70. Scissors
71. CDs of PT CEUs (if it’s not fun does it count?)
72. Bathing suit.
73. Purse
74.

Actually, that’s not so bad. I’ve even counted most of my clothing individually. I wonder how we did on communal property? I bet Dagny’s stuff is way over and dads is WAY under.

How about you?   How have you benefited from paring down your stuff?   Let us know in the comments!

Useful kitchenware in a minimal space

Now that we’ve been in the camper for about a month and we have settled into a routine, I am getting a good feel for what I NEED and what I don’t. I actually feel pretty good about most of what we packed.

First of all, when I originally packed, I thought we would be in a MUCH smaller camper so I invested in some collapsible essentials.

– mixing bowl
– strainer
– measuring cups

These have been invaluable. I’ve used the measuring cups and strainer a lot and used the mixing bowl to let pizza dough rise the other day.

If you are going to rely on the toaster oven (i.e. no microwave), ramekins are a must. I think ours are only 6-8 oz. but 10 oz. would be better.

These items have also earned their place in our kitchen:
– Bowls
– Storage bowls
– 2 qt. Saucepan with lid
– Wooden spoons, slotted & regular
– Hamburger flipper (or spatula, depending on your local usage)
– Silverware
– Cups
– Cutting boards (1 meat, 1 veggie)
– Meat thermometer
– butcher knife, paring knife & some other knife that usually comes with a set that I don’t know the name of

The jury is still out on these. I haven’t used them yet but everything I make is pretty simple:

– spatula
– adjustible measuring spoons
– steak knives
– wire wisk
– insulated cups
– gallon pitcher — too big

I did have a thing or two on my wish list.
– a silicon pastry brush. I keep wishing I had one and I had regular wood handled ones at home but always had problems getting the oil out.
– a 2 quart pitcher. It doesn’t need to seal tight like it would have had to in a cooler and it perfectly fits a packet of kook-aid without eating my whole fridge. I bought on last time we were on the mainland and am really glad we did.

Also, I determined that 2 absorbing towels are not enough. I bought a hot pad/towel set that had 2 absorbing towels (terry?) and 2 push-the-water-around towels (linen?). Not enough. I got a set of 3 absorbing/3 waffle weave last time we were on the mainland too. I’d say I’m glad but we haven’t been cooking much since we got back so it hasn’t been that big a deal. Yet! Also, lots of washcloths are good too. I went through as many as 6 one week, when we ate particularly greasy canned chili with our hot dogs.

I brought a few microfiber cleaning cloths but not nearly enough to use those exclusively to clean up our messes. I brought 3 and we generally still use a roll of paper towels every 2 weeks.

Aluminum foil and baggies have proved themselves highly useful in this warm, nomadic and child-filled existance. But only mildly. Baggie or no baggie things still go stale here–QUICKLY! The same day, even, only hour(s) later.

What do you find indespensible in YOUR small space?

Useful appliances in a small camper

We bought lots of different things before we left in an effort to make life in a small space easier. Now that we’ve been here a month, it’s easy to see what is worth it’s space.

Most of the stuff we purchased was for the kitchen.

A toaster oven. I’ve never used one of these before but the camper we were going to use didn’t have an oven. Even though this one DOES, we find it easier to use this. It comes out almost daily and we use it to rehear leftovers. I make cookies a LOT thanks to refridgerated dough. All things considered, if you have room and are traveling long term, bring it.

An electric frying pan. We use this a lot also. Still getting used to the fact that it cycles. Again, this isn’t something that I use at home, so I don’t know if they all do that or not. I’ve found that it DOES get hot enough to boil noodles in almost the same amount of time. Over easy eggs are tough to do. Otherwise, this is pretty useful for long-term living, too.

An electric water kettle. Priceless! We bought it to give Dagny baths here in the camper, but use it for dishes and oatmeal, too. I think I would pack one for short trips, too, especially if you need your morning coffee.

A 4 quart crockpot. I have a HUGE one (6 qt.) at home but this one has a smaller footprint. I think I’ve only used it twice but I think once I get in the groove, I’ll use it more. I have a few recipes that I want to make soon that are easiest in that. I could take it or leave it.

Wish list. Well, maybe.

Microwave. I have mixed thoughts in this one. Having one would make the toaster oven less useful. But it’s easier to find containers to heat things up in. And more convenience foods are made for it. And it won’t make the camper hotter.

A grill. Propane, charcoal, whatever. It can probably make abetted burger & again, won’t make the camper hotter because you use it outside.