100 Thing Challenge, sabbatical edition

Posted in Reinventing myself, simplicity - 21 January 2010 - 4 comments

I’ve been agonizing over post topics for the last week and finally realized that the one issue I hadn’t returned to for some time now is STUFF. Clutter. Things. Possessions. Belongings. You get the idea…

I read about the 100 thing Challenge while already in the midst of my Great Purge back in Seattle. At the time my reaction was “well isn’t that nice, but I like my [blank].” Just as I’m sure a lot of you will say to the idea of living with just 100 personal possessions. As time went on and I continued to purge, I went back several times and read that page, I also did some strategic googling and found others who had taken up the challenge (notably Leo, and Leo) and started to rethink my initial reticence. I wasn’t prepared to take a full inventory at the time, what with packing, purging, and plunging (that would be into a new life here in Israel) – but I stored it away in Evernote to be readdressed at a later time.

Well, it’s a later time now and I decided to take the time to inventory my current list of belongings. Even knowing how much STUFF I had purged it was still a little daunting to think about counting everything up. I’m not sure what the sticking point was, I mean I had already tossed a good 2/3 or more of my STUFF, what was so hard about counting what was left? Still working on that – anyway, on to the count!

My 100-ish things:

  1. Vaude backpack (daily use and hiking)
  2. handmade leather satchel
  3. notebook (moleskine)
  4. leatherman tool
  5. lockblade pocket knife
  6. nylon messenger bag
  7. luggage (duffel)
  8. luggage (eagle creek)
  9. luggage (carry on)
  10. yoga blanket
  11. sleeping pad
  12. sleeping bag
  13. sleeping bag (summer/travel)
  14. sheets*
  15. bed*
  16. tent
  17. hiking poles
  18. staff
  19. camp stuff*
  20. toolbox*
  21. meditation bench
  22. small notebook/calendar
  23. strap cap
  24. summer flat cap
  25. wool flat cap
  26. linen flat cap
  27. sun hat
  28. sunglasses
  29. VFF (Vibram Fivefingers)
  30. VFF
  31. Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers (hemp)
  32. Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers (leather)
  33. Keen sneaker
  34. Keen boot
  35. jeans
  36. jeans
  37. khakis
  38. brown khakis
  39. sweatpants
  40. shorts
  41. shorts
  42. socks*
  43. underwear*
  44. undershirts*
  45. t-shirt
  46. t-shirt
  47. t-shirt
  48. t-shirt
  49. ls t-shirt
  50. ls t-shirt
  51. ls t-shirt
  52. hoodie
  53. shirt (solid)
  54. shirt (solid)
  55. shirt (solid)
  56. shirt (white)
  57. shirt (white)
  58. shirt (stripe)
  59. shirt (stripe)
  60. shirt (short sleeve)
  61. shirt (short sleeve)
  62. shirt (short sleeve)
  63. vest (hemp)
  64. vest (wool)
  65. Sport coat
  66. rain coat
  67. softshell jacket
  68. external harddrive
  69. airport basestation
  70. iPod
  71. Speakers
  72. Headphones (studio)
  73. Headphones (in-ear)
  74. portable harddrive
  75. Macbook
  76. sleeve
  77. case
  78. cables/chargers*
  79. cell phone
  80. camera
  81. video camera
  82. Kiddush cup
  83. Shabbat candle sticks
  84. small Shabbat candle sticks
  85. travel Shabbat candle sticks
  86. Hanukiah (Menora)
  87. buddha
  88. pushka (charity collection box)
  89. books*

* means that I’m grouping multiple things into on item for the sake of this list. In some cases it’s because I’m getting rid of some of them, and in some cases (like the toolbox) it’s because I treat it as a single thing with multiple parts.

There you have it. My official (as of 1.21.10) 100 Thing list. I’m pretty happy with that number, means if I end up getting anything new before I leave I’m still under the threshold. My plans for now are to do everything in my power to keep the personal items under that magical number for the forseeable future. Look for updates as my return trip becomes imminent and even better ones once I’m back in the land where the consumers roam wild…

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Tags: , ,

4 Responses - Add Yours+

  1. Jesse Bishop says:
    January 21, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    Jesse, Good going! I’m still working on mine, unfortunately. I tend to have too much attachment to things. But soon, I will be down to 100 things! Mark my words! :) – Jesse

  2. Weston says:
    January 21, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    Gotta like somebody who can list a buddha between their Hanukiah and their pushka.

  3. Jesse says:
    January 22, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    @ Weston – And I gotta love someone who knows what all 3 of those are!

  4. Jesse says:
    January 22, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    @ Jesse – Right on! Is it just me, or does feel like I’m talking to myself?
    Anyway, the attachment is the hardest part to break free of. But once you take the first step, then the second, you’ll find yourself slowly building momentum until you’re free and you’re able to objectively look at all those things you thought you could never live without and say, “do I really need this?” The main difference is now you’ll be able to say, “No.”

    Keep it up, it’s so worth the effort!

Leave a Reply