Washington Post Talk Stuff

This is a really interesting article on stuff, you know, all that detritus that we carry around every day just-in-case:

Slogging around with a backpack, a notebook and a bottle of water, you stop for a while and stare at the historic black-and-white photographs in the National Museum of American History. You know, the ones depicting Americans going about their everyday lives: folks waiting for District trolley cars circa 1900, for instance, or people crisscrossing Pennsylvania Avenue in 1905.

Notice something missing? That’s right: stuff.

The people — all ages, all colors, all genders — are not carrying any backpacks or water bottles. They are not schlepping cell phones, cradling coffee cups or lugging laptops. They have no bags — shopping, tote or diaper. Besides a small purse here or a walking cane or umbrella there, they are unburdened: footloose and fingers free.

Now walk outside and take a look around. People on the same city streets are loaded down. They are laden with books, newspapers, Gatorade jugs, personal stereos, knapsacks, briefcases and canvas totes with high-heel shoes inside. They have iPods strapped to upper arms, fanny packs buckled around waists and house keys Velcroed to shoelaces.

I especially liked this line:

It’s the perfect posture for the Age of Insecurity. We fret about our jobs, families, country, manhood or womanhood, ability to be a good parent. We believe someone is out to get us. And to get our things. So, like the homeless, we carry our stuff with us. Just in case something, or anything, happens.

Isn’t it a trap, all that carrying.

For a few months now I’ve had a sore shoulder (oh no he was only just talking about his headaches) and it’s really made me think about all the stuff I carry around. Simple things like spare Ethernet cables just in case I get somewhere and there aren’t any.

The other day though I achieved the ultimate. I got in my car with a notebook and a pen, I drove to a meeting, I took notes and I left. I felt naked, but strangely released.

Now all I need to do is work out how I’m going to reduce the level of detritus that is stacking up in our bedroom ready for our skiing holiday.