A made-up journey from pure minimalist to semi-minimalist to digital nomad.. just for fun!
You live on an island, which is great, because you barely have any clothes; but your lack of stuff gives you an incredible sense of freedom and peace of mind; and aside from your passport, phone and wallet, everything you have is easily replaceable.
The "True" Minimalist Must-Haves:
Passport and ID
Bank/credit card (or lots of cash)
One or two pairs of clothes (hopefully weather-appropriate)
Cheap generic shoes or sandals
Cell phone, headphones, chargers
A small bag or backpack (or plastic bag)
But you're getting a bit edgy, island life is wearing off and you've done ALL the hikes multiple times.. it's time for a change; so you take a risk, upgrade your wardrobe (anticipating daily showers) and buy a couple tools to make the transition easier.
The "Mostly" Minimalist Upgrades:
Passport and ID
Bank/credit card (or lots of cash)
Two or three pairs of multi-function, quick-drying clothes
Hiking or trail-running shoes, barefoot or minimalist sandals
Cell phone, headphones, chargers, portable charger
Small hiking backpack or hydration-pack (recommended 18-25L)
Hanging toiletry bag, protective/waterproof phone case
Portable wash-bag and/or sink stopper, paracord for washing/drying clothes
Padlock for hotel/hostel lockers
Towel
CONGRATS! You left the island and made it to the mainland; you're still limited to hot or warm climates, but your new stuff makes laundry, hiking, beach days and hostel-living so much easier.
But that only lasts a few months... after awhile, you're beached out, your skin is starting to feel like leather and people are starting to wonder if you're just visiting or actually living at the hostel. You decide to make a move, but you'll need some warmer clothes; and now that you're rejoining civilization, maybe some identity protection.
The "More Than Mostly" Minimalist Upgrades:
Passport and ID
Bank/credit card (or lots of cash), RFID protected wallet
Three or four pairs of multi-function, quick-drying clothes
Thermal underwear, long-sleeve shirt, compressible jacket or raincoat
Hiking or trail-running shoes, barefoot or minimalist sandals
Cell phone, headphones, chargers, solar powered portable charger
Medium-sized hiking backpack or hydration-pack (recommended 18-25L)
Hanging toiletry bag, protective/waterproof phone case
Portable wash-bag and/or sink stopper, paracord for washing/drying clothes
Padlock for hotel/hostel lockers
Towel
At the expense of a bigger backpack and some additional space, you just bought yourself 10 degrees North or South.. you can now visit bigger cities and cooler climates, and the options feel endless..
But boredom strikes again, you've explored the city, seen all the sights, filled your brain with history and culture but now, now you want to contribute.. you don't just want to see how history unfolded, now you want to make history; it's a sad (or happy) day, but it's time to get a laptop.
The "High-Tech" Minimalist Upgrades:
Passport and ID
Bank/credit card (or lots of cash), RFID protected wallet
Three or four pairs of multi-function, quick-drying clothes
Thermal underwear, long-sleeve shirt, compressible jacket or raincoat
Hiking or trail-running shoes, barefoot or minimalist sandals
13-14in Laptop, cell phone, headphones, chargers, solar powered portable charger
Medium-sized backpack, laptop bag or hydration-pack (recommended 18-25L)
Hanging toiletry bag, protective/waterproof phone case, dry-sack for electronics
Portable wash-bag and/or sink stopper, paracord for washing/drying clothes
Padlock for hotel/hostel lockers
Towel
You're still mobile, but now you can work; your bag is a little bigger and a little heavier, but you're still super flexible, and you can always revisit those islands when you need a mental break. You're happy for now, you can see yourself upgrading a few things to make work a bit easier, but that's in the future, and you're focused on the now.
