I got annoyed recently when I wanted to leave the house and noticed my bag was half full just with stuff to deal with weather. In Tokyo, I usually carry an umbrella with me, maybe sunscreen, sunglasses, a mini towel etc. Others have fans, “neck fans” (not sure how they are called). Maybe a water bottle also counts.

All of this is “weather stuff” for me. I asked a friend what she carries around, and we started to think about some other categories as well. So I wondered how much of the stuff we carry around is actually about the thing we want to do wherever we go, and how much is just to cope with the environment? Also, I would be curious how this looks like in other places around the world. Things probably vary by gender, age, season as well.

Some categories are:

  • weather stuff
  • personal hygiene stuff
  • safety stuff
  • not being annoyed by others stuff
  • infrastructure fail stuff (e.g., preparing for when trains get delayed)
  • @zephorah@lemm.ee
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    333 months ago

    As an American who drives a truck, this is moot. I have a full set of clothes, winter outer wear, a jug of water, a canister of peanuts, a blanket, a shovel, trauma sheers, a leatherman, a sun hat, to walking poles, a Midwest level scraper/brush, an air pump for my tires that plugs into the lighter, full spare, spark plugs, an extendable magnet, 10k lumen light that plugs into the cigarette lighter to charge if need be, tweezers, nail clipper, eyeglass repair, a paper book of maps for all 50 states, and a spare toothbrush.

    Probably forgot some things. My truck is essentially my purse.

      • @zephorah@lemm.ee
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        53 months ago

        Lol, it’s not a dodge RAM. To be fair, I travel for work sometimes. And I do haul in my truck, complete with added trailer which is a piece of rural living. I’ve never rolled coal or gunned it on a residential street.

        • @TexasDrunk@lemmy.world
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          73 months ago

          it’s not a dodge RAM

          They said Walmart, not the liquor store.

          I also drive a truck with the same stuff as you under the back seat. I use it to haul stuff and work around my buddy’s ranch on occasion. It’s not diesel so I couldn’t roll coal with it if I wanted to (nor do I want to).

          I need a trailer rarely enough that I’ll rent one if I’ve gotta haul more than will fit in the bed.

      • Dr. Wesker
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        33 months ago

        Have you ever been outside of Los Angeles? Some places in America, this kind of kit is worth the insurance and peace of mind.

        • Diplomjodler
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          73 months ago

          I’ve never been to Los Angeles or any other place in the US for that matter. I was just trying to be funny.

    • Dr. Wesker
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      3 months ago

      This is one thing I miss about having a truck. All the room for bugout equipment. I downsized recently, and had to greatly downsize my kit too.

      • @zephorah@lemm.ee
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        23 months ago

        Or just stuff in case you get stuck in the snow. Probably not needed with a truck, but, habit to always have that stuff.

    • fmstrat
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      43 months ago

      We have all of this in a Honda HRV, the smallest Honda you could buy at the time.

      I also haul wood in it with the seats down and hatch tied down.

      No qualms if you use your truck, they have a purpose. Just want non-Americans to realize we don’t all go down that road.