Thinking about stuff...

So at some point recently I was thinking it would be a nice goal at some point to whittle my stuff down to only enough to fit in a backpack plus a bike plus a guitar. But when I think about it more that list of plusses just keeps getting bigger. When does it stop? I thought it might be interesting/scary to create a list of stuff that I have that I feel is actually useful to me:

SPORTS/ADVENTURE/TRANSPORT
- bike
- floor pump
- tent(s!)
- sleeping bag
- camp stove + accessories
- panniers
- bike accessories (tools, safety gear, spare parts, clothing, etc)
- rollerblades
- hiking boots
- runners
- sandals
- climbing gear
- snowshoes
- snowboots
- booties for winter camping
- tarp
- headlamp
- various camping accessories
- maps
- hackey sack
- frisbees
- disc golf discs
- ultimate field (cones)
- cleats
- rain jacket
- rain pants
- gaiters
- specialized clothing (socks, shirts, long johns, pants, etc)
- crazy carpets
- thermarest
- basketball (I haven't actually used this one much, but I would be reluctant to get rid of it since I have it)
- skis + boots
- hiking/skiing poles
- some books

ENTERTAINMENT
- iPod
- stereo
- guitar
- CDs
- books
- some board games
- paint supplies
- hula hoop

INFORMATION/COMMUNICATIONS
- laptop
- phone
- battery charger
- camera + accessories
- computer accessories (router, adsl modem, carrying case, etc)

REQUIRED or USEFUL for WORK and SCHOOL
- stationery and art supplies
- daypack
- textbooks and other books
- watch
- dress-up shoes
- dress-up clothing
- binders

HOUSEWARES/COMFORT
- some furniture
- kitchen supplies and housewares
- cat blanket
- sewing kit (rarely used)
- hot water bottle
- slippers

NECESSITIES (or almost)
- clothing that I use (everyday plus some dress-up)
- necessary paperwork and a system for filing it
- alarm clock
- everyday shoes
- wallet

BASICALLY USELESS but Don't Want To Get Rid Of
- beads and bracelets + minimal jewelry
- photos
- paintings
- foam shoes
- houseplants
- fanny pack
- purselike things

THOUGHTS
This seems like a big list. I'm sure I'm forgetting things. All of it is stuff I use pretty regularly though. The footwear category in particular seems awfully massive, yet I can't really see doing away with any of it happily. I know a lot of people have a lot more stuff than me too.. it's no wonder we are overrun with stuff! And even with all this, I could probably put together a decent-sized list of stuff that I would like to have, given the funds (gps, kayak/canoe?, bike trailer..). Sadly, I am also going into a profession that tends to promote the accumulation of stuff - this list could get worse! I think I will make it a goal at least to get rid of whatever I come across that isn't on this list and isn't worthy of being added.. I think that will be an awful lot of stuff in itself. One of the problems I have is with duplicates in the form of old gear, particularly in the realm of camping gear (and bikes)... I tend to keep that stuff around because I do occasionally lend it out to other people and/or use it myself. And that is better than making those people who use such things rarely buy it themselves, is it not? The other big killer is old paperwork, old trinkets with some degree of sentimental value that I never actually touch, books that are probably not useful to me anymore, mostly-but-not-entirely-worn-out stuff I like -- I think these things may need to go. At least the "basically useless" category isn't Too big.

My tendency would be to go on for a good long paragraph about the lack of updating this blog has received. I am going to try to avoid that. Then again, maybe there is a point to be made there after all..

Whenever I start getting into all this environmental and social activism stuff more wholeheartedly, I find there are so many ups and downs to it... I see something that renews my hope that there are people trying to do something about all these problems then I get discouraged because there are so many problems and they are so big and it just seems too idealistic to think we can fight against them - perhaps that is why I haven't posted anything in so long. But lately I feel like activism is becoming more mainstream. I don't think it's just me who thinks that. It seems like the anti-corporation folks, the green movement, concerns about the actions and motivations of our governments, etc are really gaining momentum. And momentum is exactly what we need. All those positive and hopeful messages about the power of the people need momentum to come to fruition. And despite some degree of cynicism, I feel like this is really starting to happen. That is why I am back to posting. Even though I still don't feel like I have answers.

For now I am just going to post some new links to some information that I think is pretty important to consider..

ps. oh also.. good news! My blackspot shoes had holes in the bottom and I thought I would have to replace them, but thanks to some awesome "freesole" shoegoo, I patched up the holes and can now happily wear my shoes in puddles again. yay!

brainflurry. like a brainstorm, but more so.

In celebration of this Buy Nothing Day, and as a result of some recent though-provoking movies and readings I have consumed, I decided to put together a new blog. Ever since watching "An Inconvenient Truth" and the (to me) even more powerful "Manufactured Landscapes", I have been trying to brainstorm ideas about how we might go about making people wake up and do something about saving life on Earth from either obliteration or radical change... It has been a matter of concern for some time, of course, but I am really starting to feel like I need to do something bigger than just minimizing my own footprint.

The big question is.. what?

The problem is.. I don't know. But maybe, just maybe, if I think about it enough, I will get an idea.

Maybe if I put my beginnings of ideas here and other people comment about their beginnings of ideas, we can come up with something big.

I will also just use this as a place to mention any interesting related information that I happen to come across.

Like for instance... today I was reading a chapter from Alison M. Johnston's "Is the Sacred For Sale?" that brought up the idea of protected areas such as parks as being used by governments and consumers as a payoff for their environmentally-devastating economies and habits. While I don't agree with her seeming opposition to creating protected areas, I think that she makes a good point. Setting aside X hectares of protected areas should not be used to offset destructive habits - the destructive habits themselves should be addressed directly.

The prominence of this 'battle of the game consoles' in the news is alarming after watching "Manufactured Landscapes"... where are all of those consoles made? Where do the materials come from? What happens to all of last year's consoles? How much does this whole industry contribute to the eWaste problem? How many gamers consider these questions?

Along the lines of Blackspot's ideas... Is there some way to harness this excessive consumerism to fight consumerism itself? Is it possible to create some 'must-have' product that would actually encourage consumers to question their consumerism? If the consumers are the biggest part of the problem, then why not target them through their very consumption?

Another thing I was looking at today was podcasts. I came across Daryl Hannah's podcast, and thought it was rather interesting, and probably a good way to appeal to some of the people who might not otherwise consider environmental issues.

Ok, so I have a lot of questions and thoughts in my head at the moment, probably largely since this is my first post. I'll stop for now and try to save some for later..