How little can you live with?

[RDProgrammer]

DIYers,

After the BB House thread and concerns over power and size, I got to thinking about what the realistic "essentials" are for a modern techie type. By this I mean, what would you find necissary to have with you? I have broken mine down to something like the following:

Desktop, gaming console hooked up to monitor
Laptop
100W or so of sound
A Bed/Couch
about 15 square feet of desk space
another 50ish cubic feet of storage space
griddle, toaster, oven, water boiling device (pot)
bathroom
medium set of tools (saw, drills, grinder, dremel, etc)
clothes

I have been designing an RV type of build for a while while trying to reduce the needed size. I am somewhere around a 7'x16'x7' tall trailer with the following set up:

1' couch
2' couch
3' couch
4' open space
5' desk door
6' desk door
7' desk kitchen counter
8' bathroom kitchen
9' bathroom kitchen
10' bathroom kitchen
11' bathroom kitchen
12' utilities kitchen
13' utilities pantry
14' utilities pantry
**************wall***************
15' tools
16' tools

with the idea that this trailer could be hitched up and lived out of reasonably for at least 60 days. I travel every summer and this would be cheaper than rent and moving shit around after about two years.

Anyway, this is not currently a "being built" project, but it is open for ideas, suggestions and flames.

RDP

[BoilingLeadBath]

Well, that depends upon what you mean by "necessities"... and the timescale. Here's a reasonable list from me...

Level 1 (up to 2 days):
bedroll (the one I currently sleep on measures 2'x10" diameter rolled up, including blanket and pillow)
toilette

upgrade package to Level 2 (up to 1 week):
Laptop
headphones
clothes
stovetop, 14" cast iron skillet, 1 spatula, 1 knife (8" chef?), 1 cutting board
wipedown cloth

upgrade to level 3 (indefinite):
about 7 square feet of desk space
5 cubic feet, mostly medkit and books
oven, 1/2 quart pan, 2 quart pan, 2 baking pans, 1 baking sheet, 2 knives
mini-toolset (pretend it contains pliers, screw drivers, wire cutters, a hot glue stick, and a lighter)

Level 4 upgrade:
medium set of tools (saw, drills, grinder, dremel, vice, wrenches)
Another 10 square feet of "desk"
toaster
airgun

I'm currently living slightly below level 3.

******

But, in general, people seem to like to accumulate stuff, so my list is probably a great deal smaller than most people's.

[RDProgrammer]

Yeah, I am talking about a 2 month stay with near total independance from finding places to stay. A few deep cycle batteries will run my electronis, find power when I want to use tools etc.

RDP

[ratfrink]

Pretty interesting idea.

I'd say:
Groundroll
Sleeping bag
Change of clothes, weatherproofs
Boots

Leatherman + proper knife
Gas stove
Folding mess tin/water bottle thing
Some utensils
Soap, razor, small towel

Small tool kit

Bicycle (no, really, I can't live without my bike)
Associated bicycle tools

Laptop
Mobile phone
Pencils and paper

That's about it. Not a lot really. That's basically all I took to university both times I went (aside from books/course specific things, and proper bedsheets) and I never really wanted for much else.

BoilingLeadBath, why do you sleep on a groundroll?

[BoilingLeadBath]

"Why do you sleep on a groundroll"

Well, it started because I found it more comfortable about 5/7 nights, and continued based on the following line of thought:
I don't sleep well normally, much less in unfamiliar places. A groundroll plopped on top of a hard surface is a very portable and consistent "place" for me to sleep.

... And I've been told that it is good for the back.

[Anima Mundi]

Mattress.
Computer with internet.
Food and water.
:thumbsup:

[CarpeNemo]

My current living space is about 15 feet square, with a "folding board bed" (a sheet of plywood with hinges to fold and store), my computer (and associatated content), a microwave, a box fan, and a minifridge.

I live on my computer when I'm not at work, thus, my setup suits me perfectly fine.

[rustyshackleford420]

Bicycle (no, really, I can't live without my bike)


Bikes are such a basic, cheap, and fast way of getting around. Great alternative to a car :thumbsup:

[ratfrink]

I honestly think the bicycle is the most perfect form of mid-range transport ever developed. Everything else powers man but is powered by something else, but the bicycle augments man's ability to travel and is essentially unpowered i.e. unconstrained from an energy source or cost. AND it improves your body while you're doing it.

I want a toffee apple.