Extreme Minimalism

I’ve drawn an unusual amount of attention to my minimalism project this week. First, Dan Patterson of ABC Radio News interviewed me about my 15 things. Dan is one of those amazing interviewers that you wish you were just watching instead of getting interviewed by. Each question was eloquent and succinct. Then came my answers. I think I did a pretty good job; it was fun to do. The interview has become one of their most popular posts ever. Interesting to see how minimalism connects with people.

Then came a post by Scott at LaughingSquid, which really showed me the power of Tumblr. Its community makes me want to switch over completely (but then I would have to make gifs all day and play in meme culture, which doesn’t sound too bad).

That night I had drinks with someone who had seen the story (on Reddit, which I can’t find), and I realized the story had spread.

Alex Hillman let me crash on his couch after a panel last week on Rethinking Shelter at P’unk Avenue. After a cheesesteak we talked a lot about his kick-ass new project on co-housing that has me jumping up and down hoping for the best. I asked him to take a picture of me (for ABC Radio News). Here’s the shot:

The winning caption in a contest is “floordrobe.” This shot caused some more coverage with LifeHack and a few others (thanks!).

The first question someone asks me when I tell them about the project is “How do you define something you own?” Great question, but that is a lie. The first question is always “Do you do laundry? How many pairs of underwear?” I’ll never get a stranger’s obsession with my knickers, but that is *always* question #1. Question #2 is the “What do you own?” countdown, which is both fun and annoying to answer.

I don’t have a permanent address or a second pair of jeans. Forgive me if I don’t want to answer it, but it takes a bit of emotion to go from an overconsumer to a minimalist, and perhaps even more emotion to think about it all the time. When I get up in the morning, I wear what is clean. That is my thought process. Then I’m out the door. When I am asked about what I own, I have to think about it deliberately. Imagine everything you own? Name it. Longer list than mine, but you still have to justify things as you list them, which is exhausting in a way that makes you pair emotion with physical objects.

It’s how I imagine telling someone my child’s name would feel like.

So, back to everything I own. The “rule” of ownership is the express-lane checkout rule. If you were checking out in a grocery store, what would be counted as one item in your bag? A six-pack of beer would be one, right? I count my things as resellable items I would be pissed if someone took.

Coffee cup? No. Jacket? Yes. iPhone and headphones? One thing. Simple enough?

Here is the list, as of May 2, 2011. I made a similar list in Colombia. Scott Berkun also did an interview around that time too.

Arc’teryx Miura 30 backpack
NAU shirt
Mammut rain jacket
Arc’teryx tshirt
Patagonia running shorts
Quick Dry towel
NAU wool jacket
Toiletry kit
Smith sunglasses
Wallet
MacBook Air
iPhone 3GS
NAU dress shirt
Patagonia jeans
Running shoes

There are a couple things not on the list – like socks and underwear – that I can easily replace and could not resell for any value. I have extra headphones not listed here (will give those away soon) as well as cables, business cards and knickknacks (like a small lock for when I go to the gym). It is imperfect.

So what is there to learn from this?

Minimalism is equally easy as it is boring to do. What shirt today? The one I didn’t wear yesterday. “How tough is it for you?” You mean, to pick the shirt I didn’t wear yesterday? Once you get used to simplicity, the complex normality others have becomes the audacious thing.

Update January 2012: I updated the list of things and made some additional comments here. Thanks for all the comments and kind words. Feel free to reach out to me via email andrew@andrewhy.de or twitter.

About Andrew Hyde

Andrew is a minimalist, vagabond and writer. He organized and started Ignite Boulder, TEDxBoulder and is the founder of Startup Weekend. RSS feed here. You can follow him on twitter here.

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Ponypants

I hardly call having a macbook and iphone as “extreme” minimalism.
Anonymous

I work in tech, and with such few items still seem to be a productive member of society.
Brooksschmitt

As great as it is to minimize your possessions, I don’t really understand how relying completely on other people to prepare your food qualifies as minimalist. Without simple tools, cooking paraphernalia, and the ability to gather your own food, you are completely a slave to consumerism. As a modern vagabond, I understand that it is a fairly difficult to hunt/gather all your food, however, your lifestyle necessitates daily purchases and constant consumerism. The people I know who truly qualify as minimalists grow their own vegetables, hunt or raise their meat, and only generate enough trash to fill a trash can every couple months. They stay still, and on account of that are able to break free from consumerism. Traveling is innately an incredibly maximist undertaking. When I travel, I only carry a couple of changes of clothes in my bag, a few books, a leatherman, and a toothbrush. All told, probably twenty or so “individual items”. However, there are no periods of my life that are less “minimalist” than when I’m on the move. I eat out constantly, consume vast quantities of fuel, and generate more trash than I ever would at home. True minimalism is a backpack, a fishing rod, and a rifle in a wilderness area. Or it’s a bicycle, a garden, and a chicken coop. It’s a kitchen. I think it’s great that you’re encouraging people to break free of their prison of possessions, but get over yourself a little bit, you are completely dependent on consumer culture…
andrewhyde

tl;dr: True minimalism is not living.
Brooksschmitt

Obviously, you’ve never lived. I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you’re a pansy. Vagabonds live by the seat of their pants with their thumbs out. You’re no vagabond. I’ve taken boats up and down the amazon, I’ve tracked wolves in the Stara Planinas in Eastern Europe, I’ve hunted my own meat and raised my own vegetables. I’ve taken canoes through the wilderness to the ocean. I’ve sat down to four hour meals with friends where every single thing on the table was raised or slaughtered by us. And I’ll tell you, that’s living. Not shopping at REI, eating gluten free philly cheese steaks and counting your possessions. One of the greatest days I’ve ever had was in the trinity alps, when I ate only one meal that day, of two brook trout and some wild leeks, and spent the day climbing a mountain, and the evening watching the perseid meteor shower. I don’t own an iphone because it distracts people from the world around them. I don’t bring a computer with me because you can always go to a public library or an internet cafe. And I write in a journal constantly, and transcribe it when I get a chance. So, Mr. Hyde, I’ll continue “not living” and leave you to your inane shadow of an existence.
andrewhyde

Nope, never lived. *still breathing*
Brooksschmitt

Your replies, however, are very minimalist.
Catrina

It has long been my desire to become a radical minimalist. You are an inspiration.