Up until a few years ago, I didn't use a backpack. I worked at the same company for many years. Other than a small lunch bag, my iPad and my blood glucose meter, most of what I needed for the workday could be found at my office. All that changed when I went back to consulting when my role at my employer was eliminated. I now have a backpack — I finally unpacked the one a vendor had given to me — and it was quickly filled up. I don’t travel for work but as a consultant, I want to avoid using my client’s resources for my personal or business affairs. The things I chose to carry in my backpack are mostly what I think I need to get through the workday. The backpack has a lot of compartments and a built-in rechargeable battery. Cables thread through the backpack to the front pouch where they end at a joint mini-USB, micro-USB and 30 pins dock connector. Here’s the stuff that chooses to keep in the backpack.
- iPad Air/MacBook Air — I alternate between these two. I use them similarly but prefer the iPad for reading. Mostly these devices are for note taking during meetings, catching up on emails, and updating my calendar. I can also track client time, do invoices and pay bills.
- Apple Magic Mouse and MacBook Air power charger
- 2A USB charger. Sometimes I forget to charge my devices overnight and I need to give them some juice.
- Logitech Ultrathin Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air. I love this keyboard. Not quite as good as the keyboard in the MacBook Air. It also doubles duty as a sturdy iPad Air.
- Bamboo iPad Sleeve by Grovemade. This case is falling apart but I prefer it when storing the iPad after a binge of reading. It’s been replaced by a newer sleeve.
- Pentel Graph Gear 1000™ Mechanical Drafting Pencil and 0.9mm graphite refills. I’ve had this pencil for several years. I started using mechanical pencils in engineering school and the habit stuck. I like the weight of this in my hand. It’s what I use to take notes.
- Moleskine Squared Notebook. The Pentel and Moleskine are perfect together. Although I don’t draw circuit diagrams anymore this one makes nostalgic for the past when I did.
- Harmon Kardon BT Over-Ear Headphones with Bluetooth. A little muddy in the midrange and base but these help me stay sane and music while I work. They are also great as a hands-free accessory for phone calls.
- ACCU-CHEK Aviva Combo glucose meter. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes almost 8 years ago. Most people don't have a need for an ACCU-CHEK device. The Aviva Combo device takes a sample of blood via glucose test strips and provides a reading of my current blood glucose. The Aviva Combo also controls my ACCU-CHEK Spirit Combo insulin pump. Together with a Dexcom G4 CGMS, I am able to successful manage my diabetes.
- Doxie Go Wi-Fi Scanner. When I started consulting I needed to sign and return a stack of paperwork. I also need to keep copies of printed documents related to my contract and time sheets. This Wi-Fi scanner has a rechargeable battery and easy to use software quickly became an indispensable part of my mobile office.
- Kingston 8GB USB Vault Privacy flash drive. Hardware-based, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) because there are some things I want to keep to myself.
- Cross ballpoint? pen. Sometimes I need to sign things. Like contracts. This pen is one that my father gave to me when I graduated from high school. That was a long time ago. Other than my Sony Dream machine, it's the oldest thing I own.
- Mophie PowerStation 4000mAh 2.1A External Battery Charger. For when I have to travel to New York City or I am in meeting all day long and don’t have access to an electrical outlet. This PowerStation will charge my iPhone several times or my iPad twice.
- Soft cloth screen cleaner. Apple devices seem to attract greasy fingers.
- Adapters. Yep. I have a lot of these. I didn't want to show up to a meeting to or presentation only to find that the projector didn't have a video adapter for my iPad Air or MacBook Air. I have Thunderbolt to VGA, Thunderbolt to DVI and Thunderbolt to HDMI adapters. That covers the display needs of the MacBook Air. For the iPad, I have Lightning to VGA and Lightning to HDMI adapters. Just for when Wi-Fi proves unreliable but an Ethernet port is available I have a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter. I also need a Lightning to USB cable for charging the iPhone and iPad and a USB to micro-USB cable for charging the Mophie.
- Lunch.
- Smarties candy roll. I carry several rolls on me to treat hypoglycemia. The main ingredient in Smarties is dextrose, a form of sugar. One roll of Smarties has about 6 gram of carbohydrates. One tablet of the glucose tablets sold at the pharmacy is about 5 gram of glucose. I can buy an entire bag of Smarties for the price of three glucose tablets. I don't know what 2015 has in store for me. Perhaps I will continue consulting. Perhaps I will be convinced by an opportunity to become an employee again. Who knows what will be in my backpack at the end of 2015.
One thought on “What's in my bag”
Comments are closed.