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submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by CorrodedCranium@leminal.space to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world

In communities dedicated to everyday carry items like wallets, knives, and electronics you'll frequently see community favorites that kind of act as the standard.

That and memes like the photo I linked made me think about a community of pseudo minimalist people who focus on living with portability or functionality in mind. Things like sleeping in a sleeping bag on a cot, relying on a docked laptop for gaming, or only using a single bowl for a majority of your meals.

It's a bit of a long shot and odd question but I'd be interested to see what they're passionate about.

Before people make Reddit style quips I'm not talking about not being well off or homeless. I'm also not really talking about people who have to move for work like truck drivers or people who stay in hotels. More like easily being able to move

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[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 39 points 1 month ago

Id probably slide the TV stand closer to that outlet. You can at least attempt to hide wires.

[-] VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

At the least, the chair should be properly squared with the TV.

[-] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 38 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Did they run out of money?

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 30 points 1 month ago

How awful. That cable management makes my eyes hurt.

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

Cable management is for work. In my happy place, I just let my cables run wild.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 month ago

Cable management inside my PC case vs cable management behind my desk. The former is close to immaculate, the latter is no fucks given.

[-] RedEyeFlightControl@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I took the time to dress the back of my desk, and all cables are routed appropriately, but there are SO many of them it still looks like spaghetti.

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[-] ApollosArrow@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

You’ll want to maybe start looking into some Asian cultures. There is a lot of minimalism there, like this guy. He is able to pack and move to a new home in 13min and moves every year. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQBKseozuY

There are also some people who try their best to make it look like there is nothing in their apartment, but it’s really a full on transformer

https://youtu.be/v1MVqwvOqvY?si=Q4FTQPlFwSaeQton

https://youtu.be/daL7TkzyW7k?si=6lmHuvXCQ3y-XC-6

https://youtube.com/shorts/p1z7AAMxR9g?si=BUEDiIJztlnfDRve

There is also a youtube channel called Never Too Small https://youtube.com/@nevertoosmall?si=T1bOX4Sc6FQuqZvg

[-] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

FYI all of your links are the same video!

Mr. Sibu is so cool! It's a very different way of living than any I've seen before. I don't think it's as doable in the suburbs of the U.S. as it is in a proper city.

Does make me think just how much junk I have cluttering the place up. Hmm.

[-] ApollosArrow@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Damn phone! Thank you for letting me know. I’ve updated my post.

And yes, it would be much harder outside of cities.

[-] Bonsoir@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

This is actually inspiring. Not sure most poeple could afford installations like in the second video though. And the guy in the first video did have a point; it would be hard to share this lifestyle with someone else, or even just to invite friends at home up to a certain point.

[-] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 month ago

So talking about portability, I had a job in another city, I would do some of it from home like CAD work and then drive into town a few days a week to run machine tools etc. I had a system of bags I lived out of. My backpack which contained my laptop and my portable "office," my tool bag in which I have a wide variety of capability, and a duffel bag with clothing, toiletries and such to keep a man running for 3 days. I could carry all three at once with a free hand and I can be ready for a 4 day, 3 night away mission in minutes.

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[-] mayo@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'm portable because I like the idea of being able to move without it being a big project. I think most people are utilitarian in that they buy things that address a specific problem they have, though maybe people who like minimalist ideas would have a different threshhold for what constitutes a 'problem' and favour products that address multiple problems in the simplest way.

When I moved I did sleep in a sleeping bag for a bit, but practically it's much easier to wash a duvet cover than a sleeping bag. Same goes for hammock vs. bed. My bowl situation started at 1, but I ended up washing this one bowl all the time and it felt wasteful and effortful. I still do eat breakfast out of the pot, but I would argue it's the best solution and others should copy me :) I'll happily sit in one chair for a couple years before deciding a second chair or a couch is a requirement.

I think over a long period of time I'll still be minimal, but have more specific things. It is genuinely more pleasant to eat salad from a salad size bowl/plate, pasta from a pasta bowl, soup or cereal from a cereal bowl, a latte from a latte mug, etc. Minimalism to me will always be about min/maxing items to squeeze the most joy out of life because I need that lift. Being spartan is hard living.

[-] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 16 points 1 month ago

Have you looked into vanlife groups? It's not the same exactly, but most of the items they use should translate pretty well to nomadicish apartment life

[-] Preflight_Tomato@lemm.ee 15 points 1 month ago

Second this. Vanlife stuff is focused on size, mass, durability, efficiency, replaceability, repairability, modularity, price. There is nothing better than vanlife videos for learning how to live minimally within an apartment.

Some additional tips,

  • folding furniture.
  • Human baseline happiness returns to set points. Remove something non-essential and you may be sad at first, but will eventually stop caring.
  • No couch or TV: if it cant fit on/in my car or is fragile, I’m not buying it.
  • if you don’t mind appearing “poor”, you may realize that the products that best fit all the above criteria are just basic things from walmart, target, etc. Those folding plastic tables and metal bed frames, plastic tubs and drawers, actually solve their problems 90% as well as traditional products at 10% the price, while being readily available everywhere. You don’t worry about damaging them either.
  • take or leave advice. Maybe you want a nice desk. I have a nice office chair. It will be hard to move, but it’s worth it. The point is you can be minimal in unimportant areas.
[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 month ago

Prius Dwellers are probably the most hardcore at that

[-] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

I had an ex boyfriend who lived for about a year in a geo metro with his boyfriend and two dogs. They didn't sleep in it, though

[-] compostgoblin@slrpnk.net 15 points 1 month ago

There was (is?) a subreddit called /r/onebag that might be like this. It was sort of minimalism taken to the extreme of condensing your possessions to a single bag. Definitely some overlap with the digital nomad community too

[-] Alpha71@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago

Lets be honest. Most people buy stuff to impress other people. At this stage in my life I have no fucks to give about that any more.

[-] yoevli@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Speak for yourself. I buy stuff for my apartment because I want it to feel homey; I don't really care what other people think of it as long as it looks presentable.

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[-] Blaze@sopuli.xyz 13 points 1 month ago

You can probably crosspost on !minimalism@lemmy.world. It's pretty quiet, but you might get additional answers

[-] WoahWoah@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago

That carpet has too many... uh, "colors."

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

I was going to post a Reddit style quip of bachelor stereotypes. I furnished my apartment like this when I was freshly graduated and again when I moved cities. But the difference there is it’s not really intentional, but other priorities. When you’re just starting out, where do you spend your money and time, and what do you care about?

I got a bed when the carpeted floor was uncomfortable. I got a second bowl when I was annoyed having to wash the first one so frequently. Hell, I didn’t graduate from a duffle to a suitcase until my gf at the time made me. It’s not about being minimalist but not having the need or the money

[-] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 3 points 1 month ago

It's more the need aspect you mentioned that I'm talking about. People living with what works or is good enough. I feel like it can be totally be intentional. I imagine a lot of people just sleep with a mattress on the floor because they don't feel like a bed frame is necessary for example.

Where people draw the line is one of the things I'd find interesting if that makes sense

[-] elvith@feddit.org 9 points 1 month ago

The issue is, that you can’t easily reach the fridge so you can’t get a new can of beer without getting up

[-] muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 6 points 1 month ago

I think that image annoys women as they are angry that men require so little to be happy.

[-] Nawor3565 13 points 1 month ago

That's a pretty sexist outlook. I don't think the image makes an entire 51% of the population angry. And I think people like Jeff Bezos show that not all men require "so little to be happy". It's almost like genders are not hive-minds, and generalizing anything that broadly is only going to result in looking like a boomer who complains about how terrible their spouse is.

[-] muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

Wow look at you rushing to nobodies defence in the name of calling a joke sexist. Generally u can generalise most things.

[-] Nawor3565 10 points 1 month ago

No, you should not "generalize" when those generalizations are negative and targeted at a specific group of people. That's called stereotyping and is widely considered a bad thing.

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[-] bighatchester@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

You need a sofa for when you have girls over but other than that I see nothing wrong .

[-] Fluffy_Ruffs@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago
[-] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It's not an issue. Just a meme that's common and demonstrates kind of what I'm after.

The person who owns that living room might just have gone after a really comfy chair over a couch which might be more typical for example. It feels kind of within the realm of minimalism and more focused on the utility of the space

[-] zante@lemmy.wtf 4 points 1 month ago

Something like malesapces or male living space in Reddit.

It’s pretty tragic

[-] yokonzo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

What's the issue? If I move I have to move like 4 things

[-] zante@lemmy.wtf 4 points 1 month ago
[-] GhiLA@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

buys next technology item

Maybe this will make me happy...

[-] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 3 points 1 month ago

I feel like that's 3/4 well furnished full spaces and the last quarter is people posting after getting divorced

It did help me find MaleSurvivingSpace which seems a bit more like what I was describing with people having more of just the essentials without clutter

[-] zante@lemmy.wtf 2 points 1 month ago

Good for you. I’m very supportive of living more simply, but sometimes it descends in to “competitive minimalism “ which i think is a bit weird .

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[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'm not seeing a question in there. What are you actually asking?

Edit:

After clarification, I do have an answer, albeit second hand.

I actually know a small group of people that adhere to a very minimalist, portable lifestyle.

They essentially live out of two vehicles, a van and an old station wagon. They'll settle down in a town long enough to do some work, gather funds, and move on whenever they get bored, or can't get jobs.

They've been at it for maybe twenty years? Certainly after 2k. I met them through a friend that fronts a band, as the group I'm talking about are all musicians, and do some busking as well as session work among their other talents.

Supposedly, they started out just following bands around, the way people used to with the Grateful Dead, but not a single specific band. I know they hit festivals across the U.S., including some of the less music festivals like the rainbow gathering.

But, when they're in a town/city, they'll get a hotel, start looking for a short term rental they can use for a crash pad/bath/kitchen and then start working. Most places, they know people in the various scenes and subcultures, so it's pretty easy for them to get going. I've let them park at my place a few times, though it's been a while, and I don't know I would now. They tend to still want to party a bit much for my household to handle currently

But each person only really owns what they can carry in the van. They do have stuff that they stash here and there, like some spare gear they keep at the studio my musician friend has. They've got some camping gear they share as a group.

Anyway, the point is that while they're a group, they do keep their lives extremely minimalist even when they're "settled" in one place for a year or so. The kind of minimalist in the meme you used, only no TV, and usually no real furniture at all.

Like, they dropped into my town maybe eight years ago, and stayed for maybe six months because one of their parents lives in the next town over and needed some help, and one of my uncles was willing to rent to them super cheap. The few times I went over, I had to bring my own chair. They ended up buying two beds, and some kitchen gear, which they left behind when they moved on. They also left the place spotless, which made my uncle quite happy compared to the crap that would happen when he would usually rent that place out (it's just a spare trailer he inherited and put on the edge of his farm) to family.

They're all in their mid to late forties now, and the last I talked to any of them, they don't intend to settle down until they don't have a choice. They supposedly put money aside into retirement accounts and such, but I dunno.

Their whole thing is about rejecting the idea of permanence, of being locked down into one place and being "owned by the shit we own". Anything that isn't essential, they leave behind, or sell off when they move along.

[-] mayo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

They're wondering if there is a subset of the minimalist community whose goals are specifically nomadic.

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

Ahhhh, that makes sense now. Thanks

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[-] andros_rex@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Yes. I have very limited/cheap furniture. Almost everything I own comes from discount stores or thrifts. I don’t have an attachment to any of it. I’m debating going the Peace Corps so I don’t really want to own anything that I’ll have to pay to store.

Something that I’ve found works well for sleeping is a tatami mat and futon mattress. It’s best if you can air out the mattress and mat outside occasionally. But you can fold and roll both. You can also stack up layers of those $4 Walmart fleece blankets to adjust coverage.

[-] lurch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

i have a table

[-] toynbee@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Whenever I see an image with this caption, it usually looks mostly fine but seems like something about it would cause neck pain. Usually it's because the TV is on the floor, but this time it's because it looks to me like sitting comfortably in that chair and leaning back would require craning your neck to view the TV.

Also, I can't tell for sure, but the chair looks like it's a recliner. If so, it seems like reclining would bump into the bar area. Might be misjudging that, though.

[-] mycodesucks@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Just move the whole setup towards the camera by about 2 feet and you'll not only hide that power outlet, you'll get the recliner away from what looks likely to be a VERY poorly insulated front door. I can feel the cold radiating off of it in the winter already.

[-] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 3 points 1 month ago

Like the post says this isn't my place it's a really common meme and meme template. I'm looking for communities of people who live like this.

It's kind of minimalist but without the stressed cleanliness and lack of all clutter

[-] mycodesucks@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Oh, I know. I'm not specifically talking to YOU. Just making a general comment in the second person.

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[-] mayo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I think of minimalism as an aesthetic or study in aesthetics that helps people live in gratitude for the things they do have. Minimalism has a core rooted in calm and pleasantness and I feel like if this 'nomadic' minimalism you're describing fits into that then it could be a branch of minimalism. But the picture here is kind of depressing, haphazard, and I can't imagine the person whose place that is would like to live that way for a long time. They did take a picture of it... I did that when I moved into my place but it was like 'look how I'm living in squalor'.

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this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2024
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