1. Among the Thugs by Bill Buford
I’m aware of the irony of carrying a book about soccer hooligans fans in a man-purse.
2. Cellphone
It’s a Samsung SCH-a950 which is getting long in the tooth.
3. Dell Axim X51v
Pocket PC for work stuff and Sudoku.
4. Bandana
Usually just a summertime item for perspiration but somehow it stayed in all winter.
5. Xylitol gum in an old Myntz tin
For fresh breath, healthy teeth, and no fake sugars.
6. Keys
For the office, house keys live in my pocket.
7. ID Badge
Again for the office, house badge lives in my pocket. Not really!
8. Green with Blue and White Stripe Ski Hat
Not a regular resident but I wasn’t sure what the weather was gonna do today.
9. iPod Nano 4GB(Red)
Music to soothe the savage beast(me) on my daily commute.
10. Sunglasses
A pair of Persols that I bought online after seeing them in an optometrist shop.
11. Digital Camera
A Panasonic DMC-FX50, 7.2 megapixels and a Leica lens, sweet.
12. Reusable shopping bag
My ACME Bags Workhorse Style 1500 that I’m getting better about remembering to use.
13. Transcend 4GB Flash Drive
Another temporary resident, for moving media back and forth to work, etc.
14. Thumb Thing Book Holder
New gadget that I’m trying out, holds book open but makes it more difficult to turn page with one hand.
15. Kleenex Pocket Pack
For the occasional nasal issue.
16. Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Toothpicks
In a waterproof match holder, great for avoiding sore throats in winter.
17. Tweezers
Uncle Bill’s Sliver Gripper, another gadgety thing that will rarely, if ever, get used.

Wow, that’s a lot of stuff!! And I didn’t even list the contents of my jean pockets. How much does all that weigh? It’s 3.33 pounds exactly, I measured it. A small number but it gets much bigger when it’s slung around your neck and shoulder while you commute. The problem is that I believe I “need” all of it. Is it true, probably not but I carry it anyway.

My inspiration for this post was a curious phenomenon that I noticed while riding the subway. Women, on average, tend to carry a LOT more stuff than men when commuting. It is not uncommon to see a woman carrying two or even three substantial sized bags. How substantial? Think large book bag, shopping bag, or even a duffel in addition to their purse. I’ve seen some women with bags almost as big as they are. What exactly do they “need” so much that they’re willing to schlep it around the city? It’s a mystery to me.

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