Simplifying. Minimalist lifestyle. Slowing down. These pursuits involve getting rid of excess possessions that choke our body and soul. Ask any empty-nester, recent retiree or minimalist officianado how destuffing leads to a new freedom.

Some minimalists may also be anti-technology, although I am not. In fact, high-tech helps me to get RID of often burdensome possessions. The most obvious example: books. If you ever moved dozens of books cross-country several times you understand the bulky, heavy hassle.  I buy as many Kindle books as possible and now read them on my Kindle Paperwhite or Samsung phone.I also have an Audible subscription and listen to audio books on my phone.  I buy print only for special books that are not in Kindle format. I find these books, such as award-winning nature books from previous decades, through Amazon used books.

Movies! I typically stream movies and watch them on my laptop computer. Sometimes I catch up on my favorite program (NCIS) at the CBS website. No more stacks of VHS or DVDs. I donated my DVD player to church and could also get rid of the TV, except I have not found an adequate alternative for watching live football.

Music! My music library sits on several clouds and streams to my phone, which outputs to a Bluetooth speaker, unless I wear headphones, for example, while walking. No more stereo, bulky speakers, cassettes or DVDs

Health and Fitness! Simple living includes a streamlined way to stay aware of health issues and adjust my habits as needed. In the winter, I use my step exercise platform. Previously I watched videos and followed a workout; now I stream the workouts on my computer. My Fitbit monitors my exercise minutes, number of steps, heart rate, sleep patterns and food consumption. All the information uploads to my smart phone and/or computer. . My smart phone  helps with my mental functioning: each night I use the Luminosity app and I complete one Sudoku before listening to an Audible book or reading on the Kindle. My folding bike gives me an alternative way to exercise in the summer

Powering my technology! In the camper I use a solar panel to keep the battery and my larger devices charged. I have a small solar charger for the Kindle and other small devices, which I can use at home and while traveling. No need to pay for cramped campsites with electrical hook-ups. The wilderness is my domain.

Personal safety! I have already written about my personal locator beacon and my taser. They are small and give me tremendous confidence should I ever break a leg out in the boonies and/or should I encounter someone awful. Tasers have improved design features and look more like a cell phone or flashlight now. Very stealth.

Other! I could get rid of my camera and use only the smart phone, but I want the higher quality, so the camera stays. It is not huge. However, the smart phone provides many other tools: flashlight, GPS, compass, star maps, and so much more. Furthermore, I use apps for online banking, email, Facebook, etc. Don’t we all?

I store all of my devices, except the laptop, in one small Cabelas tackle bag, with plastic boxes removed. With all the pockets I can carry smart phone, taser, camera, solar charger, personal locator beacon and the lens for my spotting scope. Since these items are worth many hard-earned pennies, I recently lowered the insurance deductible. Poof: all my simple high-tech stuff could vanish forever.

What’s missing? I need a way to write using something smaller than my laptop and a small portable printer These are not an urgent need. Thinking about something for retirement/travel years. Also missing, a way to sew without lugging around a sewing machine in the camper.

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