Attention conservation notice:
This is a list of everything that I took to a conference in May-June 2026.
It is mostly for my personal reference next time I go on a trip.
Pack Lists talks more about why I write this stuff down.
A bunch of this is my usual every day carry: wallet, jotter, belt, keys, Peace dollar, watch, and string(s).
As I was packing this, the shoulder bag got a little overstuffed and I switched it out for my usual backpack.
My usual “backpack EDC” includes the paper ecosystem, pencil case, water bottle, and ear buds.
And so, this pack is mostly my everyday carry in a backpack plus: clothes, toiletries, coffee, laptop, Kobo, some math-y toys, and Bible.
A bit of post-trip reflection.
To my absolute surprise, I did not use my laptop or Kobo. There is no time for reading. If I want a full-keyboard typing experience for blogging then I might as well bring my Bluetooth keyboard.
I got caught in the rain without a rain jacket or umbrella. Going forward, always pack some rain gear even if you’re going to the desert.
There isn’t much time in a conference schedule for hobbies. The whole day is taken up by conference activities. Going forward, bring fewer hobby things.
I did a little bit of juggling at the very last minute, just to use the props that I brought with me. If I had wanted to use them more, for example during breaks, then I would have needed to keep them in my backpack. That’s a lot of extra weight.
The wooden name tag was an excellent conversation starter. Lots of people asked about it and thought a permanent name tag was a great idea. I even got to use both sides (TMM and UTSC) by attending a Quaker Meeting during the conference.
Packing the AeroPress was also great. I made myself a coffee in the lobby every morning. One morning, I even made a coffee for a colleague.
Published: May 29, 2026 @ 11:56. Last Modified: Jul 6, 2026 @ 16:44.
