The One-Bag Life

A man came up to a hobo once while he was sitting outside a cafe. He pointed at the hobo’s pack, a simple, weathered 40-liter bag leaning against his chair.

"Is that all you have?" he asked.

The hobo nodded.

"But where's all your stuff?"

The hobo pointed at the bag again. "It's in there."

He couldn't wrap his head around it. For him, "stuff" was a house full of furniture, a garage full of tools, a storage unit full of memories. For the hobo, "stuff" is a carefully chosen collection of tools that allow him to live his life with freedom and independence. His stuff owned him. The hobo’s stuff serves him.

This is the core of the one-bag life. It is not about deprivation. It is not about poverty. It is about a radical, intentional reduction of your physical footprint until all that remains is what is essential, what is useful, and what brings you joy. It is the physical manifestation of a free mind.

The Great Deception

We are sold a lie from birth. The lie is that security comes from accumulation. A bigger house, a newer car, a closet full of clothes you never wear. Every advertisement, every TV show, every billboard is a subtle whisper: "Buy more. Own more. Be more."

But every object you own is a hook. It is a hook in your wallet, a hook in your time, a hook in your mind. That boat needs a trailer. That trailer needs a truck. That truck needs insurance. That insurance needs a job you hate. That job needs a house nearby. And on and on it goes, until you are trapped in a web of your own making, a prisoner in a castle of your own possessions.

The one-bag life is the act of cutting those hooks. It is the realization that true security does not come from what you have, but from what you can do. It is the understanding that the man who can walk away from anything with a single bag on his back is the richest man in the world.

The Four Rules of the Bag

Transitioning to a one-bag life is a process, not an event. It is a ruthless audit of your life, one item at a time. Over the years, I have developed four simple rules that guide every decision I make about what goes in my pack.

Rule #1: Does it have at least two uses?

A wool blanket is a bed, a coat, a shelter, and a cushion. A metal water bottle is a container, a cooking pot, and a self-defense tool. A smartphone is an office, a library, a map, and a camera. Single-use items are a luxury you cannot afford.

Rule #2: Can I replace it easily and cheaply?

I do not carry expensive, specialized gear. My clothes are from the thrift store. My tools are from the hardware store. If I lose my knife, I can buy another one for ten dollars. If I lose my fancy, custom-made, thousand-dollar survival widget, I have lost a part of myself. Do not let your gear become a liability.

Rule #3: Have I used it in the last month?

This is the hardest rule for most people. We carry things "just in case." Just in case of a blizzard in July. Just in case of a snakebite in the city. Be honest with yourself. If you have not used an item in the last month of your travels, you do not need it. Ditch it.

Rule #4: Does it weigh more than the value it provides?

Every ounce is a tax on your energy and your mobility. Is that heavy hardcover book worth the pain in your shoulders? Is that extra pair of boots worth the space it takes up in your pack? Weigh your gear, but more importantly, weigh its true value to you on the road.

The First Step

This is not a call to sell your house and live in the woods. It is a call to question your relationship with your possessions. It is an invitation to experience the freedom that comes from letting go.

Start small. Pack a single bag with what you think you would need for a weekend. Now, live out of only that bag. Do not cheat. Do not grab anything from your closet or your kitchen. After three days, look at what you used and what you did not. I guarantee you will be surprised.

This simple exercise is the first step on a long and rewarding journey. It is the first taste of the one-bag life.

Bob Yeager (from Prepping 101) and I have been living this philosophy for a combined total of decades. We have taken the core principles of the hobo life, the art of living with nothing but what you can carry, and updated them for the 21st century. We have boiled it down to a science.

Soon, we will be releasing a new video course called Modern Day Hobo: A Guide to Freedom and Resilience in the 21st Century. It is the culmination of our life's work. It will be a complete, step-by-step guide to building your one-bag life, from choosing the right gear to finding work on the road to managing your money with nothing but a smartphone.

If the idea of cutting the hooks and living a life of freedom resonates with you, keep an eye on your inbox. This is the path.

Stay free,

James Bender

This Issue Brought to You By: Survival MD