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What's in your #OpenRoadOpenRole must have daily carry?

Anne Saunders

I'm not living #vanlife, but as a mom of busy teens, I love the flexibility of working anywhere. I primarily work from my home office, but I have supported a software launch from a water park; worked on documentation and contracts from marching band camp; and written code in my car, as well as in our actual primary office location.

Over the last couple of years, I've been refining my carry to make sure I have everything I need, but as little else as possible. I'm not including purchase links here, but for anyone who's interested, I'll be happy to provide them in the comments.

Here's my list of standard must haves:

Steering wheel mounted desk for use while parked
Portable second monitor
USB (cabled) mouse*
Cabled headphones (USB-C and TRRS 4-pole 3.5mm)*
A cable case with all the power and connector cables stowed tidily

*Cabled peripherals don't lose fidelity the way wireless ones can when you find yourself in a tight space full of other users, like an airplane or coffee shop.

I also carry a few things that you may not immediately think of for a remote IT pro:

A Tide pen and Clorox wipes
- Don't join a client meeting with a spot on your shirt, and wipe down that picnic table before you sit down your laptop and lunch!
A Gerber Dime Piece multi-tool
- I cannot overestimate the handiness of tweezers, teeny scissors, precision screwdriver, etc.
A fabric emergency blanket
- Not for health emergencies so much as to hang in whichever car window has hideous glare.

What do you have in your bag to facilitate work anywhere?

Comments

Peter Van de Voorde

I love this list, I never would have thought about the emergency blanket

My bag is packed for both local and international travel, so I also include some basic medication, a travel adapter, and an extra pair of glasses (I once had my glasses break clean in the middle while at the reception desk of a client, I had to tape them together and I've carried an extra pair of glasses ever since ).

Anne Saunders

Meds are definitely a must-have. Including some ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Andy Gladstone

@Anne Saunders one accessory I found extremely necessary - and I wish I had found sooner - is a lapgear lap desk. I was burning my thighs balancing my laptop on them in the car, train, on the couch or while sitting up in bed. It also has great tabletop conventional use when I am working from my kitchen or dining room table.
I like the focus on having wired accessories. A good pouch for wire and cable storage is also a necessity.

Carolyn Allen

Love the list of supplies... you remind me of one of those mums from my mothers group who were always equipped with everything in their nappy bag... nappies, wipes, snacks, drinks, spare clothes, dummies, etc.

As a mum of 3 boys and a puppy, I also love the flexibility of working from anywhere (home, basketball, football, surf comp and so on).

Anne Saunders

Amen! It's like I traded my diaper bag for a Mom-stuff bag

Carolyn Allen

It also matches your role description "Swiss Army Knife"- ready for anything. :-)

Libby Bohan

In my bag:

Snacks. Snacks. and Snacks!

Lipstick is also a must.

I also work a lot at night. I always have a battery ring light that I use as a torch at night.

In my car:

I totally get the mumurgency kit. I tend to have a sports towel and spare change of clothes in the boot. I keep my running shoes, yoga gear and lap swimming stuff in the car not my closet for this exact reason.

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