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Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#71

Post by DyslexicAtheist »

rhcom2 wrote: post #65
DyslexicAtheist wrote: post #29

I hiked across the Alps, alone, on foot and camping in the wild for 3 months. I had no phone with me (no GPS) and just paper maps, and a pen to keep notes on paper. It was the best time I ever had my whole life. I thought I might get lonely but being in the flow of walking every day actually created some kind of an internal dialogue in my head which never made me feel lonely. I met others who were on a similar trail…

I'm curious, did you bring a book?

yes I wanted to bring a few because I was sure I'd get really bored. But getting up at 4 or 5 am and hiking till 5 or 6 every evening I was in no condition to read anything. I had a hiking guide with me initially which weighted 400g ... and after 3 days I left it at an "Alm" so other people could pick it up. Also had a sharpening stone for my knife, a gas camping-cooker, gas, ferro-rod, fishing telescope rod, and a whole lot of other stuff with me. Weight was everything so I sent it all home very quickly after realizing my new reality.

edit: my rucksack had initially 17kg when I left home. for this type of thing it is much too heavy. But the reason I packed so much was because I thought I will not be covering such a large distance and instead hang out at great spots that I'd discover, build a shelter, make a fire, build traps, catch some fish etc. Once I was on the road I changed my mind because the actual walking was so fulfilling. So my initial list of items weren't needed. Next time I do it I will either stay in one place and bring a lot, or keep my weight below 8kg. One thing I never regretted is to use a proper 1-man ultralight tent (700g) instead of a tarp. The one person who I met who used a tarp was harassed by ants and bugs every night :D

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#72

Post by mumblemumble »

Sewing machine.

It turns out that making basic garments for oneself is really relaxing, and, if you have a hard time finding things that fit well in stores, practical.

It felt like a clear upgrade from DIY wearable electronics and suchlike as a hobby. It's not as bloggable, but the price- and effort- to payoff ratios are immeasurably better. It's nice to be rediscovering some leisure activities that don't involve screens, too.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#73

Post by unhashable »

Low-tech wellness.

Apple Cider Vinegar instead of acid reducers (Tums, Zantac, Prilosec) for heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion.

Water Fasting instead of caloric restriction, weight loss pills, and diet fads for curing metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, mid-section fat buildup, inflammation, diabetes).

Kettlebell, mace, stretching, and sprinting instead of a gym membership with classes and steady state cardio (or a Peloton).

Barefoot foot strength and 0-drop shoes instead of surgery and lift-pads for fasciitis and tendonitis.

A whole food, conservative, omnivorous diet of your ancestors instead of becoming vegan or carnivore.

Journaling (#bujo), practicing meditation, and studying stoicism instead of counseling and medicating.

Reading books and leaving your devices “default off” instead of aimlessly scrolling all day.

Cast iron and glass for cooking/storing instead of Teflon and plastic.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#74

Post by throw51319 »

DyslexicAtheist wrote: post #29

I hiked across the Alps, alone, on foot and camping in the wild for 3 months. I had no phone with me (no GPS) and just paper maps, and a pen to keep notes on paper. It was the best time I ever had my whole life. I thought I might get lonely but being in the flow of walking every day actually created some kind of an internal dialogue in my head which never made me feel lonely. I met others who were on a similar trail…

What part of the Alps and what time of year? Did you have a lot of outdoorsman experience before?

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#75

Post by vharuck »

Blankets within reach of anywhere we sit at home. Our new house has a programmable (i.e. difficult and sometimes disobedient) thermostat, so this was our lazy solution. Turns out, it's a much better solution.

Writing "to do" lists on notecards and sticking them in my keyboard when I leave work or go to lunch. Also lets other people know I'll be away from my desk for a while.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#76

Post by unhashable »

subpixel wrote: post #19

More like less-tech but my phone is on permanent-silent mode. I miss calls, but see exactly who called and can return the call or text as needed.

Same.

The iPhone is slowly getting there. Latest updates make robo-calling less of a thing.

Wish list: allow perm do not disturb, enable whitelisting for allowed callers, allow total removal of phone app.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#77

Post by OrangeMango »

axaxs wrote: post #39

I have a few, which have happened one at a time over the years. Mostly between tired of cheap junk breaking, tired of plastic, or tired of staring into a screen, so I'll share a few. I wear a watch. Sometimes solar, but usually automatic. It looks nice, and lets me avoid getting trapped into staring at my phone in public. When I want to send a long communication, I use a fountain pen and write it on paper and mail it…

> I use a fountain pen

As an experiment in waste reduction and to see if it could end up less expensive as well, I started to use a fountain pen instead of my favorite Pilot Uni-Ball Deluxe pens.

I paid $45 for a pen, converter and 50mL of ink. At this point, I have definitely reduced waste but I'm not sure that it will end up being less expensive. The pen will need to last for ~4 years of daily writing to succeed and I don't know if it will.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#78

Post by DyslexicAtheist »

throw51319 wrote: post #74
DyslexicAtheist wrote: post #29

I hiked across the Alps, alone, on foot and camping in the wild for 3 months. I had no phone with me (no GPS) and just paper maps, and a pen to keep notes on paper. It was the best time I ever had my whole life. I thought I might get lonely but being in the flow of walking every day actually created some kind of an internal dialogue in my head which never made me feel lonely. I met others who were on a similar trail…

What part of the Alps and what time of year? Did you have a lot of outdoorsman experience before?

The route was based on this: https://www.alpenverein.at/weitwanderer/weitwanderwege/norda... but I entered in Styria/Austria and headed West to Bregenz, from there I went South and taking a route back towards East towards the "Ortler Group". Time was August until end of October. I was quite lucky with the weather apart from 2 nights where I got quite a scare from the weather. Strong thunderstorms with wind and lightening ... so I had nowhere to escape - if I stay inside the forest I might get squashed by a falling tree branch. if I stay in the open field lightening might finish me off. Apart from these 2 nights it was mostly crystal clear skies (no need for a rain cover just a moskito net so I could watch the skies before falling asleep). Once a sangliere (wild pig) visited me because I had a sandwich in my tent. Lesson learned hang it up into the trees.

> Did you have a lot of outdoorsman experience before?

I grew up on the Swiss/Austrian border so mountains aren't that much of a big deal for me. My grand-dad was a hunter (so was my mum). My childhood I spent most of my time in the woods because it was country side where I grew up and the closes neighbor was 3km away. I would often be really bored as a kid and my dad's response to this was "get of the house and play if you're bored" and so I usually went to the woods (look for mushrooms), built tree-houses and even named trees (yes I was a lonely kid :D). I did travel (backpack) since I am 17 yro and been doing similar things in Sri Lanka and Australia, but not alone, not for that distance and with much younger legs :D It's not something that requires a lot of effort or skill though. The Alps, compared to the Appalachian trail are densely populated, and if you want you're always just 1 days hike away from civilization.

edit: initially the idea was to reach the Julian Alps but I had to give up since my slow tissue (knees and joints) were totally not making it any more. I could recover my muscles easily with just an extra day of rest. But the slow tissue never recovered. I went for a slow run in December and was still in pain. I think most of the damage I did during the first 2 weeks when I still carried all the weight on my back.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#79

Post by hprotagonist »

I have a bicycle I built myself from components and frame.

the only electronic thing on it is the dynamo hub, which frees me from recharging headlight batteries.

it is made of leather and steel and aluminum and rubber, and it’s freedom on two wheels.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#80

Post by catacombs »

lammalamma25 wrote: post #33

Stretch ~15 minutes a day. You don't need a special routine or a bunch of research. Stretch whatever is sore/stiff. If you can't think of anything start by touching your toes. Think of it as general maintenance on your joints. The effort compounds and starts to feel really good after a few months.

I like this. Do you recommend any good stretching plans I could memorize and follow?
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