Morning rain gave way to clear skies and fall-like temperatures, prompting Jeanine to take one of the kayaks out for a leisurely afternoon paddle. I spent much of the day reimagining what a portable tool collection should look like now that most of my offsite projects involve maintenance on one of the kids’ properties. It is telling that I obsess over such things. My last travel toolbox was optimized for size and versatility. Now my priorities lean towards having everything I need to avoid a 1-hour round trip to retrieve a tool that I failed to bring with me.

I am switching from a small toolbox to the tool bag shown below. It will provide substantially more space for tools and test equipment while providing good organization and rapid access. It should arrive mid-week. In the meantime, I have been contemplating what tools I will need to add to my collection. My last travel toolkit was primarily geared towards electrical and mechanical work. The new setup will need to anticipate plumbing and minor woodworking as well.

Expect future posts as new tools arrive and the bag gets fitted.