Living the web commuter lifestyle requires that I carry around things you might keep in a desk drawer. It's not like I can schlep around everything, so weight and size are an issue. And yet, if you're working remotely, there are things you just don't want to be without. Here's my list of five things. I'm curious to know yours. (Note: none of these links are promotional nor are they affiliate links. They just point to sites that talk about the product referenced.)

First off, the bag itself. I'm sporting a really small Oakley bag. I keep the bag small after reading a post at Digital Nomads about how to lose 10 pounds quickly (hint: get a smaller bag). I might change it out soon. My 7-year-old daughter got all kinds of paint on it last week when she did her best Jackson Pollock impression on some canvasses in anticipation of an art show.

A Monster Cable Power Strip

I have a very small, very portable extension cord dedicated to turning one power outlet into three plus a USB. A.B.C. is the rule: Always Be Charging. Any kind of power strip will do. I like the Monster one because it's so damned compact. Size matters, kids.

My Verizon EVDO Card

You're not still surfing the wifi hotspots, are you? You're going to pick up a nasty virus. Oh, and if not that, you'll get stuck at the coffeeshop where some fuzzy girl wonder is bittorrenting the entire fifth season of South Park, slowing down your basic connections to a crawl. Web commuters can't rely on whatever resident wifi crumbs you can scrape together. Spend the $39 a month (most US carriers have similar plans, including Sprint and AT&T) and do it right. 3 paid-for wifi hotspots a month and you've already justified this to the boss.

Pens and a Moleskine Journal

Don't think life is strictly digital. Sometimes, you need a good old fashioned pen and paper to get things handled. Use said pen and paper to jot important notes about upcoming projects while you're in between laptop moments. Or, maybe you'll use your pad to write a quick note to the cute web commuter at the next table. Whatever the case, I keep paper and pens handy.

A Flip Mino Video Camera

I prefer the Flip Mino to the Flip MinoHD (it's the web; you don't really need HD much). Why? How? I use this tool in many ways. I use it for marketing. I use it for communicating brief messages that I'd rather capture in video instead of text. I use it to show off the conditions in certain work environments. For instance, if I were still building data centers and rolling in huge enterprise servers, I'd use a Flip to document the process. I'd show off how the procedures went, and how things stacked up. This tool is just basic communications protocol for me now, and might prove useful to you.

My MacBook

My laptop goes everywhere with me. I need it to connect to my world. Yes, the iPhone is getting closer and closer, but my Macbook is still my portal to the larger web. I can't yet run a webinar off my iPhone (though I hear that's coming soon). I can't really type as fast as I can on my laptop, so it's a staple. I keep it charged as best as I can, too. If you're a really hardcore user, you can tote around a second battery, but then, that's adding about five or more pounds of weight to your backpack.

What's in YOUR Bag?

Are there five things you can't stand to be without? Share them with us here at workshifting. It's always fun to get a peek into someone else's life, don't you agree?

Chris Brogan is acting editor of workshifting. He is president of New Marketing Labs, and blogs occasionally at [chrisbrogan.com]