Prosthetic Conscience

Hipster PDA in a Moleskine Memo Pockets

I carry a Hipster PDA as my collection tool for Getting Things Done. In general this works well, but I have had one problem with it, which is that the corners tend to get bent and frayed in my pockets. I have been looking for a hPDA case that fits in my front pocket and protects my notes. In yet another case of GTD cultism overlapping with Moleskine fanboyism, I’ve acquired a Moleskine Memo Pockets and am using it for my hPDA.

The Memo Pockets is 3.5x5.5 inch expanding file folder. It has the oilcloth cover and elastic band common to other Moleskines, but no pages. Instead it has 6 expanding pockets. The pockets are open towards the spine of the book, so their contents are secure when the book is closed. I use these pockets to contain index cards and other things as follows.

1. Blank index cards.
2. “Live” index cards. These are notes to myself that I may wish to refer to from time to time. Generally these include a page for groceries and other errands, a page of agendas, etc.
3. “Dead” index cards. These are cards which have used for collecting “stuff”, which have not yet been processed. When I get the chance, these will be entered into my real system, which is an Org Mode text file.
4. Drivers Licence, credit cards, library card, checks to deposit, etc. My Memo Pockets replaces my wallet.
5. Unused. I’ll probably have some use for it later.
6. Receipts. Receipts of all kinds go here until they can be entered into GnuCash and shredded.

This system with the Memo Pockets has several advantages.

1. My cards don’t get mangled.
2. It replaces my wallet, so I don’t get butt bulge.
3. It keeps my stacks nice and separate — previously I did this by putting coloured index cards between sections.
4. It looks rather nice. I feel less silly about writing on cheap index cards with a nice fountain pen now.

It has a few disadvantages, though.

1. The Memo Pockets is quite a bit thicker than a plain Moleskine Mini, which means that it’s a little too thick for my front pocket. It needs a shirt pocket, or preferably a jacket pocket.
2. The pockets can get overstuffed pretty easily if I’m not paying attention.
3. The pockets are thicker at the outside than the inside, so I am concerned that they will cause the covers to bend.
4. You have to open it to get at anything, including live notes — you can’t just glance at the top.

One thing I’m ambivalent about now is writing on index cards, actually. They’re fine for quick notes, but for actual writing, not so much. On the other hand, I’m told that Lolita was originally written entirely on index cards, so I can take some comfort in that.

To sum up, a Moleskine Memo Pockets makes a nice hPDA case, but it has a few disadvantages that may not be immediately apparent. I’m still getting used to mine and considering a Moleskine Mini (and abandoning the index cards) as an alternative.

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