As a senior citizen, my focus is to downsize and minimalism. While I’m physically able to, one of my goals is to travel internationally and, more specifically, become part of the “slow travel” crowd, spending short time (1–3 months) living in other countries.
Here are some tools I use to computerize. Hopefully, this is a living document and I update it often as required. This list has been verified as of 2026 and is on my annual “update this” list.
Main goals for 2026: Privacy and Security as well as alternatives to apps that force me to sign up with an email address.
Software Development / Editing
- Visual Studio Code stays open all day and night for writing and working with code as well as editing other text files. Various extensions including Live Server.
- For writing I use a mix of AI chat apps like Claude.ai and then non-AI review to make it sound like what I would write.
- This site (billbolmeier.com) is running on self-hosted WordPress as well as 3 other sites I manage. It allows me to have full control of my website. I have two manually coded single-page websites as well.
Apps and Other Software
- I use Magnet on my Mac Mini M2 for window management.
- I use f.lux so my eyeballs don’t start bleeding.
- I use Proton VPN as well as Multivad VPN on various devices.
Productivity
- For managing tasks, I’ve paused using Todoist even though it still houses most of my tasks, and am reviewing Proton Calendar and/or Obsidian to replace Todoist.
- mp4 to text transcription: Notta.ai and Temi.
- I try to listen to podcasts at 2x the speed until my brain explodes using Pocket Casts. I do the same thing with eBooks.
Desk Setup and Mobile
- I have a standing desk from ƒully (now Herman Miller).
- My main monitor is an ASUS 34″ ProArt Display.
- My main machine is an Apple Mac Mini M2.
- I have a Samsung Windows 11 laptop for traveling.
- I have a CPX32 by Hetzner Cloud Server running in Helsinki, Finland for testing AI and other techie stuff. It’s running Fedora Linux.
- I’ve got all my photos stored and running locally on a M1 Mac Mini using Immich as the managing software. This is a larger part of a de-Googling project.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPad Mini (6th Generation)
Drums and Cymbals
I’ve used Yamaha drums for decades but also use others to keep up with anything new on the scene.
I’ve also used Zildjian cymbals for decades but also use others to keep up with anything new on the scene.
You can find some of my musical experiences on my about page.
