So, I was at Target, Fry's, and Staples within the last week, and I had a strange revelation: I have settled into my tools for the most part. There are a couple of things that I would like to do like replace the cheap cardboard file folder holder thing I have been using with a rope case from Levenger and buy a letter-size Circa. And buy a nice paper trimmer. But those things can wait until I have the funds.

But, by and large, I am settled on my tools. I have two great label makers, an awesome pen, a pencil and clic eraser, and a rope case for index cards. I have a couple Moleskines and a Junior size red leather Circa. I am using MailTags, Act-On, and DockStar with Mail.app for managing Dynamic Digital Organization setup working well. I am effectively tracking my calendar and tasks on my W600i.

More importantly, I don't feel drawn toward every new app I come across. (With the exception of my digital reference system. I'm almost positive I have settled on Journler, but the lack of encryption is problematic.) When I see something new (case in point, iGTD) I just shrug and go, "My system is working for me quite well."

Moreover, I have shrunk GTD to fit (phrase lifted from Ethan Schoonover's description of OmniFocus) my work. I don't keep separate lists of NA's by context. "HERESY," you declare, and indeed you may be right. I work off my projects list more often than anything else because it works for me! If I find it doesn't in the future, I will adjust. But what I won't do is adjust for the sake of adjusting or for the sake of canonicity or orthodoxy.

This is all great, right? Of course it is. The problem is that now I have stopped faffing about trying to get the perfect coffee cup and I have to actually drink the gd coffee! Of course, this is the goal, to enjoy the coffee and not to give a damn about the cup as long as it doesn't have a hole in it. I guess the next thing is to decide what blend to enjoy and keep the cup full.

I guess what I'd like to know is are there any of you who have settled into a good system and are enjoying the coffee? Is there one last component that you're struggling to get a trusted grip on?

[Admins, feel free to move this to another part of the board if you think it might belong there better.]