Special offer

My Best Mobile Device - My Man Purse

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with New Paradigm Partners LLC EB #1326335

Being mobile with ease and convenience is a luxury I owe to a social revolution. The ladies have had it right for a long time, and we men were slow to catch on - until Indiana Jones came along and made it all right.

Being able to stay connected on the go isn't an option anymore, but for me, it has been a problem. I need too much handy stuff to be easily mobile-enabled. It could be so simple- a smart phone will actually do most of the stuff I need. There are a couple of small problems, though - I can't read the screen on my smartphone without stopping what I'm doing, putting on my glasses and probably getting out of the sun's glare. And if I have to respond to whatever I'm seeing, I have to type something on that tiny keyboard - a process almost as painful to watch as to actually perform.

My iPad was a great partial solution. I can read the screen and type on the keyboard, and except for the talking thing, it does everything better and easier than a smartphone. Except fit in my pocket.

I guess I could just use a briefcase, but that looks so yesteryear. I grew up lugging those around and they never felt like anything but an unwelcome appendage, easily forgotten and hard to manage. And they were always the wrong shape for whatever you wanted to fit in. Nope, briefcases aren't my style.

Enter the Man Purse.

My Man Purse

It holds my phone, my iPad, my camera, assorted thumb drives, business cards, actual paper and those things you use to write with (I forget what they're called), sunglasses, reading glasses, one of those neat infrared measuring doohickeys, earbuds, plus whatever I might need to do what I'm planning on doing.

It's made by Overland Equipment of heavy canvas and leather, has a comfy strap and a convenient handle, and some nice hardware. It may not match my shoes, but I like its looks and it certainly does a great job carrying my stuff. And it has been several years since anyone made fun of me for wearing it*.

*True confession time - I bought my first man purse in 1983, in Florence, Italy at a very cool leather goods shop. I still have it - it's a meduim-sized shoulder bag of very fine brown leather, and I love using it when I travel (Ladies, why didn't you tell us about the comfort of empty pockets?). It was a long time before I dared to wear it in public at home, but things are different now. Thank you, Indiana Jones!

Posted by
Mary & Dick

Mary & Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC
2601 S. Lemay Ave. #41
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-689-4663
www.maryanddick.com

 

Data Source: IRES MLS

Comments (22)

Erv Fleishman
Realty Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Luxury Prop Specialist Realty Associates

Next you will be wearing high heels to see over fences better.

Why the need to say Man Purse?

What label does Overland Equipment give it?

Where do I get one?

 

Jun 27, 2012 12:18 AM
Mary Stewart
HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR
Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

Dick I think it is great that men are looking to this solution here in the US, they have done it in Europe for a long time.  Your "man purse" does not look like a "woman purse" or feminine in the least and has given you the solution you needed. I say who cares what people think about what a person carries, it just makes good sense and if looks are counted, this one looks great.  One woman's opinion only.

Jun 27, 2012 12:36 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Everyone and thanks for your comments!

John - It's a great solution and a lot more comfortable than having pockets jammed full of stuff.

Than - You can call it a laptop case if you want, but you're not fooling anyone.

Erv - I had to wear high heels for a play one time, and that's where I'm drawing the line - those things are insanely uncomfortable (not to mention very hard to find in a size 12). Overland calls it a messenger bag, but a purse by any other name.... I got it at REI.

Mary - It's become much more acceptable than when I first started carry one. And that one, while it was sold as a man's shoulder bag, is a bit more androgynous.

Jun 27, 2012 12:46 AM
Kwee Huset
Kwee Huset Realty - Venice, FL
Venice Florida Homes For Sale

Dick,  your post reminds  me of myself when I am going out of town or vacation for my hand carry. Thanks for sharing.

Jun 27, 2012 12:59 AM
David Grbich
Realty One Group - www.FindCARealEstate.com - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Orange County Real Estate - 949-500-0484

Dick - you are very confident to wear a purse! With that said at least it looks good. Had to laugh on your comment about reading your smartphone w readers and sun glare - exactly what my challenge is as well. Thanks, Dave

Jun 27, 2012 01:03 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Dick, For my engineering job I can sometimes be a bit of a road warrior.  This backpack made by Wenger has endured about 9 years of being shoved under airline seats and hauled back and forth to work daily.  A padded area for my laptop.  Pockets for flashdrives, passports, shot records and the like.  Room for a notebook, a side drink holder (beat up and then some).  With three separate zippered compartments and another on the side the biggest issue is remembering where in this thing I put what I'm looking for!  Bill

Jun 27, 2012 01:27 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Dick,

In California, they are called "MURSES".  Ron became accustomed to his briefcase and then a Tumi carrier for all our gear, which has many compartments including a special case for all the plugs and other small paraphernalia.  The leather artisans in Florence are superb.  I enjoyed this post. A

Jun 27, 2012 01:48 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Love it, we call them "Murses" too. My husband has a cool pack, that's kind of his man purse. Similar to yours - I like it. :)

By the way, you're in my thoughts - can't believe the situation in Colorado right now. :(

Jun 27, 2012 02:33 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Loved your post, Dick!

Jun 27, 2012 03:37 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Finally a man who gets the idea - and has for a long time. You have arrived my dear friend!!   LOL

Jun 27, 2012 04:01 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730
Dick, Yes we ladies found the secret long ago and our just keep getting larger and larger.
Jun 27, 2012 04:03 AM
Tim Bradley
Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY
Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

I use a canvas "briefcase" from Lands End. I've had it for years.

 

Jun 27, 2012 04:10 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Dick - I absolutely loved this post.  First of all it is a known fact that men are slower learners.  Thus... late to the man-purse game.   And why do you think we women have shelves upon shelves of LV's, Gucci's, Dooney's etc.  No, it's not because we love all the initials and stuff... it's not because they cost an arm and a leg... no!  it's because they are useful!  (believe that?  )

And Indiana Jones wasn't the only one to popularize the man-purse... don't forget Jack Bauer!!!

Jun 27, 2012 04:55 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Good Afternoon Dick, I love it, what a great idea. i would not say it is a man purse though.  Have a great day.

Jun 27, 2012 06:59 AM
Don Sabinske
Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
Sabinske & Associates Inc.

This was great....My briefcase actually appears to be a man purse..mostly because since it is old, but still handsome, it holds all my paraphenalia, too. 

What a fun post.

Jun 27, 2012 07:49 AM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Dick, I bought a leather handbag when I was in Florence in 1975 and I still have it too!!!! How funny is that?

Jun 27, 2012 12:05 PM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

Dick,

I will say that I have lagged behind in technology purchases until now...

Rumor has it that what you see on CSI where they swipe acrossed a IPAD and a virtual screen pops up is what the new IPHONE 5 is going to do.

Supposedly, you swipe the screen and a holographic monitor and keyboard come out and you can type in the air.

If this is reality, kiss yoru man purse goodbye as now you can do it with jsut your iphone.

Jun 27, 2012 12:39 PM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

This post  made me laugh a bit but your Murse does not look like anything to be ashamed of!  And if it works, it works!

Jun 28, 2012 01:09 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Hey that's pretty cool.  We all need somewhere to carry our stuff and as Realtors we have lots of stuff

Jun 29, 2012 12:00 AM
Elva Branson-Lee
Solid Source Realty GA - Atlanta, GA
CDPE - Atlanta Real Estate & Short Sale Agent

Dick, it's about time you fellas got hip to what we ladies have known all along! Pockets don;t work for everything. (-;

Jun 30, 2012 05:00 AM