I keep my entire life in plain text files.

Notes, todos, journal entries, project documentation—all of it lives in a folder of .txt and .md files. No database. No app. Just files.

This sounds primitive. It's not. It's liberating.

Here's what I get: - Files that will open in any editor - Zero vendor lock-in - Full-text search with grep - Version control with git - Sync with any file sync tool

Here's what I don't have to worry about: - Subscription fees - Company acquisitions - Format migrations - Internet connectivity - Privacy policies

People ask: "But what about organization?"

Folders and filenames. The same system that's worked since the 1970s.

"What about search?"

grep -r "search term" ~/notes

"What about linking between notes?"

A simple [[wiki-style]] link that any editor can follow.

The tools already exist. They've existed for decades. They're free, fast, and indestructible.

The only thing stopping you is the belief that newer means better.

It doesn't.

Next week: why I quit social media and returned to chronological feeds.