Happy Hacking Keyboard is not just a keyboard for programming, it’s a keyboard for all users who aspire to experience an efficient and comfortable typing experience. Today, we had the opportunity to talk with Furry Wrist Abroad, a professional freelance writer who utilizes his HHKB to relay his treasured thoughts to the screen.
HHKB: Hello, Furry Wrist Abroad, can you please start with your background?
FWA: Hi there, my pen name is Furry Wrist Abroad, and I am based out of Toronto, Canada. I am a freelance writer and will be a Scuba Diver as well starting in Q2 of 2025. In terms of schooling, I earned a Bachelor’s in Music with a minor in Psychology, and went on to get a postgraduate diploma in Marketing Management.
HHKB: That is a really exciting path. Coming from your educational background in music and marketing management, what made you interested in writing? Did you always see yourself becoming a writer?
FWA: Ever since I was a child, I have been a big reader and heavily influenced by writers and their impact on me. Throughout my life, I have had friends, family, and peers tell me to become a writer, and about eight years ago I started the gradual process of becoming a writer when the offers for writing became serious.
HHKB: Very cool. How did you start your writing site, Furry Wrist Abroad? Explain a little more about your site and what it means to you.
FWA: I started the penname Furry Wrist Abroad to explore the opportunities as a writer, and over the years, it has become the best job I could ever want. In that time, I have published dozens of articles on other sites and continue to grow the footprint for my work with the addition of three sites for the new year.
While my own site remains where I write about matters that would help and have the most positive impact on my readers, I write product reviews for the other aforementioned sites. These products are primarily timepieces, but as of last year, I have expanded my portfolio of topics covered, especially writing instruments such as keyboards.
The greatest gratification that writing gives me is knowing that it has enriched and made the lives of others easier. Whether it be an extensive guide on navigating healthcare systems for seniors or covering topics such as pathologies within collecting communities, writing for the benefit of others is what brings me the greatest joy.
HHKB: That is a really inspiring story, your writing is very impactful. What would you say is your favorite thing to write about and why?
FWA: Even though I primarily write product reviews, the core reason I write is to be helpful and fill knowledge gaps for the public. This dramatically expands the topics I like to write. These topics cover topics such as psychology, addiction, navigating health care systems, and scuba diving safety, to name just a few. Personal topics have also had an impact on the smaller audience of readers who frequent my site, and making a positive effect on the lives of others is the mission of my writing.
Earlier this year, I wrote an extensive article on mechanical keyboards, introducing the vast and dense field to a large readership of mechanical watch enthusiasts. It was received quite well and was one of the most gratifying and impactful product reviews I wrote this year. My trusty HHKBs were also mentioned and referenced in this and a few other articles.
I also write poetry and am currently working on a novel.
HHKB: Moving into your work, dive (no pun intended) a little deeper into your role.
FWA: As of 2025, I am a freelance writer with the position of Columnist at the Watch Clicker, and I am in talks for a larger role on a new site that is yet to be announced. The role of Columnist allows for a wider array of topics to be covered than the standard product reviews that the site offers. My first article for the Watch Clicker was about etiquette and safety at collector gatherings – something which has once again picked up after the pandemic.
Writing about all the facets of a given industry to give the readers a better understanding of their passions is important. People spend a lot of money on hobbies and trades they are passionate about. Being uninformed, or, as the case, most of the time, misinformed, causes irreparable economic damage on the individual case level, which does mount up to a lot of time and money being wasted. Given our cost-of-living crisis, this has only gained significance with every passing day.
There are no platforms or print magazines which cover these topics in the detailed long-form formats they deserve, so I reserve those long-form articles for my site.
HHKB: You make a lot of great points here. It is great to see someone like yourself help fill our gaps in information. In terms of your new profession, tell us a little more about scuba diving.
FWA: I always loved being in the water, and after one snorkelling experience during a destination wedding over fifteen years ago, I knew that it was something that I would pursue.
Since I started, I have been helping other divers, whether professionals or students. I realized quite quickly that I loved the sport’s teaching aspect, and the logistical support of diver safety became my first love in the field.
It was evident from the first time I donned my first pair of fins that I would eventually go into the field professionally – it was just a matter of timing.
HHKB: That’s awesome! Now shifting gears to HHKB, what first got you interested?
FWA: During the pandemic, a couple of people who were dear to me became very ill, which resulted in me becoming a primary caregiver, where I had to lift humans every day. Unfortunately, I suffered multiple repetitive strain injuries from all the lifting. My physiotherapist and chiropractor suggested that I invest in an external keyboard to raise my laptop, and so the hunt for a keyboard began.
I am very fortunate to know many people with extensive knowledge in many fields, and I got to rely on one close friend to find the perfect keyboard. I needed a quiet, soft, durable, and conservatively designed keyboard, and he immediately suggested the HHKB Classic.
Upon receiving it, I was immediately in love, and I placed an order for the Type-S for I am when not at home. I have since tried dozens of mechanical keyboards, and none have come close to fulfilling my needs as HHKB has.
Upon receiving it (HHKB Classic), I was immediately in love . . .- Furry Wrist Abroad
HHKB: That’s great to hear you love HHKB so much. What do you use HHKB for?
FWA: I use my HHKBs for everything, all of the time. The function key is particularly useful for photo editing.
HHKB: Does the layout help you with what you do?
FWA: The simplified layout allows my wrists to stay in their optimal position, ensuring the best health practices for my tendons. The backspace key is perfect, and it boggles my mind as to why more keyboards do not have that exact placement. The function key means everything is within reach, promoting efficiency and less strain.
Lastly, the streamlined layout of my beloved HHKBs allows for much greater productivity when entering the desired “flow state” of writing. This is when one’s surroundings and distractions disappear, and a high level of productivity is achieved. This is especially appreciated when forced to work in public spaces. I have had the same experience in photography with specific rangefinder cameras.
HHKB: Yes, the layout is designed for those very reasons you described! How do you feel about the aesthetic design of HHKB? Is there anything you would change?
FWA: The no-nonsense and conservative design of the HHKB offers no distractions, and the charcoal colourway is perfect for discretion. A conservative appearance is always appreciated when working on-site, and the design language of the Type-S is ideal for all environments. Like a great pen or camera, the keyboard should melt into the background and become an extension of one’s hand, and my HHKB’s do this splendidly. The HHKB Type-S is the perfect writing instrument for my hands. Like my other workhorse tools, there is absolutely nothing I would change, and I consider it a masterpiece in industrial design.
HHKB: Speaking of other workhorse tools, what else do you use in your writing setup?
FWA: To support my writing, I use a lot of cameras for photography. I am fortunate to use the Leica M10 and several Fuji X Mount bodies for product and event photography. The M10 and my two Fuji XPRO3s, like the HHKB Type-S, are perfect digital tools for my purpose. For film photography, I use a Leica M6 and a Leica M3.
As a writer, I also write with pens, and the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with the Posting Nib fountain pen is the perfect writing instrument for my hand. Its specialized nib accommodates my small writing and can be used on almost every paper without feathering. I pair Platinum’s Carbon Ink with the 912 because its archival properties mean that it will not fade, and it can also be used on lower-quality paper with fewer ramifications.
HHKB: How familiar were you with mechanical keyboards before your HHKB?
FWA: I was not familiar with mechanical keyboards at all, but I came to learn about HHKB through a close friend. Since then, I have become well-versed in the field, yet no keyboards have come close to supplanting my precious HHKBs.
I was not familiar with mechanical keyboards at all, but I came to learn about HHKB through a close friend. Since then, I have become well-versed in the field, yet no keyboards have come close to supplanting my precious HHKBs.- Furry Wrist Abroad
At a keyboard meetup in Toronto last year, many enthusiasts applauded my choice of keyboard and told me that I had chosen well and wished they had gotten an HHKB earlier in their lives.
HHKB: That is super cool. And those keyboard meetups are a really great time. If you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite part of HHKB?
FWA: Picking one aspect of my HHKBs as my favourite is nearly impossible. The dampened Topre keys on my Type-S are perfect, as are the size and weight.
HHKB: Does your HHKB have any customizations?
FWA: A close friend lubricated my Professional Classic’s keys and added some retro-themed keys. My Type-S has the standard coloured grey keys, which help when writing in very low-light environments.
HHKB: That is a very well-balanced aesthetic lineup. What are some other interests of yours?
FWA: Though my first love was writing, photography quickly became a supporting tool for my words and a viable source of revenue. According to the number of requests I receive, my love for event photography comes through the work and is appreciated by others.
Whether diving, hiking, trail running, cooking, or baking, everything comes back to writing and how it is informed.
HHKB: We can definitely feel your passion for writing, which is amazing and inspiring to hear about. In your free time, what do you like to do?
FWA: My favorite thing to do in my free time is to spend it with my family and close friends. As one gets older, it becomes apparent quite quickly that one must take the initiative to see their loved ones and ensure they live the best version of their lives possible.
I am lucky to have my family close by and many groups of close friends. The humans we spend time with define our lives more than our actions. And in this regard, I am incredibly blessed.
HHKB: That is really nice. What does your daily schedule look like?
FWA: Because of the caregiving duties I mentioned earlier, I have no set schedule due to my unpredictable days. This is especially true on the weekends when I am diving or covering an event for an article.
The only constant in my schedule is waking up at 04:30 in the morning and reading my newspapers before the notifications on my phone start coming in for the day.
This is why the HHKB Type-S is essential to my kit. For instance, last year, I spent a lot of time in hospitals and medical facilities. Using my HHKB while sitting in cramped and poorly lit spaces for long stretches of time was essential in not getting too far behind on my work.
HHKB: Last question, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see your Furry Wrist Abroad site?
FWA: I am currently working on a novel and in talks about taking on a more significant role as a writer. I cannot forecast where I will be as a writer, for the last year leading into this one has given me a fair number of opportunities that have made the future more challenging to predict.
HHKB: While hard to predict, that does sound very exciting! Thank you so much for talking with us. And here is the link to his website, for all who are interested in his amazing writing: https://furrywristabroad.com/