Ten things Chris Hadfield can’t live without

My Nexus card I travel a lot, and Nexus makes life much easier. I’ve already used it twice today, and it’s only 2 p.m.

My custom guitar picks The mission patch for my third space flight has three stars for my three kids, my military wings, the space station, Earth, the moon and Mars. It’s shaped like a guitar pick, to show my love of music. I had actual picks made with the crest on them, and I always keep one in my wallet.

My mental workout I love Sudoku puzzles. It’s like wrist curls for my brain.

My cowboy boots When I was asked to be the grand marshal of the Calgary ­Stampede in 2013, I went straight to Rocky Carroll, in Houston. He’s made boots for seven U.S. presidents. I got a pair with my initials and mission patches on them.

My team toque My great-great-grandfather was a trainer for the Leafs, and I’m a diehard fan. When I was growing up in the ’60s, they were king—the best team in the world. This season, as always, I’m optimistic about their chances.

My lapdogs Jack is a Maltese. He looks like a little girl, but he is all boy: he likes puddles and mud and he always wants to hang with me. Albert is a pug, and he looks like a ruffian, a toad. But he’s a wimp who likes to sit on my wife’s lap.

My guitars I’ve taken a guitar on every trip I’ve been on for my entire adult life. When I finished high school, I bummed around Europe for six months, and I lugged my old Yamaha with me, even when I climbed a mountain in Norway. I have 12 guitars now, including a bass, a couple of portables and a Larrivée Parlor guitar made in Vancouver.

My Sharpies I always have one on me for people who want autographs. ­Sharpies write on anything, and it doesn’t matter if they’re right side up or upside down—a good quality when you’re floating in space.

My breakfast cereal I love plain Cheerios. I pack them in my suitcase on trips. I even took them to the space station, but they didn’t travel well. When you vacuum-pack them, add powdered milk and inject water, you end up with Cheerio-flavoured mush.