Welcome Alex, I started my LF photography carting an old 4x5 Cambo SC, then a Cambo 45SF around in NZ, Middle East and Japan. When I was barely able to walk anymore, and shown the ultrasound pictures of my lower vertebrae I realized not only how impractical it was carrying monorails around but also ...
I keep my boxes (opened or unopened) in hard plastic containers in a small fridge in the basement. The containers protect the boxes from condensation. There's just enough room for a mix of 120 roll, 4x5 and 8x10 sheets and the relative cool of the basement helps maintain a low ambient air temperatur...
For me the question of using direct or indirect shifts comes down to two things. 1. I often use very short lenses on either of my cameras so I have to use indirect shifts (i.e base tilts) to get the camera base out of the frame. 2. I will also use it on longer lenses where the cameras direct shifts ...