A comment and a question

Thanks to all of the great posts here, I’ve finally realized that I need to get moving with my contingency plans and not just think about them. I just got back from my physical (first in a few years) and I’ve finally scheduled that long delayed dentist appointment to look at that bothersome tooth. I realize the danger of being caught without those items taken care of.

I’ve started to put together a survival kit for everyday carry. For awhile, I carried Doug’s Pocket Survival Pak in my lunch box and thought that was adequate. However, I’ve reassessed my plans after what I’ve read here.

My main issue is that I live in the ‘burbs, but work in Boston and take the train to get there. If TSHTF while at work, the roads (lousy at the best of times) and public transportation will not be options. That leaves walking home (~ 25 miles).

I’ve started with an Army Surplus canvas messenger bag. This is rugged, has lots of nooks and crannies to organize gear and blends in with what everyone is carrying. This last part is important since the public transportation hubs here have a huge police presence and I don’t want to stand out. That is why I have shied away from belt pouches. My Leatherman sheath draws enough stares as it is.

I’ve based the contents on Doug’s PSK, but expanded it. I have more first aid supplies (including a SAM splint), rain ponchos, water bladder and purification tablets, Heatsheet blanket, extra gloves and socks, extra fire starting gear, a monocular, emergency food bars, etc.

My main question (for now) is personal protection in an urban setting. In the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, they make it extremely difficult to protect yourself. A firearm is out of the question here. You even need an FID card to carry pepper spray. I can’t order a knife or collapsible baton on-line since they won’t ship to Massachusetts. I will probably take an out of state trip to buy these.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this issue? While I’m a good size guy with some martial arts training in my younger days, I’m not a spring chicken anymore and wouldn’t want to rely on it.