Christina,

Words can be evocative. Perhaps using words like "emergency preparedness" instead of "...survival..." would tone things down in your aquaintance's minds. There are many good reasons to be a "Boy Scout" and "Be Prepared". In fact, there is a BSA merit badge pamphlet titled "Emergency Preparedness" available for about $3.00 that would be light reading and give you some "safe and sane" answers to the "Why?" questions. Be sure you get the latest version; it was recently revised.

There are the Red Cross and FEMA websites as well, which may give you some additional "cover".

Tom

Is it just me, or is the echo in here getting really bad???

<img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Christina, bear in mind that preparedness is not about carrying a kit, it´s a life style. That kit is a usefull accessory. I´d also recommend the low profile approach. When you just carry your equippment the "why" takes care of itsself. Most people invite enough mishaps to let you show that you´re not crazy.
As an artist you´re expected to be creative. So there´s no need to be embarrassed when you have your own style instead of merely following a fashion.

BTW:
I do carry one of my kits whenever I leave flat. In my office people stopped making stupid jokes about my equipment after a very short time. My Gerber Multiplier even earned me an invitation to have some delicious canned meat when our secretary forgot to bring her can opener <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Tell them you build your house out of bricks(like me) and they out of straw.

They will learn over time trust me.The soft sell is what is best,the more you try to "push" your views the harder they'll push back.Plant a few seeds sooner or later some will grow.

"why do you carry a flashlight,s.a.k ,first aid kit etc"?"the same reason you carry a spare tire in your trunk","I got room for it and someday i may need it."Something along that line.

I carry mine in a camelbak trailblazer. I just refer to it as my "purse" and I always seem to have some needed sundry. A chick can carry a purse, better size for things that might actually be useful. So far though the camelbak has been perfect. I have the tactical looking stuff kinda deep so the prybar and such doesnt' jump out. I also have headlamp, compass, goggles, various hardware items, various medical items, ect.
Some friends of mine was watching tremors the series while I was at work and was laughing saying burt reminded them of me. I don't know weather that's good or bad but I say and hear the same things. <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Chris, you simply must compose a journal or some publication to document adventures such as these. You could even call it "Stranger on a Horse." <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I ran into that problem myself. I have learned to say I'm putting together my own first aid or medical kit. If someone says why don't you buy one, I say it's more fun to build my own. No one expresses curiosity beyond that point.

Where did you get it (camelbak trailblazer)? Do you have a URL?

Once people find out I carry blades, I will get asked for knife. "Got a knife I can borrow?"

That can backfire if you pull out a survival knife more suitable for the woods than for the office. It could easily get you fired for promoting an "unsafe work environment."

I now carry two types of folders. One meant for the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. and one for me. The PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. never see the folder I use. I always first pull out the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER.-friendly knife. Something small and almost toylike. Either my small Swiss Army Executive or Cadet, or my Kershaw Silver Spur (the same size as a Swiss Army Classic but with a locking blade).

I once pulled out my Spyderco Cricket to help my 94 year old grandma open a box. This was in a convalescent home. She loudly proclaimed, "You could kill someone with this!" Yikes. Fortunately we were alone in the room. Next time I'll pull out my smaller knife.

Burt Gummer is my hero. He takes preparedness to a whole new level <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />