While on vacation in Oxford, Pennsylvania, I toured the Herr's potato chip factory. In the gift shop I was suprised to see containers like the ones used in the Pocket Pro survival kit, in clear red or blue plastic, and with a removable lanyard. I bought one, and transferred the items that took me hours to arrange in my Whitman's Sampler tin (the largest tin I have found around here) in seconds, with a good amount of room to spare!

Now that I have what I think to be the perfect container, I've decided to get serious about what to contain in it, looking at my needs and what is practical. I live in a rural setting, yet spend most of my time in town at work. I am never in deep wilderness on foot, and the only time I am around it is driving to and from work. I keep a sort of "bug out bag" in my car, which should sustain any short term needs should I become stranded. Yet...what if I not in MY car? ARG...for me at least, it's hard to be sure of myself at this!

I carry a "mini first aid kit" in an off-brand Mini Altoids tin which contains a neosporin packet, some band aids, chewable pepto bismol tablets, an immodium, some Advil, and an Alavert (think Claritin Redi-Tab). I was thinking of consolodating that into the main kit, by just using the mini tin to store loose pills (like the advil) and maybe some other small items, and moving the Neo and bandages into the plastic container.

Apart from that, here are some items (not a whole inventory) that I either have or plan to get to add in. Any comments or suggestions are welcome:

*surgical mask - forest fires aren't uncommon around here, and it would probably aid breathing in a dusty or smoky situation
*glucose tablets - I have (mild) low blood sugar....but I ALSO keep some in a pocket pack with me, so keeping some in the kit may be overkill.
*sunscreen packets
*lighter
*some electrical tape
*waterproof matches
*water purification tablets and a condom (tho the condom feels like overkill...)
*an LED flashlight
*a small pencil and some paper
*a good wire saw...I had a painful experience while doing a bit of prop-making for hobby that taught me NOT to trust a cheap one!!!
*a small knife or Leatherman...I keep a Squirt P4 on my keychain, though - and they're a bit expensive to buy another to seal away in a kit!
*safety pins

Any ideas on where to find sunscreen packets and a wire saw?

That's all I can think of for now...

I'm using a "Coghlans" pocket wire saw I found at a Rite-Aid drug store, in the camping section. Brigade Quartermaster's has an even nicer one ( http://www.actiongear.com ) called the BCB Commando Saw. Looks durable, and I think it's the same one some commercial survival kits are using. Looking at your list, I also carry a flat whistle (ACR) and small button compass (Brunton) in my mini-survival kit.

The BCB Commando wire saw is great! I got 2 from TOM9595 a few days ago - they cut really nicely, but I can't comment on their long-term potential.