I normally EDC a fair amount of stuff, either on my person or in my work bags or cars. When I have to go “minimal” (which for me is an AAA LED flashlight and some band-aids in my ) Mission Wallet I can start to feel a little uneasy. On Wednesday I was having lunch at Union Station in DC when that anxiety struck. I had left my work bag in my client's office so I wouldn't have to wrangle it thru building security again after lunch.

I suddenly realized that if something bad happened I'd be without my gear including my FAK, my back-up comms (Ham HT), cell phone charger, etc. And probably no way to get back to it because the building would likely go into lock down. There was a brief moment of real concern going on in my head as I began to worry about things that were so unlikely to happen that I shouldn't have been worried at all.

Now 3 years ago, before I joined this forum, I probably never would have had those thoughts. So is my new found heightened awareness and attendant anxieties good or bad?

I blame Doug...

I forgot my cell phone at home this morning and I'm about to go nuts!

I did that once on a trip out of town and felt so communications challenged I bought a 'pay-as-you-go" phone I keep in my work bag just as back-up. Drats, I better go check to see if it's charged up!

Sometime last month my EDC Altoids tin kit disappeared. I've torn our house, my truck, and my office at work apart looking for it. I've had that Altoids tin for close to eight years and after hundreds of repackings it was perfect for my needs. I'm heartbroken.

I have a LM on my belt, a whistle, flashlight, P-38 can opener, and mini screwdriver on my keychain, in my pockets is a lighter and a cell phone, my watch has a built in compass...but this isn't enough!

Luckily I just received a new tin in the mail and will start rebuilding my kit this weekend.

-Blast

On the rare occasions I leave for work without my pocketknife, I do feel a little queasy all day.

When people that know me ask if I have my knife handy, I ask them if it looks like I'm wearing pants, and if so: yes, I have my knife.

The only response to losing things that can be replaced is to replace them. There was a discussion about losing small tools over at the Fine Homebuilding discussion forum, and the consensus is that you need to show your tools that they are replaceable so they won't go wandering anymore.

I've ended up with multiples of some easily misplaced items when they later showed up after being replaced.

Check under the bed!

I did the same, locked my gear in my desk at work and left for lunch, couldn't get out of the parking lot because the gates were locked so I had to park and walk, then found out there was a bomb threat so I was outside away from the building and then didn;t know if I could even get back in to get my gear.

I have one of those plastic drawer organizing things you an buy at office supply stores in my closet and it contines backups for all my kits. For example when I buy new bandaids to restock all the kits I buy a nice big box and restoce everything and then put the box in those drawers. As I use things they get replaced from that supply and when that supply gets low I restock it. Basically like the office supply cabinets at work, there may eb several boxes of pens and stapels and such there and people take what they need to their desks. So if I use or loose anything I have resupplies sitting waiting.

I know I feel naked when I don't have my .45 on me, a lighter, and a knife. Especially the knife.

I lost my Altoids PSK sometime in the late summer of 2008 and searched the house for it, I also checked my office, garages, vehicles, snowmobiles, ATV's, backpacks, coat pockets, storage boxes and hunt camp, it was GONE. Until 3 days ago when I looked in a rarely used shoulder bag of fishing tackle, and there it was waiting for me! I love that "I found it" feeling.

I agree with you all, if I am without my EDC I do feel more vulnerable and less in control.

Hey Blast, how about including us in your new Altoids EDC Kit project, it would also be an excellent Blog post?

Mike