Bear,
I know the feeling. My wife would be all over me if I left my kit at home, after all of my preaching about being prepared, not to mention the money spent on my gear fetish. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As someone new to this fourm who happens to live in a large city, I appreciate you taking the time to note a couple of good reasons why EDC items and a PSK are essential even in the city.

I had zero interest in being prepared for "survival" prior to 9/11, but after I experienced all the chaos and confusion first hand (from a few miles distance), my thinking changed. In general, for my work in sales I need to be prepared for a variety of different situations, from responding to hospitals with product questions to consulting with doctors in the operating room. I always carried what I needed: brochures, demo items, charts, scientific papers and so on. If I could be prepared for work, why shouldn't I be prepared for really important things - like me and my family staying alive and well? I realized that I should be prepared in the same way to manage unexpected survival issues at home, in my car and on my person.

In the weeks following 9/11 I did extensive research on the subject and was lucky enough to find this website. I put together a 72 hour kit at home, developed a car kit and created PSKs for both me and my wife. The home kit was the easiest since space and weight were not such big issues, I just had to decide what to include. I must say, Doug's extensive work in this area made my life much easier.

The car kit wasn't too bad, but I had to develop a security method since I couldn't just leave it in my trunk. Let me elaborate: for my work I drive around NYC and call on hospitals and doctors. When you park in the city, you park in parking garages that are staffed by attendants that park your car for you and retain your keys. You just pull in and they take it from there. I probably park in 3-5 garages a day. Right after I stocked my first car kit with several items in the glove box, and in the trunk, I came back one time and the Leatherman Juice that was on my keychain was missing. The attendant claimed there wasn't one there. To say I was angry would be a huge understatement. The manager said they couldn't be responsible and I was out my Leatherman. No less than a week later, I went to use my Surefire from the glove box and what a surprise, it was missing. Since I park in so many places who would I even call? (disclaimer: I think most of the attendants are honest hard working guys and my experiences are hopefully not typical) I was really disheartened by these thefts and resolved not to let them deter my stocking a car kit.

To solve these issues, I got a split key ring on a small carabiner and now only leave the ignition key. My car kit is in a backpack and duffel bag chained in the trunk with a combo lock with the zippers closed with even smaller combo locks. I haven't had anything taken since then.

Since I carry a soft nylon briefcase with me everywhere, I am able to carry my PSK easily. My EDC items are on my keychain or in my pockets all the time. Let me say the Photon was very convenient during the blackout. It takes time for hospital secondary power to kick in.

The next challenge I faced was equipping my wife. She also works in the city, but in an office setting, traveling to and from work on the subway. I convinced her that the office kit would be completely unobtrusive, she could just keep it under her desk. The EDC items were a bigger deal since she wasn't about to stuff her pockets. We compromised and now carries everything in her purse which goes with her everywhere. I also stocked her keychain with additional items, (Photon, Fox40 mini, Leatherman Juice) for good measure. She is not nearly as "into" this as me but she does recognize the value of being prepared. She has actually used a few of the items for repair.

So with all that said, I think you always need to be prepared regardless of your rural, suburban or city location. If you are not carrying it with you, it won't do you any good. Thanks for your thoughtful post.

Jeez !! (as you guys might say) Glad I don't live in N.Y.!!!

here's my 2cents worth. one night at the terminal i work at a car crashed into a transformer and power was compromised to half the terminal well out came the old "aurora light" and well it provided eyes when there was none

<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> are you my long-lost brother?

I carry everything you do in a Fatboy "man purse". My PSK is a mutated Penrith kit with the fishhooks and a couple of other "country" things removed. Instead I put in $20 in bills, a real signaling mirror, and some Gerber plastic bags.

I am seriously thinking of a small CPR kit. Last time I had to give CPR, I had to clean a great deal of vomit out the guy's mouth.

Feel free to use the word PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER.. Can't take credit for it myself though. Its in common use on the British Blades forums (populated by mainly hobbyist knife makers and collectors/users) which is where I picked it up. If you think carrrying an EDC gets you funny looks in the US try being in the UK where most people view carrying any sort of knife except a leatherman or SAK as being roughly equivalent to carrying an assault rifle. And I'm not exagerating either.

Your right the term PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. has been around a LONG time - the Knife and gun groups have used the term for what seems like forever

Well if things keep going the way they have been around here, it seems as if it won't be long until our country is a lot like yours. I get pissed that I can't carry my gun. I think I would freak if I couldn't carry a knife longer than 3 inches. At least I don't live in the City of Chicago which has outlawed gun ownership completely. Seems as if the Second Ammendment means nothing anymore. Well, you can apply for a permit to have one in your home, they just haven't issued any permits in about 15 years. (ok I am getting off my soap-box now)

A Maxpedition Fat-Boy is what I carry as well. I attach a M-2 small pouch when I need to carry extra stuff. Maybe we could be long lost brothers, I was born in Aurora, CO.

DBAGuy,
My wife is slowly coming around to my "preparedness thing", although she uses the orange mini-fox 40 whistle as a visual "key finder". She's still not convinced about carrying a SAK or a multitool. BTW, I think "Office Space" could have been based on my last job. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />