The best advice I can give you (to steal a phrase from cpf) is to
Hide your wallet. For me buying cool little tools to carry around and
guarantee me future back problems has become a bizarre cross of
shopaholic-ism , gizmo addiction, and chess. Personally, my
discretionary funds come from selling stuff from my last hobby on
eBay. On a more relevant note, if your work situation permits, it I
would suggest a good fixed blade. I think it could fit in your brief
case without taking up much more room, and IMHO all things being
equal, fixed blades are better. I would also recommend a small
radio that receives the NOAA channels. I think the 99 cent
ponchos are great, mostly for their size rather than their price.
Obviously the durability is a factor, but if you going to have some
duct tape with you..it would not take much to repair any damage
done. With regards to "does it ever end', it doesn't seem so,
forward thinking is one of those things, once you take the red pill
there is no going back.