We adopted a 12-year-old chihuahua-Pomeranian from a local rescue. He's a real sweetie. Hard of hearing, heart murmer, missing teeth. But he has lots of love to give.

He had some sort of fit the morning of January 1. Happy New Year! I was looking forward to a lazy morning, which I instead spent in a local animal emergency hospital. Arnie is still with us (with a diagnosis of possible syncope), but gave us a royal shock.

I think I have a new bunch of gray hair now. Or is that because I'm nearly 45? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, my wife and I are very quickly exiting the house. I give no thought at all to my EDC shoulder bag. I'm carrying Arnie, and he's my primary concern. My wife asks what we should do about cash, and I tell her to grab the dentist envelope. Again, I'm thinking only about Arnie.

Our dentist is great, but they've been burned by insurance companies so often they now prefer to be paid up front in cash. So that's what we do.

We get to the animal hospital, fill out the forms, and wait. While we wait, I think, gee I wish I had this or that with me. Everything was at home in my shoulder bag. Including my emergency stash of cash. I hid it so I wouldn't spend it on gas. I remembered it only after we got back home.

Lesson learned: My meticulously assembled EDC shoulder bag doesn't do me any good if I don't remember to take it with me, especially in an emergency. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Yes, that tends to be how it goes! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

When there is an emergency, my field of focus really narrows down to only the essential needs. I'm quite certain that this is not the best thing to happen (it would be helpful to know what's going on on the peripheries, too), but I think it's just the way it goes.

It's still better than cringing in a corner, wringing your hands and crying.

And I would like to compliment you on your generosity in adopting one of society's throwaway older dogs. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Sometimes I'd rather sit in a corner and cry, but I'm just not the type.

I adopt older dogs because they need it. No one seems to want them, but they always seem grateful for the second chance. It's hell when you have to put them down, but it goes with the territory.

People always say, why not get a puppy. Well, because everyone wants a puppy. I'd rather save an older dog considered unadoptable.

-- Craig

One advantage of the pre-prepared bag is that you don't have to think much about it, just grab it.

What things did you need and not have, apart from the money?

I EDC a Maxpedition Fatboy. I clip my folder & hang my keys on the outside when I get home. That way it's pretty tough to take just the keys.
Dave

I have to keep the bag out of sight, in the closet. With me, it's out of sight, out of mind. The cat chews up anything leather. My bag has leather trim

To answer your question, a pen and notebook, to write down the veterinarian's diagnosis of "extended syncopal episode," which I remembered anyway.

-- Craig

Perhpas, just perhaps, we have programmed our brains too narrowly on what is considered "emergency". And then, its only in what we consider "emergency" that our subconsious kicks in and trigger the rememberance of the "kit".

What I am saying is this: either we program our minds for "urban" , err.. less dramatic, less hazardous events, as "emergencies too, or we fnd a ways ( or ways) to make forgetting the EDC impossible.

You can have another kit in the car.

That's why I have back-up gear in the car.

I have back-up gear in my car, yes, but I don't have back-up cash there. Not since gas prices went up. What I really missed from my EDC shoulder bag was my stash of cash.

-- Craig

I've never had a problem leaving my shoulder bag behind. It'd be like walking out the door without shoes on.