Does anyone else notice this pattern?

Alarmed at my appearance and the bulk and weight of my EDC, I strip right back to bare bones. Then one little item gets added. Then another. Oh, and a few of these would be handy. And then I'm back where I started.

Not that I mind. It's great to keep going through my gear.

Here's what I'm currently carrying -- the snapshot. This is just on my person, and excludes about five pounds of stuff in my shoulder bag.

Waistband
- Leatherman SideClip

Left pocket
- 20 ft paracord, bundled neatly
- SAK TrailMaster
- nylon zipper pouch (3.5 x 5 in) with:
- - clean hanky
- - 3 alcohol wipes
- - 1 packet antibiotic ointment
- - 4 bandaids
- - 2 x 2 nonadherent gauze pad
- - 3 x 3 nonadherent gauze pad
- - 3 SparkLite starters

(The first aid stuff is in one small zip-top plastic bag, and the firestarters are in another.)

Right pocket
- Benchmade Griptilian
- bandanna
- carabiner with:
- - Streamlight KeyMate LED flashlight
- - BSA Hot Spark and striker
- - Orion Acme whistle
- - AG Russel ATS34 Pocket Lockback penknife

Shoes
- 2 6 ft lengths of paracord (laces)

I haven't given this a thorough analysis to see how it stacks up against my usual seven categories of gear, but it seems to meet most of my urban-living needs.

Bear