A couple of days ago, my wife asked me to go to a doctor's appointment with her. I had on mismatched shorts and shirt, smelly old sandals, and I hadn't shaved for three days. Nevertheless, I put my PSK in my pocket, grabbed a book I had been reading (for the waiting room) my cell phone and went on my merry way. Soon after seeing the doctor, he decided he was going to have to put my wife out to do a minor surgical procedure. With no advance notice, we were told to go to the hospital and get her admitted for the procedure. To make a long story short, she came home about 12 hours after the doc. appointment.

Point being, I thought I would be gone for about an hour, and it turned into 12. Even though it was not an emergency or survival situation, it was a good reminder of how unexpected things can be, and we may only have what we carry with us to deal with it.

Just thought I'd share.

I think this is a little appreciated fact of life. I always marvel with people who go long distances, like commuting to work, with almost nothing with them. Sure, most of the time your bus or train arrives without delay or incident, you work and return, but...

-john

Good point. I don't leave the house without my EDC gear, even if I'm just walking the dog, running to the store, etc.

The only time this gets tricky is if I have to dress up for something when it's too warm to wear an overcoat... I haven't quite figured this situation out, but my wife and her pocketbook have been farily accomodating so far. But the truth of the matter is that I just feel naked without all my stuff.. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yep. I'm going to start taking the bus to/from work starting in october. I will be carrying a Samsonite messenger bag with a Nalgene bottle (32 oz of water) along with my camera bag PSK (poncho, Leatherman Fuse, etc.). I also carry another small camera bag that homes my Canon A75 digital camera. Oh, and another small camera bag with a Petzl Tactikka headlamp, Creative Muvo Micro N200 MP3 player and headphones.

So I basically carry 3 camera bags (without the straps) and a Nalgene bottle. This is in addition to my EDC (Photon Freedom micro, keys & Leatherman Micra) <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I've been carrying the PSK Doug designed until I can assemble my own. I even put it in the pocket of my shorts when I go hit the treadmill. Never know when you might need a compass or weather proof tinder on a college campus <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I know that "naked" feeling. And I'm afraid that the one time I go down the block to the grocery store without my kit, will be the time when it is TEOTWASKI and I'll really need it! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

It could be MUCH worse. My technician, Donna, had just moved into the Slidell area before Katrina hit. They stayed and were OK. But that area of the parish was under manditory evac. A day or so after the storm, they went out to get supplies, but couldn't get back in since they had not changed their ID's to be "official" locals. The only place they knew family besides the greater New Orleans area was in Oklahoma. So off they went with just what they had on. I hope she doesn't stay there.

Peanut

The last thing I take off my person before undressing for bed is my Leatherman Wave.

The first thing I put in my pocket every morning is my Leatherman Wave. It goes in my pocket before my watch goes on my wrist or my ring on my finger (not my wedding ring, it never comes off).

I never leave my domecile without my Leatherman wave, my keys, my zippo, my sunglasses, my "multiple badges and other things, including passport) necklace, my watch, my "other" ring, money. That is unless the sky is falling (literally here) and I have to bug, in which case I also grab my body armor and my BOB, if I can.

Not only do people not carry much with them, many do not dress appropriate for the weather. Living in the midwest, I now see people year round in t shirts and shorts. Especially in the wintertime! Makes absolutely no sense to me.

I used to be one of those people <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I've since gotten a little wiser. I don't know as I've ever worn shorts and a t-shirt...unless I was going to work out, but even then I had a coat and hat. In my younger days, I would tool around town with no coat in the dead of winter, but no longer.

Some of the college kids around here go dressed like that in the winter. 20 degrees out, looking like they're going to the beach! Surprised there's not more hypothermia and frost bite around here!