B
Black Bear
Guest
On your dresser-top, or in a top drawer, you keep a stash of stuff which you load into your pockets every day. What's in it? Why? Chances are since you're self-defense savvy/emergency-preparedness folks, you probably have some stuff that reflects these values.
WALLET: ID and assets for any financial eventuality.
KEYCHAIN: Housekey is a Masterlock which cannot be copied except I suppose through keycasting. Red "photon"-style LED ("red" cones in the eye have the shortest refractory period, so this interferes the least with night vision) and Swisstech Utilikey which I mainly use as a screwdriver or politically-correct sawblade. Here we have a keytag service of the War Amps where you register with them and get a numbered keytag with no identifying information on it. If you lose your keys, people can drop them in any mailbox, it'll go to their office, and they'll deliver it to you free of charge. I don't know if that exists in your area, but it's a great safety item.
KNIFE: either a Cold Steel Voyager if I'm wearing gloves that day, or a Spyderco Delica if I'm not. The Delica hole is not glove-friendly. The knife is legal, light, and flat, and can deploy in about a second even under high stress. They're well constructed. Of course, they're no longer the cutting edge in tactical knives but I don't need more than this. I'm NOT going to assemble an arsenal of thousands of dollars worth of folders.
PELICAN LIGHT: tiny, strong, waterproof, a surprisingly bright LED which is gentle on batteries. Tailcap push switch, clips to clothing. I was putting off buying a new flashlight while everyone was running out buying Surefire Centurions and the like. I won't blind anyone with this, but chances are, you suckers lugging those big things in your pockets won't ever have an opportunity to either. And guess what, I could have bought 12 for what you paid for yours. I spent the savings on a terrific high-loft down duvet. HA.
CELL PHONE: of course.
SUGARLESS GUM: of course.
BURT'S BEES LIP BALM: I live in a very dry area.
Oh, and all my bags (shoulder bags, backpacks) have things like band-aids and pens in them. Now as I reflect on this, I should add a tube of moisturizer.
That's all. What I don't carry: a gun, fixed blade, pocket stick of any kind (kubotan, koppo, etc.), pepper spray. Gimmick weapons, ninja weapons, dye sprays, pointy keychains, knuckles, extendable batons, etc. I would carry OC if I was afraid of crime. But I'm not. My lifestyle is so unbelievably safe. I don't go to clubs or bars, except with a group of friends to celebrate. I can't remember the last time I even walked downtown at night. Only one or two of my friends, family, or colleagues has ever been a victim of a violent crime in the past ten years that I know of, and that was domestic. None has told me of a serious stranger assault in that span of time. The knife is handy for cutting fruit and packages, etc. It will be handy in the event of anything like an aggravated assault or abduction, and it doesn't weigh a thing.
WALLET: ID and assets for any financial eventuality.
KEYCHAIN: Housekey is a Masterlock which cannot be copied except I suppose through keycasting. Red "photon"-style LED ("red" cones in the eye have the shortest refractory period, so this interferes the least with night vision) and Swisstech Utilikey which I mainly use as a screwdriver or politically-correct sawblade. Here we have a keytag service of the War Amps where you register with them and get a numbered keytag with no identifying information on it. If you lose your keys, people can drop them in any mailbox, it'll go to their office, and they'll deliver it to you free of charge. I don't know if that exists in your area, but it's a great safety item.
KNIFE: either a Cold Steel Voyager if I'm wearing gloves that day, or a Spyderco Delica if I'm not. The Delica hole is not glove-friendly. The knife is legal, light, and flat, and can deploy in about a second even under high stress. They're well constructed. Of course, they're no longer the cutting edge in tactical knives but I don't need more than this. I'm NOT going to assemble an arsenal of thousands of dollars worth of folders.
PELICAN LIGHT: tiny, strong, waterproof, a surprisingly bright LED which is gentle on batteries. Tailcap push switch, clips to clothing. I was putting off buying a new flashlight while everyone was running out buying Surefire Centurions and the like. I won't blind anyone with this, but chances are, you suckers lugging those big things in your pockets won't ever have an opportunity to either. And guess what, I could have bought 12 for what you paid for yours. I spent the savings on a terrific high-loft down duvet. HA.
CELL PHONE: of course.
SUGARLESS GUM: of course.
BURT'S BEES LIP BALM: I live in a very dry area.
Oh, and all my bags (shoulder bags, backpacks) have things like band-aids and pens in them. Now as I reflect on this, I should add a tube of moisturizer.
That's all. What I don't carry: a gun, fixed blade, pocket stick of any kind (kubotan, koppo, etc.), pepper spray. Gimmick weapons, ninja weapons, dye sprays, pointy keychains, knuckles, extendable batons, etc. I would carry OC if I was afraid of crime. But I'm not. My lifestyle is so unbelievably safe. I don't go to clubs or bars, except with a group of friends to celebrate. I can't remember the last time I even walked downtown at night. Only one or two of my friends, family, or colleagues has ever been a victim of a violent crime in the past ten years that I know of, and that was domestic. None has told me of a serious stranger assault in that span of time. The knife is handy for cutting fruit and packages, etc. It will be handy in the event of anything like an aggravated assault or abduction, and it doesn't weigh a thing.
), and just some extra training clothes. I don't carry anything on my person except cell phone and wallett and keys.
