A few months back, I wrote about the things I carry every day, and some of the reasons I carry them.  Back then, my pockets housed a multi-tool, a pair of lights, a whistle, and my keys.  Today, my pockets are a little more full – with the exception of the bracelet, all the stuff below was in my pockets earlier.

Keep in mind that this stuff is in my pockets.  I also have a bag that I almost always have with me, and that contains quite a few other things.  Why do I carry these things around?  Let me paste an excerpt from my previous post:

I’m a geek, I’m (or I was) a scout, and I’m a MacGyver fan.  If you get it already, you can skip the next three paragraphs.  If you don’t, then let me explain.

I’m a geek. I’m a photography geek, trivia geek, light & lighting geek, and tech geek, among other (geeky) things.  In this specific case though, I’m a gadget geek.  I like gadgets, gizmos, doodads, thingamajigs, and watchamacallits.  I like taking things apart to figure out how they work, and putting them back together again (or at least trying).  I like toys, and these toys happen to be quite useful.

I’m a scout. The Scout Motto is “Be Prepared,” and carrying these things is definitely a step in that direction.  What am I preparing for?  I’m obviously not prepared for a doomsday scenario, an alien attack, or a zombie infestation, but I’m definitely prepared for most little emergencies I’m likely to encounter.  If I need to look for something under a bed or a desk, or open up a computer, or do a quick repair on one of my light stands, I’m probably covered.  At the very least, I already have some tools immediately at my disposal.

I’m a MacGyver fan. If you don’t know who MacGyver is, I’m not going to try and explain.  Instead, I suggest you check out this Wikipedia entry on MacGyver.

You can click on the image to get notes on the items I carry, but in case you don’t want to click through, here’s a brief rundown:

two (2) flashlights (one in my pocket + one on my keychain), keys, multi-tool, knife, whistle, paracord bracelet, lighter, pepper spray

Of all the items I carry, the only thing that I really consider a weapon is the pepper spray.  Everything else is a tool, though some of the items could see use in a self-defense situation.  Besides, the best self-defense tool, in my opinion, is your brain, and the best techniques are awareness and avoidance – be aware of your surroundings, and avoid potentially dangerous situations.  This train of thought, however, is best reserved for another post (or even another site), so that’s all I’ll say about self-defense.

Getting back on topic, the items I carry are tools that help me tackle everyday emergencies or other situations.  Like I said, I’m a scout, and I like to be prepared.  There’s a saying that “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”  For a lot of everyday urban situations, I’m probably covered.

That being said, I still want to add a few things to this kit.  I still want to add a Gerber Shard or some other pry-bar, as well as some form of ID that lists my blood type, allergies, emergency contact, and other information.  Heck, I’ve got a whole list of items I want on Amazon (and since it’s a wish list that other people can see, I’ve limited it to items under $100).

I know I probably carry around a lot more things than the average though, but it still goes back to being prepared.  Some items, I may never use – in fact, I hope I never need them.  Most of this stuff, however, is stuff I use (or at least play with) everyday.

Going back to the average Joe, I have to ask: what do you carry around everyday?  What’s in your pockets?  What’s in your bag?  Why do you carry that around?  Are you ready for your everyday emergencies?