Personal Survival

[Meerkat]

What do you carry on your person when not travelling by air (since the TSA does not have your personal survival on their agenda) in the way of survival/utlity gear?

I carry a 1 AA battery keyring LED flashlight and a whistle and think I probably ought to carry some sort of pocket or sheath knife. I've also considered, given my personal circumstances, carrying a space blanket in my day pack.

Anybody else?

[Phillip Allen]

My brain (lateral options)

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

My brain (lateral options)

Bad plan - should be kept in a safe place.

[Phillip Allen]

:) /

[Tylerdurden]

It all depends on the situation you expect to encounter.
I won't leave home without a leatherman, pocket led flashlight and matches/lighter, water purifacation tablets, credit cardstyle magnifier (if lose glasses).

When travelling south of the border or uncertain areas, a Tanto style knife, wire saw(good as garotte) first aid kit and like supplies.
Stop by a plumbing supply and get a faucett key. In urban areas a good way to get water while on the move. A fanny pack is a good way to do it but there are good concealable pouches available. A money belt with a few different denominations and some gold/ silver bullion weight coins is a good option and has been quite handy to have.
Also I never wear stupid clothing, if it isn't functional its useless.
Cotton is best for just about everything, though some hemp stuff is terrific. comfotable shoes and cotton socks with a good hat is a must.
First and foremost is state of mind, if you get in a panic easily and your thoughts scatter under stress be smart enough to understand that and travel with someone who can deal with unusual situations.
Most people kill themselves in survivial situations.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I posses a decent right cross and the courage to use it if necessary :D

I also obviously cary my cell phone and the courage to use that if necessary ;)

I've found not much else will make it through TSA. Thank God I don't need hair gel :D

[Tylerdurden]

I posses a decent right cross and the courage to use it if necessary :D

I also obviously cary my cell phone and the courage to use that if necessary ;)
Dump the cellphone, Most dangerous thing to carry. Katrina should have shown us that Gubmint is more dangerous to rely on than strangers. Rescue yourself, don't rely on anyone to come to your aid.
Unless you enjoy being a part of the herd. Someone else always has a phone, so the first thing I toss is the cellphone, Might save the battery though. If you really feel the need to comunicate, get a HAM liscence and carry a handheld 2 meter radio. If your talking to a group of hams in an emergency you are more likely to get the truth of what is really going on. Dial 911 and die.

[Bill R]

Always- small first aid kit, leatherman or or Gerber equivalent, small flashlight, folding knife, matches/lighter.

What else depends on where I am going and by what means I am travelling there. Since I travel all over Maine for my job, to some inhospitable transmitter sites, I always have the above, water, TP, energy bars, change of clothes, water purification tablets, outer clothing suitable for the season, shovel, ropes, comealong, and all sorts of other "stuff" in my truck.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Dump the cellphone, Most dangerous thing to carry. Katrina should have shown us that Gubmint is more dangerous to rely on than strangers. Rescue yourself, don't rely on anyone to come to your aid.
Unless you enjoy being a part of the herd. Someone else always has a phone, so the first thing I toss is the cellphone, Might save the battery though. If you really feel the need to comunicate, get a HAM liscence and carry a handheld 2 meter radio. If your talking to a group of hams in an emergency you are more likely to get the truth of what is really going on. Dial 911 and die.


I got two buddies on the planet, I make a call they come no questions asked no matter where. Also my phone is for most part a smart phone so I can send email, text message and search the web, & its GPS. Last year I used it to find the only Cafe with filtered water and AC in playa del carmen ;) :D

By the way you cant get past TSA with a nail clipper so the Letherman becomes some TSA's kids birthday present. That goes for all your macho survival gear. The plane goes down in the Andies and all I have is my wits, right cross, and my cell phone, so guess what your my next BBQ as I wait for my buddies :)

[Tylerdurden]

Your right, in day to day living its a godsend, In an all out emergency though, its useless and can be harmful. Just don't rely on it when the &%*$ hits the fan, if you know what I mean.
Its one of the first things I will carry, and one of the first things I will discard. Seriously consider a Ham ticket.

All those things I mention cant go carry on, When on a plane your spam in a can so why worry.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Slightly off topic but has anyone watched that show on TLC (I think ) called Survivorman http://www.survivorman.ca/


No food, no shelter, no fresh water, no tools... no camera crew. One man - alone in the wild for seven days with only his wits and stamina to sustain him.

Airing on “The Science Channel” in the U.S., and “The Outdoor Life Network” in Canada, each episode finds “Survivorman” Les Stroud abandoned in a remote location. He carries little more than the clothes on his back – and his cameras. Les not only needs to survive for a week without supplies, but he has to film everything himself, lugging over fifty pounds of camera gear the entire time. The Costa Rican rainforest, Arctic ice-flows, Georgian swamp and the high Sonora desert include a few locales where Les has overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

Now thats a guy that can get it done ;)

[Tylerdurden]

Joe I didn't catch it until I read through a second time,
"Macho survivial gear"
Why is it wrong to be a man, I am a veteran and was trained to be self reliant. This country was built on self reliance. Thirty years ago it was the law of the land for the counrty to have six months of grain and foodstuffs on hand for every man women and child, Today it is three days. Thats right three days. You can look it up, its documented.
You can rely on the system, its your choice. I am a realist and understand the Machine that we built and surrounds us doesn't give a damn if any of us live or die. It looks good on the outside but just scratch that veneer and wake up to the truth of the matter.
If you are caught in a Katrina style situation who would you rather be alongside, Somone that has experience in tough situations or that Metrosexual dude that must carry hair gel for those tough situations.
No offense but its the anti Macho crap that has gotten us to were we are now. I was born male and I like it that way, so does my girlfreind, She likes to feel safe.

[Tylerdurden]

Slightly off topic but has anyone watched that show on TLC (I think ) called Survivorman http://www.survivorman.ca/



Now thats a guy that can get it done ;)

Only watched it once but it was accurate. He would be a good person to have around.

[botebum]

S&W .380 Sigma, loaded with 6 rnds Starfire and a cellphone.

Doug

[Bob Adams]

Lighter, pocket knife, baby Maglite and a P 95 Ruger.

[huisjen]

First, I tend not to travel. I foresee one trip in the next several years, and I'll probably do that by train. TSA is not my problem.

My first piece of survival gear is my house. It's stocked with blankets, firewood, food, books, oil lamps, etc. Accessories to the house include the barn, shop, and garage, each of which has additional survival items and tools.

In my truck I carry an ax, a cigarette lighter plug-in spot light, tire chains (in winter), a tool kit, a moving blanket, a first aid kit, a cane, an umbrella, and a spare fleece shirt. Often there's also some sort of food in there, like peanuts. I ought to stock road flares too.

In my pockets I carry a leatherman PSTII, a lock-blade utility knife that takes standard blades, a tape measure, pen/pencil/marker, a small flashlight, ear plugs, a bandana, loose change, and my wallet. My wallet includes a few needles and thread.

Dan

[Tylerdurden]

I am down on handguns, Thats a device that is meant to kill.
I am not a big fan on killing, just stopping an attack is good enough for me. I have several friends who carry and they are to damn reliant on what a hand gun will do for them. When the time comes to be armed just give me a Mossberg 500 and a belt of "oo" and slugs.
Best handgun I ever had. Of course I do pray it never comes to that.
We are conditioned to think its okay to kill, Its not and maybe our leaders should start keeping that in mind.

[Tylerdurden]

First, I tend not to travel. I foresee one trip in the next several years, and I'll probably do that by train. TSA is not my problem.

My first piece of survival gear is my house. It's stocked with blankets, firewood, food, books, oil lamps, etc. Accessories to the house include the barn, shop, and garage, each of which has additional survival items and tools.

In my truck I carry an ax, a cigarette lighter plug-in spot light, tire chains (in winter), a tool kit, a moving blanket, a first aid kit, a cane, an umbrella, and a spare fleece shirt. Often there's also some sort of food in there, like peanuts. I ought to stock road flares too.

In my pockets I carry a leatherman PSTII, a lock-blade utility knife that takes standard blades, a tape measure, pen/pencil/marker, a small flashlight, ear plugs, a bandana, loose change, and my wallet. My wallet includes a few needles and thread.

Dan


If you ever run for office, you have my vote!

[Bob Adams]

We are conditioned to think its okay to kill, Its not and maybe our leaders should start keeping that in mind.

I agree. I do however, reserve the right to defend myself.

[Tylerdurden]

I agree. I do however, reserve the right to defend myself.

Right there with ya! Its a personal choice and I will defend your right to make it.

[botebum]

Tyler, You are down on handguns because they are meant to kill but you'd choose to carry a shotgun loaded well enough to bring down big game? You make absolutely no sense. BTW a .380, even loaded with Starfire, doesn't have a hell of a lot of knockdown power. It's more of a slowdown gun.

Doug

[huisjen]

S&W .380 Sigma, loaded with... a cellphone.

That's got to be quite the bit of engineering.

Dan

[Phillip Allen]

With the presents of a firearm it is even more important to have your brain with you...if I ever point a firearm at someone it will be because I believe ALL my other options have been exhausted.

[botebum]

Dan:D

Doug

[Tylerdurden]

Tyler, You are down on handguns because they are meant to kill but you'd choose to carry a shotgun loaded well enough to bring down big game? You make absolutely no sense. BTW a .380, even loaded with Starfire, doesn't have a hell of a lot of knockdown power. It's more of a slowdown gun.

Doug
I said when the time comes, which I hope it doesn't. If it is needed I won't play James bond with a .380, My thought is if you need a tool bring the right tool for the job. I don't carry and probally never will.
I used to when I lived in Miami in the eighties. It was like the wild west back then. At that time I kept an AMT longslide 45 in a shoulder holster and when being discreet a pocket 45.
Having to carry large amounts of cash it was a moral imperative to be armed. I just did not feel good about it when I did and all it gave me is a false sense of security. From my own experience I find it hinders your decision to make the right choice which is to walk or run away from danger if you can. If you can't I will take my chances with a knife. Your less likely to face prosecution if you kill a gunman with a knife than a gun. If you do carry, my one word of advice is to make sure your in a corner and on your ass when you fire. Difficult to do in a hot situation.

[Phillip Allen]

I think I agree with Tylerdurden as I understand him...In my limited experience, I have seen the firearm as a substitute for thought...brain. It is a poor substitution

[Phillip Allen]

In an attempt to get on with what I think is the point of the thread, I remember many camping trips before the advent of cell phones...some way to start a fire is needed as well as a sharp tool that is convient to carry and a little iodine...after that, add what space will allow. I have slept in dry winter comfort under a big pile of leaves while small critters raced up and down my britches legs...

[emichaels]

The plane goes down in the Andies and all I have is my wits, right cross, and my cell phone, so guess what your my next BBQ as I wait for my buddies :)

Your making two assumptions there Joe. That your cell phone will work in the Andies and that you will land that right cross !

[Tristan]

Condems

[Phillip Allen]

I think Joe has the right idea...his phrasing could use help but that is unimportant. What he is saying (I think...with apologies) is the same thing I'm trying to say and that is to THINK clearly and act with decision.

[Phillip Allen]

Tristan,

Could con-dems be an oxymoron? (smiling inscrutably)

[emichaels]

Carrying a firearm or knife, unless you are well trained and well practiced and willing to use them, will get most peopled killed.

[huisjen]

When I leave my fortress of attitude, I always wear my nuclear powered robotic exoskeleton, made of highly advanced woven ceramic fibers and lined with a skin tingling array of neuro-contol interfaces. My suit of armor blocks incoming radiation, and contains noxious gas filters, it’s own oxygen supply, and can even photosynthesize my own waste back into food. In order to not draw attention to my carapace, I wear a chartruse cape over it. The cape also hides my survival belt, which holds my ray gun, tactical fusion grenades, ninja throwing stars, hand-held ground penetrating radar unit, and a really big freaking knife. My helmet gives me super hearing, through frequencies normally restricted to certain small flying mammals, as well as tactical displays, fax, and internet access. Some days I can even access I Love Lucy reruns. The exoskeleton enables me to run at 300 miles per hour, jump canyons, lift buildings, and decend to a depth of three miles below the ocean’s surface. When I’m not fighting the forces of E-ville, I can set the suit to full body massage mode, including settings for the application of baby oil and KY Jelly.

...

[Tristan]

Tristan,

Could con-dems be an oxymoron? (smiling inscrutably)
Not really, but quick thinking on your part. Just a misspelling of condom

[huisjen]

I'm kind of surprised nobody's mentioned coffee yet.

Dan

[Tylerdurden]

I think Joe has the right idea...his phrasing could use help but that is unimportant. What he is saying (I think...with apologies) is the same thing I'm trying to say and that is to THINK clearly and act with decision.


Yes, clearly. But to have such a reliance on the cell phone is truly dangerous. Hi-tech will almost always fail when needed most and that false sense of security can lead you to stay put and wait for help when you really just need to move.
A lot of the victims down in NOLA know now that a cell phone is a great convienence, but not a life saver.
If I had my choice of only one hi-tech device it would probally be a Handheld transciever like a yaesu VX series. Broadband receive, HF VHF and UHF and the capabilty to transmit on multiple frequencys.
Once the cell towers go down your screwed.

[Leon m]

all I need are my two hands...registered with the FBI as deadly weapons...Hooooya !

[htom]

Assuming you are staying in an urban environment, Meer, both the Space Blanket (better, the http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/products/KIT_e_ess_heatsheetblanket.htm ) and an inexpensive plastic poncho would be good things to carry about. Wet and cold can be a real killer, especially for those whose health is not robust.

http://www.equipped.com/

A "tactical" knife (in addition to your Leatherman or other multi-tool) can be useful. If you have the training and keep it up, they can be excellent self-defense tools as well. ( http://www.crkt.com/m16spfrc.html ) Depending on your state, you may want to leave the back side of the blade unsharpened.

Guns, well, they're not magic wands, for good or evil. They can be great noisemakers, as well as other uses.

[Hwyl]

Meerkat, congratulations. You win the troll of the month award.

The disturbing thing is that I like all the "eccentrics" who've posted above.

[paladin]

Coffee or tea, although acting as stimulants, also cause dehydration if you have a small water supply....if you are in a hostage situation a gun or leaterman will be taken.....I, However, have a couple of rather intersting ball point pens......
needles and small stuff is handy....
with a small knife and some pieces of wood you can make a malayan throwing stick and short spear, more easily made than a bow and arrows....
in hand to hand combat a pencil can be as deadly as a knife, and more often passed over....
a styptic pencil can help with small scrapes and wounds....
the water purification tablets and a plastic baggy folded in the wallet is easy to carry.....
other than that, I prefer the Browning P-35 loaded with Israeli submachine gun ammo, my randalls #1 and #2.....a titanium handled balisong, the styptic pencil, water purification tablets, space blanket, metal match and a comfortable pair of shoes...
The two meter handheld presupposes that there will be someone withing range, short range, to hear your call....I have a very small 5 watt, 20 meter handheld with a much longer range.....also a sat phone packed away.....

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Revised my choice I would carry one paladin as my personal survival gear :D :D

[Katherine]

Murphy's law pretty much dictates that you'll be with out the one piece of equipment you could really use. My best survival strategy is to keep a cool head and try to make the best use of what I have available to me at that time.

[paladin]

aw, Katherine....ya just need a good pair of shoes and RUN LIKE HELL!:D

[Tylerdurden]

Palladin, I would love a 20 meter handheld, Is that Am only?
I sugested the 2 meter handheld more for the expanded recieve rather than transmit. A good SW reciever would also be handy if not a handheld.
I agree on the pencil thing in a sense, I got hurt on the jobs a few weeks back and needed several stitches at the emer. room.
Security came in and said they needed my leatherman while I was
getting my stitches , He mentioned it was for everyones security and I couldnt help adding false sense of security. He had a puzzeled look on his face so I mentioned that there were several things in the room that I could use if the need arised. The doctor got a kick out of that. People today are so fooled by this security bullcrap.
We give up our rights at the mere mention of the boogeyman.

[Katherine]

Chuck, it's the engineer's brain in me. Given certain resources, how do I get what I want?

[ahp]

Major credit cards and cash. One can argue that these attract bad folks, but on the other hand, if there is heavy lifting to be done there are lots of somebodies that will do it for $$$.

[Katherine]

Major credit cards and cash. One can argue that these attract bad folks, but on the other hand, if there is heavy lifting to be done there are lots of somebodies that will do it for $$$.A girl should always keep enough cash on her for cab fare. You never know when a date will turn ugly.

[paladin]

Tylerdurden....
No a.m., strictly SSB....you can add a little carrier insertion for specific frequencies if need be....I sorta "modified" mine with a couple of diodes and a very small pot for carrier insertion for a couple of marine radio channels....
Katherine....ya just gotta have a positive attitude...since I can't run anymore I gotta be as ornery as possible....

[Katherine]

Chuck, the 1st rule of survival I learned in college was to know who you were drinking with.

[paladin]

Best rule...don't drink.....:D

[Katherine]

Never been a heavy hitter on the bottle.

[Bob Cleek]

What's wrong with the old Walther's PPK and ten gold sovereigns in the lining of your suitcase?

[Katherine]

What's wrong with the old Walther's PPK and ten gold sovereigns in the lining of your suitcase?Try getting that on an airplane. :eek:

[paladin]

Walther is too heavy....requires hydrashok handloads, grip is too short....Titanium FEG is much much lighter, will take the higher powered load and the grip is just a bit longer and the magazine takes one more round......gold sovereigns....hell someone would take them and kill ya anyway.....and the machine and fine tuning work is much better than the walther.....

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I repeat I'll take one fully equipped paladin (http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/member.php?u=2600) as my survival gear :D :D :D

[Meerkat]

Wow, this thread has gone haring off in a direction I never anticipated! :eek:

[paladin]

aw..c'mon Meer...whatdidja expect.....:D

we coulda come up with tan shoes...a can of tan or clear shoe polish laced with curare, needles in the bottom of the shoe polish, cotton balls for polishing the shoes and a small bottle of nail hardener...carrying a soft drink with a couple of personal soda straws in your pocket......

...or a bracelet made of rubber bands...and a variation on the above...

a guitar E string sewn in the side seams of your jeans.....wooden toggles on your jacket....

and my belt buckle has never been checked.....

[Phillip Allen]

Oh, that IS funny...

[huisjen]

Are we talking about survival or assasination?

Dan

[Phillip Allen]

The distinction may be blurred for some...

[Meerkat]

My favorite trick is the hand grenade with the spoon held down by a rubber band in the vehicle's gas tank. Amazing how fast gas will erode rubbBOOM! :D

[Lew Barrett]

Fully loaded AMEX and Visa, key chain light, and my Puma Packer in case I need to whittle some toothpicks or open those ridiculous plastic containers that Costco stuff comes in. I find there are so few problems a fully loaded AMEX card can't get me out of that for all intents it suffices on its own, but I like the pocket knife because it comes in handy so often.
The bike and car are another thing entirely, each with their own bespoke kit that has way more in it than I can name here (CO2 cartridges, tire repair kits, specific tools, sun screen, fire, shock cords etc. etc.) and I have way more stuff on the boat than I will likely ever need, as you know, David. No matter what mode of travel I take, there's always a bottle of water or three. Recently, it's occured to me that a package of Tucks could be useful to add to the kit....and I'm surprised that inveterate SE Asia hands haven't included a key component....TP!
I don't see any reason to carry because I'm not trained in the self defense use of a pistol (but have a couple at home) and as for the pocket knife, it's for cutting bread, opening packages and making toothpicks, just like I said. If I didn't think I could kick the living s**t out of any guy who is giving me a hard time, I'd just give him the contents of my pockets and hope he doesn't take my shoes and pants.
I did once (in San Francisco) get held up at gunpoint by a guy with a 38, and he demanded my wallet and my watch. He then asked me if I had anything else of value and I rather foolishly replied; "Just the jacket on my back" at which point he said...."hand it over." You'd have thought it would have taught me to keep my big mouth shut, but apparantly not.

[Meerkat]

I was thinking more of convenience and/or short-term survival. My day pack includes an umbrella (hey, it's Seattle, and besides those titanium umbrella ribs... :)), a water bottle, a monocular (1.5 eyes don't make binoculars particularly useful for me), meds, including syringes for 3 days and an AM/FM/Weather band pocket radio with headphones. My primary concern is being out and about when Seattle gets her overdue and long-predicted big earthquake. I figure if I can last 3 days, someone can get me home or to a shelter.

[Lew Barrett]

I figure if I can last 3 days, someone can get me home or to a shelter.

As long as i don't have somebody in town...or out of town!:D

[Meerkat]

I got mugged in SF too! I didn't argue with whatever he was pointing at me though his coat pocket. I had nothing on me except a very nice suade jacket which he did not ask for. I forebore to mention the 2 20's in my shoe (having the presence of mind to know what kind of neighborhood I was walking through, but not the sense to "dress down" for the neigborhood - The Filmore District). He patted me down and sent me on my way. ;)

[huisjen]

A friend in college told me how he was once mugged while walking through the passage under the subway tracks, heading from one platform to another in NYC. The guy had a knife. My friend snapped his fingers. The echo made the mugger look around, at which point my friend said, "Okay, now you give me your wallet...."

Another college friend, also from New York, handled things a little differently. He's lightly built and not very tall. He generally just dressed like a bum and nobody bothered him.

Dan

[Katherine]

When I was at the plant for 3 weeks back in June, I was repeatedly warned not to go out in the hotel parking lot after dark. Turns out the parking lot was the local drug & prostitution hookup.

[Paul Pless]

Turns out the parking lot was the local drug & prostitution hookup.

most hotel parking lots are, think about it...

[Meerkat]

Another college friend, also from New York, handled things a little differently. He's lightly built and not very tall. He generally just dressed like a bum and nobody bothered him.

DanWhen I dressed for the neighborhood I lived in, I never got hassled. A hippy would be more apt to try and panhandle the mugger than have any money! :D

[Katherine]

This was actually 4 hotels that had adjoining parking lots right off the freeway. Easy on, easy off access. I wasn't born yesterday ya know. Gees.:rolleyes:

[Memphis Mike]

A hammer and a condom.

[Meerkat]

You don't need a hammer for that kind of nail! ;) :D

[George Roberts]

ahp ---

I egree with you. Along with some cash and credit cards a cell phone is important.

---

I expect a lot of posters have no idea how to survive. (A good mugger shoots from a window well above and behind you. He takes your handgun while you lie there bleeding.)

[crawdaddyjim50]

This gentleman lived through it. http://www.buildanark.net/argentinean.html

Good read if you want to know what it is like.

[paladin]

Damn Lew....TP....who needs TP.......:D

[Meerkat]

I wonder how well the banking system worked in LA after Katrina. Bet it was virtually impossible to use a CC for at least the first several weeks in many places.

TP is a good idea!

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

A friend in college told me how he was once mugged while walking through the passage under the subway tracks, heading from one platform to another in NYC. The guy had a knife. My friend snapped his fingers. The echo made the mugger look around, at which point my friend said, "Okay, now you give me your wallet...."

Another college friend, also from New York, handled things a little differently. He's lightly built and not very tall. He generally just dressed like a bum and nobody bothered him.

Dan

Finished a bartending shift 20 years ago at "The Cupping Room" in SoHo. A little bouncing around with some coworkers after our shift I decide to pop into the Franklin St. Subway and head home. $400 in my pocket from the nights work and looking just like a bartender getting off his shift, black pants white shirt.
La De Da bouncing down the stairs, not even thinking something would happen. Round the corner and WHAM BAM I was hit so hard and so fast by three guys I had no chance to even think about how to defend myself. About 20 good head shots and body shots and a few kicks to the head later after I hit the deck, I was $400 lighter and in a whole new world of pain. :(

The thing that got me was I never even had a chance to react It was fast and furious and I was beat up. At the time I was in very good shape and boxed quite a bit, but I couldn't even raise my hands.

[paladin]

I came home one evening, walked into the house to see my mother in law dressed like a bag lady...sorta caught me by surprise....I wanted to know what was going on...
She was on her way with a small(actually a BIG) fortune to purchase diamonds for the shop. I offered to fly her to the buy but she refused....
She would ride the bus....and return, carrying cash one way and diamonds the other.....she had never been bothered....She and my ex had the biggest diamond/gold/jewelry business in half the country...

[Lew Barrett]

Damn Lew....TP....who needs TP.......:D

Actually Chuck, I reckon just about everybody, except most places you don't have to bring your own roll:D But not in in Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia; there it's well to have some "in hand."

[paladin]

that's what the water bucket is for....and the bar of soap....:D damn...do I gotta edjakate youse folks...:D

[Lew Barrett]

that's what the water bucket is for....and the bar of soap....:D damn...do I gotta edjakate youse folks...:D
Preferably not under the circumstances:D

[Ron Joslin]

If you believe TV its " American Express - never leave home without it ".

Really, I think a cell phone would top my list for the big problems , the small stuff I can take care of whith what ever is in reach.

[Tylerdurden]

I wonder how well the banking system worked in LA after Katrina. Bet it was virtually impossible to use a CC for at least the first several weeks in many places.

TP is a good idea!

Thats why I made the suggestion of the money belt, I put some small bills along with the large ones (can't get change in an emergency)
Also some gold and silver bullion coins make for good barter. If out of the country, the primary local currency plus euro's and fiat Fed notes.
Most handy survivial item I have.

I will only travel with one credit card and a spare ussually.I hate the dammed things to begin with.

[paladin]

Credit cards are a PIA......I rarely use one, and the one time that I did, half way around the world in the middle of nowhere, I used it twice in three hours and the damn company locked it up...I couldn't even use it to call them......I carry a debit card and have used it in a two bit town in Kazakhstan....

[huisjen]

If you believe TV its " American Express - never leave home without it ".

Which always reminds me of the Yacov Smirnov joke: "Soviet Express - Don't Leave Home."

Dan

[Alan D. Hyde]

I always carry a wallet, watch, swiss army knife, keys, money clip, and matches.

Most of the time I have a measuring tape on me. Often, a biker's wrench (small Bulldog wrench).

If I'm out of the country or in a rough area, a money belt.

Alan

[geeman]

I do it easier,I dont need a money belt,whats the point in carrying an empty money belt? LOL

[Wild Dingo]

Lew mentioned what to me and most Aussies is the pre-requisite to survival here... water.

The cell phone? mobiles dont work in many areas of Aussie outback and not so outback theyre a useless lump...

For me first and formost is water I carry a 20litr bottle of water in the car at all times and a 10litr reserve for the radiator both are potable theres also a litre bottle in the cab Jos car has a box or 24 small bottles of water in the boot plus a 5litr container of potable water for the radiator we teach all the kids to keep at least 5litrs of water in their cars at all times... especially in summer.
a filletting knife and a pocket knife a 3ft strip of leather a hat some spare thongs (flipflops? for your feet) small fishing line a small magnifying glass and in the back of my wallet along side my plectrum is a small set of fishhooks... not that I carry my wallet with me I tend not to as it rarely has or feels the presence of money to warrant it :rolleyes: if Im travelling anywhere I tend to have $100 in 20s stuffed away in several spots

Im not threatened by anyone and Im not a threat to anyone... since I try to appear that I have nothing anyone would be interested in and keep it that way!

Mind you all thats said bareing in mind that I dont travel internationally at all and extremely rarely to a city and then never at night :rolleyes:

[George Roberts]

Since Joe told his story of being accosted ... (The dictionary web site has changed. Yes, the word is used improperly.)

I was at the zoo last weekend. Trying to board the train with my 3 year old granddaughter. A fellow with 3 kids was also there.

As I was loading the stroller in the "stroller" car, my granddaughter was climbing into a seat down the train somewhere.

After loading the stroller, I looked for my granddaughter. This poor fellow had grabbed her by the hand and with 2 of his kids was trying to leave the area.

He looked down, saw he had the wrong kid, and corrected the situation.

(Good thing I didn't have a gun, a knife, or a pack of dogs.)

[Meerkat]

Ah come on George - at that age they all look and whine the same! :D

[George Jung]

Several years ago, while at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, I found myself walking with somebody elses child; they had come up, taken my hand, and I was merrily on my way with 'my child' until I looked around and found my two year old twins looking at me with concern (they were the ones supposed to be on the other end of my hand). I looked at the child grasping my hand, who looked confused; quickly found her parent, and went on my way. Just glad it wasn't Roberts' grandchild!:D

[Sailor]

George and George!!!! I never would have thought of that sort of scenario but I guess it's all too easy to just reach down for the hand of the wrong kid and walk away with them. I wonder how often that happens. Both of you're stories turned out ok but I wonder if alot of them don't??? Scary to think about!

[George Jung]

As a parent, I have only the welfare of, not only my children, but everyone elses in mind; children are very trusting, and it certainly puts them at risk if someone with nefarious intent happens along. Recognize that, in both scenarios, the parents (on both ends) were alert; my encounter/correction of the situation probably took less than 10 seconds; the parents of the child holding my hand were already looking for her. Ya gotta be vigilant, especially in todays world, eh?

BTW, it was the child who reached up and took my hand; I just assumed (yeah, I know) it was one of mine. I guess adults are pretty trusting, too.

[Elcoholic]

I always carry my Case marlinspike knife, a lighter, a Corona "Cerveza Mas Fina" bottle opener/keyring and a $100 bill for potential deal closing.