Although there's nothing wrong with that if it's what you prefer.
I'm no expert, but I'm willing to share what I know and hope you'll do the same.
"EDC" stands for "every day carry"-- this is the stuff you have on your body all the time, or at least every time you step out of your door.
For most people that means their cell phone, wallet, and keys. For a prepper, it means so much more.
You will carry what you need, depending on your situation. No one else can tell you what you "should" carry, although you should probably listen to their suggestions.
I carry an insane amount of stuff with me at all times. I've adjusted my EDC over the years, based on what I needed as well as what I didn't. I probably still carry too much, but I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Again, adding to your skills can make some things unnecessary.
(here's a link to all my EDC posts on my public blog: http://blog.kentforliberty.com/search/label/EDC)
I wear a vest with 4 pockets on the outside and some pockets on the inside. I also have some pouches on my belt. These are filled with my EDC. Depending on the circumstances I also have a couple of different bags I can grab as I head out the door, but I don't count these as EDC because I might forget them. I only count what's on my body and can't be forgotten at home.
Some things I carry include a selection of knives and knife sharpening tools, a variety of firemaking helpers, a backup battery for my phone as well as chargers, USB cords, and adapters. I carry paper clips, a telescoping straw, note paper and a mechanical pencil. I have a collapsable metal cup, two hobo tools with forks and spoons, extra OTC medications, a bit of precious metal, some paracord, P38 can openers, a mirror, a Photon Microlight, and a Swisstech microtool. I also have a needle and some thread and safety pins, You get the idea.
You'll figure out what you need to carry depending on your circumstances. Make it a habit to EDC. Start today.
Situational awareness is something we could all do better.
The sooner you are aware of the situations unfolding around you, the more time you have to decide whether to intervene or escape.
I say "situations", plural, because there's never only one situation happening near you.
Even if a person comes into a place where you are, intending to be a mass shooter, there are other situations going on. You should be aware of them, too.
Other people may be noticing. Some people may be oblivious and heading into extreme danger. Others may be preparing to address the danger. Would it be better for you to intervene or does someone else already have a handle on it? Would you be helpful or get in their way? Would it be better for you to slip out the side door, or to be the one to take on the responsibility? Every situation is going to be different.
You need to be aware of all these situations, even though it is probably not humanly possible. Tunnel vision will be working against you.
The more ...
The "officials" kept spinning dire warnings about the water situation, so I took it upon myself to do a daily visual check of the water levels in the water tanks I could check. Three out of four have a gauge on the outside. The fourth is a water sphere that, as far as I can tell, has no way for a member of the public to check the water levels. This is disturbing.
What my visual check showed me was that we're in better shape than the "officials" wanted us to believe.
I've been posting photos of the gauges every day on social media, and suddenly, at least the newspaper editor, who is very much in the pockets of the local politicians, admitted that the tanks are nearly full.
I'm not sure he would have admitted this without my intervention, but perhaps.
I also wrote a letter to the editor, which got a lot of pre-publication pushback from the editor. He has his preferred solution, which just so happens to align with the local politicians. He didn't like what I said and tried to make me feel ...
My local town (population ~1400) is in a water crisis. It's always having a low-grade water crisis, but this time, government incompetence brought it to a head.
The guy who visually checks the water levels daily was on vacation. The sensor that keeps the water towers full stopped working. One tower was empty, and the other was half empty before anyone noticed. Now it's everyone's problem.
Consequently, we're under some pretty harsh water restrictions- and they've been getting more severe each day for the past 3 days.
Fortunately, I have quite a bit of water stored. As much as I can fit in the nooks and crannies of my house, anyway. Just last week I got fussed at for doing this. That tune changed quickly.
I've also stocked up on bottled water.
I would catch rainwater, but a lack thereof is the root of the problem.
I wish I lived near a water source, but there are none in this region. I wish I had a well, but of course that would be "illegal" in town. I wish I had a long-term ...
