Every Day Carry (EDC)

I was asked to discuss a related topic, but I'm starting here.

Why Bother?

It’s all about about being prepared, and though I was asked to present to a group of women, on the “Go Bag” in particular, that doesn’t changes things much from what I do for myself. I take a layered approach to being prepared, so let’s get into that in a bit more detail.

Layers of Preparedness

This post addresses layers 1 and 2.

1. Mind and Body

2. Everyday Carry (EDC)

3. Go-Bag, Get Home Bag, or 24/72 hr Bag (that’s just a few of the names)

4. Vehicle

5. House

6. Homestead

Layer 1: Mind and Body

The first thing you have to do is get your head right, develop the necessary mindset. Bad things can happen here. Virtually all of the “bad things” that you’ve seen happen around the world, either have happened here in the past, are happening here now, or will happen here in the future. The mind…if you want to be a target on the street then simply walk around, or better said slouch around, looking down at your phone while playing something in your earbuds; you’ve basically rendered yourself totally unaware mentally, and you look weak physically. To the outside observer, you are a easy target. This condition can also be brought on through drug and/or alcohol abuse. You must be aware of what’s going on around you, I’m talking about in the nation as a whole, and on the street you are walking. The best short introduction to the concept of “situational awareness” is available as a Rumble video Mental Survival Combat Conditioning by Col. Jeff Cooper ( Color Codes ); or on YouTube Col. Jeff Cooper: Mental condition, Color codes. Walking around as I described above, is Cooper’s condition White; generally you want to be in condition Yellow, alert and aware, but also calm and relaxed. The other conditions are Orange and Red, but I’ll let you discover those for yourself in the video.

The body…the best way to avoid looking weak, like a potential victim, is to avoid being weak; and the best approach to being strong that I have found, bar none, is the approach put forward in The New Primal Blueprint, by Mark Sisson. The New Primal Blueprint is the water, you are the horse; I’ve led you to the water. Don’t be weak. Don’t even give the appearance of being weak. Be prepared, both mentally and physically.

I’m outside every day, and it’s inconvenient to go back to the house when I don’t have what I need. And I’m out and about in public like most everyone else. There’s a saying that goes something like, “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” That’s where I’m at. It’s all about being prepared for what may come. Let’s get started.