"Everyday Carry, or EDC, generally refers to small items or gadgets worn, carried, or made available in pockets, holsters, or bags on a daily basis to manage common tasks or for use in unexpected situations or emergencies. In a broader sense, it is a lifestyle, discipline, or philosophy of preparedness."
Source: http://everyday-carry.com/
-Follow the link for additional examples.
The above link is not where I got the idea from, but it's full of good examples of other EDCs. Previously, I had called my bag the Shit Happens bag. After a friend sent me the above link I started calling it my EDC.
Honestly, like most great ideas, I can't give you a single event or conversation that made me commit to a philosophy of preparedness. I've always lived it to some degree. The man who taught me how to break, train, and show horses use to always say, "It's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it." Maybe it's because I grow up in a military family. Or maybe because I grow up too fast and always needed to be prepared. It was likely a million things, and most of them I couldn't name. In any event, I have committed fully to a life of preparedness. In pursue of that goal, I have been building my EDC.
Every EDC is different. What a person carries is very much dependent on how one lives life. My EDC helps me be prepared to do the things I will likely do as well as emergency situations. However, it's also my compass in life. Being young, just out of college, I think a lot about who I want to be and how I want to live my life. I often think to myself, if I die tomorrow, will people be able to look at my life and see me?...Or will they see a different person?
These thoughts are new and convoluted in my mind so let me try to explain. It's all about priorities. Step one is to figure out what I want and where I want to go/be. Step two is to make a plan. Step three is to execute that plan. These are the steps I believe I must take if I wish to direct my life. Otherwise, life will push me along down the road and there's no telling where I'll end up. I may end up somewhere I don't want to be.
I have a good idea of how I want to live my life, major things I want to do, places I want to go, and how I want to work. Now, I just focus on moving in that direction. My EDC is a good indicator of where I am on that journey. A cop carries a gun. A construction worker carries a hard hat. These things communicate to them and everyone else what they do. I can analyse my EDC and it communicates to me what I do, who I am, and how far I have to go before I'm the me I want to be.
Currently, my EDC contains:
| Electronic Tools: microscope crank and solar -FM/AM and weather band radio -/light -USB charge port and audio port 250GB external drive and USB cable 8GB USB stick long range wireless mouse (range: ~50ft.) headlamp small flashlight IPOD/charge cable/headphones | Emergency Gear: crackers and gum reserve cash water proof container water proof poncho multi tool: -compass/whistle/flashlight -/thermometer/mirror/magnifier survival kit in a can -(For content info: http://www.nitro-pak.com/products/survival-kits/survival-kits/survival-kit-in-a-can) |
| First-Aid: bandages chapstick Hygiene: folding hair brush oil absorbing sheets tooth brush floss tooth paste tampons/liners hand sanitizer | Medical: anti-Acid tablets Ibuprofen UTAs Benadryl Peptobismol tablets No-Doz A 1000 Uses: handkerchief |
| Paper Goods: Shapie and pen notebook checkbook NATO phonetic alphabet -I forget a letter every now and then :) | Tools: fire starter hobo knife tiny screwdriver length of Velcro bottle opener tool kit with bits carabiners |
It's a work in progress and I hope it always will be. I add, replace, and take away as my daily needs change. If I want something for my life, for example, if I want to be more outdoorzy, then I add outdoor items to my bag and put myself in situation where I need to use them. It feels wonderful to always have what you need and its great to be that person. The one who always has that tool or knife that is needed.
*As a side note, in addition to my EDC, I carry my wallet, phone, and pocket knife on me.
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