What's in YOUR wallet? (Sort of a WWYD)

[AmadanNaBriona]

My current batch of co-workers is gelling into a pretty solid team. Like most Theater techs, they're pretty much all geeks and each into his or her own particular subcultural pursuits. Many are at least somewhat associated with Burningman culture.

So we got to talking about a Zombie Apocalypse and wound up comparing the contents of our various satchels, backpacks, and other man-purses.

So here's the question...

You're out and about doing your normal daily routine carrying your usual going out kit.

If suddenly zombies started popping up everywhere, how hosed are you? Do you tote around a survival kit or a diaper bag (although diaper bags can hold a metric sh*t-ton of useful stuff)?

I know a lot of us here on the boards are well prepared when confronted in our den.
I suspect many, myself included, slack off in our day to day lives.

If you habitually carry around neat toys this is an excellent venue within to brag.

Admittedly, this new rum is making me a bit wordy, so my judgement might be askew...

[IndianaJoe3]

My wallet just has normal wallet stuff, but I also wear a belt pouch with a cell phone, flashlight, multi-tool, pen tool, pickup tool, bit driver (with bits), socket sets (metric and SAE), telescope, corkscrew, and a comb.

[Lucius]

That reminds me, I need to put the comb back.

Lucius Alexander

what's in the palindromedary's saddlebags?

[Zen Archer]

My "going-out" kit is little more than the wallet, a cell phone, comb, and pocket change.

My daily routine takes me into a downtown area with some options regarding equipment, so I wouldn't consider myself hosed.

[AndyStaples]

I'd be hosed. My routine leaving-the-house supplies are my wallet with a bit of cash and the usual cards, my house key, my cellphone (it's an Android with GPS so I'd have maps until the power ran out or the support system went down), a lighter and a packet of cigs.

[AmadanNaBriona]

OK, this is beginning to feed my "Stage hands are all obsessed survivalist action hero wannabes" paranoia, because my kit is pretty typical among my coworkers and our on contract guns for hire...

my current going about bag is an eastport daypack. I used to have a Swiss Army messenger satchel, but I broked it.

current contents (Grabs bag)...

Outer pen pocket: 8 GB MP3 player, 3 .5mm roll ball gel pens, a .5 mm mechanical pencil, a Dixon #2 pencil, and a jumbo Sharpie

Outer zip pocket: Leatherman core, 8 led flashlight, collapsing metal cup with belt clip, laser level

Outside sundries pouch:Whole mess of power adapters that'll let me charge most anything I own from most anywhere (Most notably 120v edison to USB). Bud earphones, cellphone belt clip, and my medical supplies... nasal spray for congestion, antacids, tea tree chewing sticks for oral hygiene (and they make wicked firestarters when you've chewed-em up), lipbalm, newskin, steri-strips, hand sanitizer, and superglue (The last four comprising my main first aid kit). Lastly, a bag with my pagan jewelry in it, in case I feel like swapping out a charm (One of the necklaces is actually a pirate themed sex toy, but it's broken ), and a string of large labradorite beads.

Main Body, Foreward Compartment: Black long sleeve button neck T shirt, Cd wallet w 24 burned mix CD's, Altec Lansing portable speaker w/carabiner, Al Stollman rotary leather punch, a dozen alkaline batteries of mixed sizes, my Cold Steel SRK (Survival/Recon Knife) in it's hard scabbard with 4 feet of leather lace woven around the hard scabbard, a copy of McCreight's The Complete Metalsmith, and Stan Hamper's Lighting Devices And Accessories of the 17th-19th Centuries

Main Body Aft: A pair of kneepads, a backbelt, a ziplock bag with a few nitrile gloves, a 9"x5" blank notepad, a bag of dried fruit bits from TJ's, a couple of Tiger'smilk bars and a small bag of jerky.

And I'm never without my coffee/water bottle.
I also habitually wear fingerless leather gloves, knee high hard leather boots, and a leather duster.
MY utility belt used to have more utility... I need to fix my beltpouch. Right now my effects belt pretty well just holds my wallet (includes a credit card sized fresnel lens, JIC) and keys, tho the various keeper loops were originally desinged to hang swords from, so can be pressed back into cargo duty easily. Oh, and I keep a paperclip attached to the backside of my cigarette beltpouch, just in case I find myself in the position of having my hands behind my back and wishing I had a paperclip...

[Vulcan]

Well, I work at a restaurant so we have plenty of knives, skillets, and other such implements of destruction close at hand, not to mention several co-workers I'd gladly expend as a distraction. Driving around, there's a tire iron right next to the seat of my car, less for zombies and more for YNK but it would work just as well. Besides... unless there is a WHOLE HEAP of them, zombies are susceptable to being driven over, and it's a lot easier for me to evade them driving than on foot.

On foot... I'd have to stand and fight. There's no way I'd outrun any but the slowest zombies.

[AndyStaples]

Oh, and I keep a paperclip attached to the backside of my cigarette beltpouch, just in case I find myself in the position of having my hands behind my back and wishing I had a paperclip...

If I were paranoid enough to keep a paperclip to escape my bonds, I'd be paranoid enough to think whoever tied me up would take away my utiity belt.

See if you can work the paperclip into the waistband or beltloop of your trousers.

[AmadanNaBriona]

If I were paranoid enough to keep a paperclip to escape my bonds, I'd be paranoid enough to think whoever tied me up would take away my utiity belt.

See if you can work the paperclip into the waistband or beltloop of your trousers.

I tried that but I'm not quite paranoid enough yet to develop a paperclip transfer ritual, so it was a nuisance. My smoke pouch is the only pouch on the belt, so it's far more belt than utility right now (Deliberately so, there are jokes among my subcultures at the expense of those who dress like the Batman). Transferring my smoke pouch and two ringed keepers (one with my wallet-chain and keyring affixed) is already in my dressing ritual.

Edit: Post Script: I might bother taking the time to teach myself the new ritual if I had any reason for the urge to carry a paperclip other than my increasing distrust for the authorities.

[Old Man]

Hosed. Cash, credit/ATM cards, ID, photo of the kids. I used to at least carry a one-hand-open pocketknife but I finally got one too many funny looks. Now I suppose I could take out my iphone and photograph the zombie that's chewing on my brain before I die.

edit: The knife is a CRKt M16-13z:

[Nolgroth]

Lessee, in my wallet. A small tool that can manipulate small screws and bolts. It also has a chiseled surface and a tiny saw blade, a tiny knife blade. Against any serious threat, it would be useless. For impromptu tool use, it might give a slight advantage. None of the little gizmos are going to replace actual tools, except for the bottle opener or can opener. In my pockets, a usually carry a locking blade about 3" long. I also carry a small LED flashlight with rechargeable batteries. I tend to carry two pens, even when not going to work.

I just picked up an Android tablet for work. No xG anything, but it does have WiFi. Mostly I think it would keep me sane for a few hours if I had to cool my heels somewhere.I would probably use it as an impromptu documentary device, as it has two cameras on it. I carry my wall charger with me as well as a car cigarette lighter "inverter". Depending on the circumstances, those would probably be within arms reach or perhaps a short jog to my vehicle.

My kit fails in that I have no easy way to start a fire. Must add a lighter or two to that kit.

[AmadanNaBriona]

Lessee, in my wallet. A small tool that can manipulate small screws and bolts. It also has a chiseled surface and a tiny saw blade, a tiny knife blade. Against any serious threat, it would be useless. For impromptu tool use, it might give a slight advantage. None of the little gizmos are going to replace actual tools, except for the bottle opener or can opener.

I used to carry one of those. They're pretty handy little widgets

My kit fails in that I have no easy way to start a fire. Must add a lighter or two to that kit.

Oh, yeah... I carry my lighter around my neck in a leather holder, kinda like a medicine bag

[Lawnmower Boy]

If they're "real" zombies by any useful extrapolation, you don't need weapons and stuff. A bike should do you fine. Ride around sluggish, uncoordinated zombies as they fall over their own feet trying to catch you, and use it as a shield to ward off their ill-coordinated attempts to get close enough to gum through your clothes in search of flesh soft enough that human teeth can actually cut it.

If they're fiction zombies, they'll manifest whatever capabilities they need to catch and eat everyone who's not a protagonist. So there's the question. Are you a protagonist, or not?

[lemming]

Normally, my wallet doesn't carry much. I often have my camera with me (and at least some sort of camera) . If I'm off to go hike somewhere, I tend to carry a tri-pod, some food, at least 2 qts water, a couple cameras, and a GPS. The X-Terra also has in it, a shovel, a 6' pry bar that my grand daddy used in the great war, a sledge hammer, a smaller crowbar, and some odds and ends for helping with traction. (And not really used in the great war, but it's at least 70 years old.) Oh, and a toolbox, some stuff for fixing flats, a tarp, a couple blankets, probably some other items as well.

[Tasha]

What's in my purse. I carry 3-4 flashlights (1 mini Mag, 1 6 LED, 1 micro Mag, and 1 LED the last 2 are on my keychain), a Magnifying Glass, a Mini Leatherman knockoff, a Victorinox Swiss Champion Knife, Small blank journal (no lines), digest sized Lined journal with a leather cover, 2gb USB flash drive.

Add onto this my Wallet, generic Asst of Makeup, Lipbalm (2-3 varieties). iPhone and either my iPad or my Nook Simple Touch.

Nothing that is directly helpful in case of Zombie Apocalypse, but pretty much anything I would need to fix a computer, or do minor emergency repairs to a car.