The other day my youngest son made a comment that "Dad is just like Grandpop, he always has a knife in his pockets." Actualy I have two one in each front pocket, just in case if I have one hand tied up I can get at a knife with the other. I also always carry a butane lighter, no I don't smoke, but find it useful. I know that if I pick up any coat, including a suit there is a knife in a pocket and my backpack. Since I was six I always had a knife. I really have to search myself before going to the airport. So, what do you always carry in your pockets?

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), May 04, 2000

Answers

I don't intend to, but there seems to be alfalfa in every single one of my pockets, which always comes out whenever my hand does! I mostly use my pockets for handwarmers and carry my other stuff in my backpack, waist pack or sometimes handbag. When I do use my pockets, I usually have much less than $5, some tissue, a swiss army knife, and at least one hair scrunchy.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 04, 2000.

Ha, ha. Alfalfa! Me too. Along with those "denum dimes" that appear from nowhere after every washing; a pocket knife, one for every occasion; and a couple crumpled dollar bills. That's it. I travel light.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), May 04, 2000.

Well I always have a knife and handkerchief in my pockets, along with a "lucky" coin and a spare car key (I keep spare house keys in the car). I keep the knife 'cuase you always seem to need one when you don't have it, and the handkerchief 'cause I was told that a gentleman allways has one. Fortuneately for me, I only seem to need the hanky for a ladyfriend once in a while (sad movies, etc.), but they are very useful tools.....

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), May 04, 2000.

I keep my leatherman in my purse, along with a waterproof match case - - use the leatherman all the time, the matches once in a great while. In my pockets, depending on the season, may be hay or seeds, occasionally a button, sometimes a small pair of scissors, sometimes a hank of baling twine, sometimes a Sharpie marker, seed packets, and row or flat markers, mittens and a scarf in the winter (I discovered, by the way, that a head-scarf worn tied under the chin, a la the fifties, is warmer than a stocking cap -- once at school one of the little girls asked me why I was wearing a baby blanket on my head -- she'd never seen a scarf worn that way!!). Oh, and I usually have a small notebook and a pen and sometimes a small flashlight with me, also sometimes pliers, but the leatherman works for a lot of things. VERY seldom have any money on my person!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 04, 2000.

Me, I have a knife and a few coins. I found the topic interesting because being a writer I sometimes come up with characters, or the way they behave within my stories by thinking "What would they have in their pockets" As J.R.Tokien would say "Whats its gots in its pocketses"

-- Grant Eversoll (thegrange@earthlink.net), May 04, 2000.

Pockets , what are they ? Sweat pants don't have any do they ? I only put jeans on to leave the farm .Then you would find some change , a few dollars , a binky {for the baby} some receipts and anything else the kids didn't want to carry.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), May 04, 2000.

Right now, lip balm, pocketknife, back up keys, Leatherman micro tool and a retractable tape measure. I cane chairs professionally and need to know size of chair to give clients an estimate. I refer to them as my back up keys because I'm an ace at locking myself out of my truck with the keys inside. Also I heard a lady telling about being mugged and her purse with her car keys in it stolen. She was terrified the mugger would return to kill her as she could identify her but she couldn't leave because the mugger had taken her keys. By good fortune, she happened to have her husband's keys in her pocket and could start her car to escape. My jacket pockets can have anything in them that might fit but usually hold my fingerless gloves.

In my emergency pack that's always in my truck, I have vacuum sealed pouches of dried fruit, jerky and nuts, a metal cup, spare socks and clothes, a sheath knife, a "space blanket" and an old quilt and a flint and steel with tinder and char cloth with a burning lens built into the box. The box is a reproduction tobacco box I got from Dixie Gun Works. I carry a bottle of water when I leave the house even for trips into town.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), May 04, 2000.

My barnshirt pockets usually contain-alfalfa,a dairy goat weigh tape,a plastic utility knife(for hoof trimming or cutting bales open),sometimes there are nails in it-just in case something needs to be repaired, which is often in the goat barn!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), May 04, 2000.

Shirt pocket (I hate shirts without pockets): A pen and some index cards to take notes wherever I may be. Pants pockets: Knife, lighter (I am pretty much a non-smoker, but fire is always a good thing to have, as in curing the ends of nylon rope/twine). Comb. I still have hair, but this is a carryover from my youth in the 50's! Wallet. I never know when I might want to jump in the truck and go somewhere. Handkerchief. As previously mentioned, I usually have to wash them from pocket dirt rather than use, but Mom said a gentleman ALWAYS carried a handkerchief. Change. Spare ammunition (6 rounds). On the belt, a Leatherman and a .357, hence the spare ammo. I am not a wacko (well! at least by my definition), but that damned fox always shows up when I am 50 yards from the barn shotgun. Haven't gotten him yet, but I surely have made his life interesting a couple of times with the pistol, and it was enough to keep him away for weeks! And the airport has always passed my knife and leatherman. Askance looks, perhaps, but no more! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 04, 2000.

What have I got in my pockets? Well, I'm at work so I don't have anything special in the way of tools on me that I might pick up to do a special job, just the stuff that I always have on my if I've got clothes on.

MiniMag flashlight in sheath on belt Leatherman tool (old style)also in sheath on belt a bandanna in my back pocket a butane cigarette lighter (I don't smoke either) Leatherman Micra tool on key chain' Nail clippers Magnesium firestarter bar as a key fob on the key chain Spiderco pocket knife. Pen in shirt pocket.

Seems like knives of various sorts are the most commonly carried items thus far with something like a Leatherman tool or a butane lighter/matches vying for second place. All damn handy tools to have on you at all times.

........Alan.

The Providence Cooperative - Free Preparedness & Survivalism FAQ's

http://www.ProvidenceCo-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), May 04, 2000.

I've been carrying a pocket knife since age 6 and have been carrying a Klein electricians knife for 35yrs. I like the longer screwdriver blade with lock. Also carry leatherman or gerber multitool thing, plus change, wallet, keys, lighter usually a few screws or nails or other misc. hardware and quite often a tape measure on my pocket.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), May 04, 2000.

my pockets are like pattys exept for blinki? also add alfalfa bits, sometimes grain, and latly my son has been on a dandelion kick so I usualy have a few flowers that he picks me every day.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), May 04, 2000.

Well I have to say that the one thing I always keep in my pockets are my keys. House, car, safe, chicken tractor (yes chicken tractor! I live in the city and I don't really trust the neighbor kids or my 4 year old. Lost one chicken that way and nearly lost another. Fortuneately I managed to recapture it.) As for the rest, it is the usual assortment you will find in any mother's pockets. It usually varies between; coins found in child's mouth, diaper pins, toy cars, money found in the laundry, rocks out of child's mouth, assorted plastic doodads, etc. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), May 04, 2000.

Pieces of broken glass, rusty nails(always pick them up from the ground), twine, kleenex (Moms always have a kleenex), hay, Chapstick if I'm lucky. My house doesn't have locks on the doors, and I have never thought of adding them. I leave the car keys in the ignition, and my purse in the car. I took the ignition key off the ring a year ago and have carried a key since. Sure am going to put a Leatherman on my birthday list!

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 04, 2000.

Good God almighty I love this forum!!!!...What isss a binki?...Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), May 05, 2000.

I carry a Victorinox pocket watch, my change & folding money in one front pocket, Swiss army knife & keys in the other, the back pockets have a bandana in one and a wallet in the other with credit card, concealed carry permit, buying club cards, hunting license and other nonesential junk. My shirt pocket carries a pack of Camels and a Zippo, sometime a pen. when I empty them though the is always split ring washers or nut, bolts, chaff and fluff.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), May 05, 2000.

A binky is a baby pacifier !Just goes to show the different terms all around the country .If it were a bikini and I put it on all you men would turn gay ! What do you expect after 4 kids and 4 surgerys .Hips and boobs just don't go back to were they were even at the pre- pregnant weight !

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), May 05, 2000.

If I have pockets, I usually have a scrunchy, tissues, baling twine, rusty nails, pieces of broken glass, maybe some pretty feathers I picked up, llama wool. I don't have a pocket knife (I feel odd, better get one!) but I do have my own tool box and mag-lite that I carry around. If it's not that, then it's a plastic tote with either vet-ing, shearing/hoof trimming or birthing supplies. We won't go into the boring stuff in my purse!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), May 05, 2000.

Are you supposed to put things in pockets? So that's what there for! I don't keep anything in my pockets. That's what brothers are for:) I couldn't even begin to tell you what he keeps in his pockets!

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), May 05, 2000.

Abigail, you don't have anything in your pockets because you don't have children yet!! Wait a few years!! By the way, I wanted to tell you that you have one of my favorite names. I've always thought Abigail was one of the most courageous women in the Bible. Re: the pockets, on second thought, the more animal care you do, the more stuff you'll find you need to have with you -- kind of like children, in a way :-)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 05, 2000.

Now: how many times do these go through the wash?? I used to carry nails, but they stopped my washing machine more than once. I used to carry keys, but I have so many they rub on my thighs when I move around. (BTW Russell fleece, or else it's Champion, I forget, makes sweatpants with pockets...a definite kleenex hider for the washing machine, too). Matches always make it into the washer. I forgot that I usually have a clothespin or two in a shirt pocket, for some reason..And yes I try to remember to go through the pockets before I wash clothes, but it's such a low priority, I usually do it half asleep!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 05, 2000.

Abigail's brother here. Because she can't tell you what I have in my pockets I will enlighten her, and you.

First I should say, that I wear the same cloths(style) every day (Sunday excepted). Jeans, and a shirt with two chest pockets.

In my left jean pocket is a pocket knife. In my right jean pocket is my pocket watch. In my back right jean pocket is my wallet and in my back left jean pocket is my hanky. In my left shirt pocket is usually a pen and maybe some matches or something. This is the same every day. If I go without I feel incomplete. :)

O yeah, I also always have a belt on and a larger knife (could be any size) on my right side. I never wear anything that clangs or gingles. You never know when you may want to move quietly, and a belt is invaluble if you ever have to tie someone up. :)

Llywelyn

-- Llywelyn (Llywelyn_the_Great@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

Well, Patty, I suspicion you sell yourself short! All women have boobs and hips, and beauty is forever in the eye of the beholder! I am not one to deride the attributes of a well sculpted female body, but since I have just barely eluded perfection myself, I am not an unrelenting perfectionist! Guess what?! Here we are, many of us past prime, (I define that as somewhere in the 80's), and we are having FUN talking to each other! I have only actually met one other person on this great forum, and that is Lesley. (Sorry if I let a secret out, Lesley, but I'll say that I have also met Neil, and you have met Maggie - no weirdness here! But new, GOOD friends!) Anyway, my biggest problem is finding enough time to visit here every couple of days. I finished up a job a little early today, and here I am. New topic! Is there some way we can meet each other? In person? I'll offer this : We have room for you and your tent or camper. We also have a camp on a river where you might like to spend a couple of days. We also have a spare bedroom right here on the ole hometead. Do you travel? If you travel to Maine, give us a shout! If you are a screamin' liberal - I have contacts in California! No matter!- Good Luck!!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 05, 2000.

Belt pouch instead of pockets, but it holds - string, emergency sewing kit, glasses repair kit, a few lighters, a magnesium fire starter, a pocket knife, (the other on is on my keychain), spare keys, my pocket 'brain', sunglasses, and a few different emergency only credit cards.(handy for unexpected road emergencies.)

-- Connie (connie@lunehaven.com), May 05, 2000.

Brad , are you slamming us californians? Ill compare tans any time, and just remember I can garden all year long.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), May 05, 2000.

OK Brad I live in SO.Cal and im not a sceaming liberal! but I do feel out of place but not for long!!! In my pockets pocket knife very sharp leatherman on the belt very dull walking aroung money wallet hair brush (I to still have some hair) key chain on my belt (extra keys in the wallet) zippo lighter quit smoking it's a keepsake from a friend no longer with us Brad is that contact on the fourm ? Shaun

-- shaun cornish (shaun-terri@juno.com), May 05, 2000.

When I first read this fun question, I had to laugh. I thought I would have the strangest answer for sure. But lo- I'm no different than anyone else!! Right jeans pocket: large snap-off knife (used to carry a pretty pocket knife but this is much sharper), uni-ball pen, Sharpie, and 3 popsicle sticks. Left jeans pocket: tiny jar of what used to be Carmex but is now Vaseline, Sharpie, and a container of dental floss(?). My answer to the binkie I guess. Rear jeans pocket: credit card that I keep forgetting to put back in my little-used purse (after using to call in a last-minute seed order). Brad: I'm not sure; I may have a touch of the Liberal, but I hardly ever scream. I'd LOVE to see the great state of Maine but it won't happen for a loooong time. Appreciate the offer, though.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), May 05, 2000.

i probably carry the same as everyone else, but i carry something no one else has mentioned. in my right front pocket i ALWAYS carry a MagLight one-AAA-cell flashlight and attached to its lanyard is a genuine swiss army knife ( the imitations swiss army knives are worthless junk). i call this my mcgyver rig. it is also so handy to have a flashlight handy. although a one-AAA-cell mag light doesn't put out a lot of light, it sure comes in handy when the power goes out somewhere or i need just a little bit of light. and the swiss army knife goes without mentioning that its always so handy. i probably use the scissors and the screwdriver tip more than the blade. if i need to cut something i use a larger pocket knife kept in my other pocket. the little flashlight has come in handy many times while at work or some public place and the power has gone out momentarily ( especially the bathroom lol )

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), May 06, 2000.

My brother's real name is Owen. He's going to be horrified if he reads that I revealed his real name!!

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), May 06, 2000.

Why? Owen is a perfectly good name!! I think it is interesting to see the similarities in what homesteaders carry in their pockets -- form follows function, and I guess pocket contents do, too!!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 06, 2000.

Just to clarify something here. Llywelyn is my internet name and I am proud to be named Owen. My sister made it sound like I was ashamed of it. She just wanted to reveal my identity, because she likes the name Owen. (go figure) :)

Llywelyn

-- Llywelyn (Llywelyn_the_Great@hotmail.com), May 06, 2000.

Hello California friends! I actually have family in California too. As many of you know, I just like to get some good natured kidding going, especially geographically. As in my reference to staying away from the deep south (Hartford), which Judi picked up on. Actually, that's where I lived until I was so old (17) that I couldn't stand it anymore. And although I am basically conservative, I am foremost a Libertarian, so some call me a liberal on certain subjects, which need not necessarily be mentioned here. And I strongly suspect that almost everyone, with the possible exception of Despicable Bill and his henchmen, feels pretty much the same way. But Rich ~ I apologise, and perhaps others should as well. Your moderately innocent original question has morphed into a discussion on a myriad of topics. May I suggest that you might have intended this, as in the proverbial "dumb fox"! No way! Rich only asked a simple question! And do not forget, I am the rightful King of France (with a lot of very desireable pieces of real estate-cheap!) GL! And ain't we got fun!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 06, 2000.

For Kathleen, Those must be SOME kind of pockets you've got to be holdin' all that stuff. :D What kind of pockets do you have anyway?? Do you wear cargo pants or something? Or are those just for the city slicker kids who want to look COOL?

For Marilyn, Emergency Pack? You must be miles away from "civilization" to be prepared like that. GOOD FOR YOU!! :) Just curious...How far IS it into town?

For Rachel, What corner of paradise do you actually live in where you don't even HAVE locks on your doors and you can leave the car key in the ignition? WOW!! I lock my door as soon as I come into the house, go out of the house, or get into or out of my vehicle. 'Course that's the norm down here in South Florida. Sometimes the folks down here don't even wait for you to get out of the car before they steal it--- they just take you with 'em --- sometimes kids and all! ='(

I wouldn't know what to do with myself in a place where you don't have to lock your doors. But I'd be game to give it a try! =)

For Anyone: What exactly IS a Leatherman?

And finally, as for MY pockets: I must wear my pants too tight because I couldn't fit much in them if I wanted to. Now my purse...THAT'S another story! Great question Rich!

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), May 09, 2000.

My children's pockets are another story. One year it was soybeans in the bottom of my washer. Dried corn and pieces of cob. Feathers. Some flat, round lead pieces they found in the cattle shed. Candy wrappers & candy. (Why do they give them candy at church???) Nails, lot's of nails. Sound familiar? I could keep on going.....

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), May 09, 2000.

Greenthumbalina:

A Leatherman is a combination multitool that's small enough to be carried in the pocket or, as I do, in a small pouch on the belt. Mine is the old style so it's primarily a needlenosed pliers with a wire cutter. It also has a fold out knife blade, flat and phillips head screwdriver, file, bottler/can opener and awl. It won't do any job better than a larger purpose built tool so some people don't like them because of that. It's major value and the reason that so many of us carry them is that it's small enough that you can always have it on you so it'll be there when you need one of the above tools. This is particularly the case when you're in a place where you may not have access to purpose built tools when you need them.

My boss used to grin at me for wearing one at work every day but when I fixed a stapler that she'd jammed she said "I see you use that thing here at least a couple of times a week. Maybe it's not as silly as I thought."

........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.ProvidenceCo-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), May 10, 2000.

Greenthumbellina, no, I don't wear cargo pants -- though they might be a good idea!! I don't usually carry all that suff at once -- and some of it is in my purse, as mentioned -- not always as convenient as pockets, but I ALWAYS know where my purse is, and it usually isn't too far away. Also, I quite often, except in the hottest part of the summer, have a jacket on, and use it's pockets -- and even when it is hot, if I'm in the garden, I may be wearing a gardeners apron and using the pockets on that. And Marilyn's emergency kit is a very good idea, no matter where you live. I've always carried one, got into the habit growing up in Alaska, where things really are far apart, and sometimes there isn't much traffic so you can't count on someone coming by to help you out. But you never know when you will need it. And we don't lock our house or our car, either. Maybe we should, as we are only a mile from an interstate, but we haven't had any problems in the nine years we've been here -- and don't even know where the house keys are anymore!! I do lock the car if I go to one of the larger towns/cities, though. And my husband sleeps with his .44 under the mattress on his side of the bed.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 10, 2000.

Alan: Wow what a GREAT tool to have (the Leatherman). I can see now why so many people carry one. Kinda makes me want one myself but probably not for many of the same reasons most of ya'll have one. I'd just like to keep one handy and in a secret place (apart from our other tools) so that it wouldn't wind up disappearing like all the rest usually do around our place! Thanks for the info.

Greenthumbelina

Kathleen: Glad to know you don't carry all that stuff around in your pockets at the same time and that you have many more pockets than I had originally thought!!

Grenthumbelina

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), May 10, 2000.

Alan: Wow what a GREAT tool to have (the Leatherman). I can see now why so many people carry one. Kinda makes me want one myself but probably not for many of the same reasons most of ya'll have one. I'd just like to keep one handy and in a secret place (apart from our other tools) so that it wouldn't wind up disappearing like all the rest usually do around our place! Thanks for the info.

Greenthumbelina

Kathleen: Glad to know you don't carry all that stuff around in your pockets at the same time and that you have many more pockets than I had originally thought!! And yes, I agree with you about Marilyn's emergency pack too. As my grandmother always usedto say, "It's better to have it and NOT need it than to NEED it and not have it!" A good bit of advice - tried and true!!

Grenthumbelina

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), May 10, 2000.

Gee guys, my pajamas don't HAVE pockets!

I usually come home from work in the morning, grab a shower, read the paper and then take a quick walk around to see what's going on around the farm. Many, many mornings have found me in my nightgown in the garden, pulling "just a few" weeds, or stopping to pick raspberries, or kicking strawberry runners back in to the rows, or filling the birdfeeders, or .... I keep trying to buy one of those gown/housecoats like they sell at K-Mart - a nice aqua/yellow/pink one with HUGE pockets would be just what I need! Alas, my daughter says that I'm not old enough to wear that style of clothes yet....

BTW - can you buy a leatherman just anywhere?

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 10, 2000.

It is pretty easy to find a leatherman but they aren't cheap. (If you find a cheap one, take a close look -- it's probably a cheap knock-off made in China, and won't hold up). They run thirty-five dollars if you are lucky and find a real good sale, otherwise, over forty on up to who knows where!! Mine was a Christmas present, else I wouldn't have one!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 10, 2000.

Wallet , Palm-Pilot , and Beach sand

-- Ian Storms (drclue@drclue.net), March 17, 2001.

Sheesh, I forgot how much fun we used to have on this forum! Ian, thanks for resurrecting this old one!

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), March 17, 2001.

Me too, Sheepish- where's Kirk been?

-- Peg in NW WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), March 17, 2001.