Pocket load important when leaving home

What do you need handy when you leave the house? That’s an important question in any situation.

Some common contents of pockets or purse are keys, currency and, these days, a phone. Not to mention your identification, and all those other important papers and cards. Beyond the basics, it might be a good idea to carry a pen and asset of earbuds.

Now, this makes sense, but it doesn’t quite mesh with the morning pocket procedure when you don’t expect to open the outside gate.

Keys are still important, just in case you end up needing to open the gate anyway, and there are plenty of things inside the perimeter that have a lock that might get in the way. Then there’s the basic tools like a knife, pliers, and you better make sure your pickup is stocked with tie-wire and duct tape.

Gloves are important, but are clearly kin to socks, as they share the propensity for somehow disappearing, and never having a mate. A hat is a thing that it is best to take with you, because any day you expect to not have to stay out in the sun, is just a day where nothing too serious breaks — and that’s a bad bet to take.

Things like money and papers are handy to have not forgotten, in case of needing to go to town, but certainly aren’t at the top of the pile that will be the pocket load.

The next tier is subject to being forgotten, but are also the things that you’ll end up wishing you hadn’t left home, so that you wouldn’t have had to come up with a not-as-good solution that somehow got the job done.

A tape measure is a wise choice to keep in your pocket, and is sorely missed in those cases when it is needed. Matches, a lighter, or a good flint is handy. A flashlight is useful for fixing things underneath or inside or in the dark.

Tools are first, when loading up your pockets to go farm. And you’ll rarely feel more naked than when you have to go somewhere on an airplane, and all those pointy, handy pocket-fillers, aren’t allowed.

Audra Brown has learned to live with light pockets, but doesn’t have to like it. Contact her at: [email protected]