A year or two ago, I had taken my key ring out of my purse. It was a jumble of extra rings, keys that I had no idea what they opened, and a heavy fob that had worn smooth until it was just a hunk of metal. I decided that I was going to update my keyring and make it more functional.

I began research to find ideas on how to organize my keys better. What I discovered is a fad called “everyday carry” or EDC. This is a hobby where people take preparation for life’s little needs to a new level. Intrigued, I scanned photos of what other people carried in their pockets and read about their ideas of preparedness. There was a wide range of people that did EDC including Survivalists that were preparing for the next nuclear war. Yet, there were many others like myself who simply wanted to function in an urban environment in more comfort.

So what makes a basic EDC? It turns out that there are a couple of common items that most people keep in their pockets.

phone
keyring
wallet
flashlight
pen
multi-tool
knife

The phone and wallet seemed normal enough to me, but the rest I sort of scratched my head at.

My first EDC addition was a leather key fob with a clip that could attach to my purse. I put my car keys and regular keys on the new ring. It had a flower concho on it for decoration and I loved not only the look, but the inexpensive price tag.

Next, I discovered a tiny keychain sized flashlight called a Streamlight Nano. I found that having a flashlight on your person all the time was a godsend. No more having to fumble with my key when I came home at night because my husband had forgotten to turn on the porch light. It helped me feel safer when going to my car after the end of a night class. After a few weeks of using the flashlight on my keyring, I knew that developing a useful EDC was the right way to go.

My next purchase was a Fox40 safety whistle. It is quite loud, lightweight and sturdy. Because it is pealess, it will not freeze up in cold weather. I wanted a whistle since I’m alone at night on campus or when I’m out in the park walking my dog. I never used it at school in the end, but I did use it once for an emergency. I had fallen in our garage and injured myself. I tried to call out for my husband on the other side of the property, but he could not hear me. I had my keys and the whistle with me. I blew on the whistle and this brought my husband to me. I will always keep a whistle on my keyring for now on.

The whistle, flashlight and keys are all I keep on my main keyring. It can go through the airport security or into any building. With these items and the tools with me every day, it gives me a little added help with my day to day life.

For my pen, I purchased a Fisher Trekker Space Pen. It came with a lightweight carabiner and that little black clip became the main holder of my “tool keyring”. The Trekker has a ring on the pen cap so my space pen hangs in my purse in a place that is easy to get to. Now I always have a good quality pen where ever I go. I added a small moleskine notebook in my purse to go with the pen. When I go to seminars or have a writing idea, I can capture ideas on the fly and go back to it later when I’m home on my computer. I recommend carrying a pen and a moleskine to all writers. It makes a difference.

I did not have much trouble deciding on the multi-tool. I bought a little $20 Leatherman Micra for the job. Its main tool features a good pair of scissors, but it has a nail file, nail cleaner, a bottle opener and assorted screwdrivers. It also has a tiny blade, but I seldom use it. The multi-tool is 2″ long and takes up little room. I find that I use it quite often, especially when I travel, or when I’m in a class or workshop.

The knife was a difficult decision for me. I had never carried a dedicated folder before. Women of my generation were not encouraged to do so, although I’ve been noticing that younger women think nothing of it. The state I live in has stricter knife laws than other places, so in the end I chose a sub 2″ blade from Spyderco called a Ladybug. It helped that the knife scales came in many color choices, including purple! The blade is super sharp, of a high grade of steel and it locks for added safety when using it. I use it to open packages, slice sandwiches in hotel rooms, or to cut twine. It is an excellent beater blade and has been my main pocket knife for two years. It still looks like new.

I have purchased a few more EDC items since then, but these items that I’ve listed are my core items and go with me everywhere.

By adding tools to my everyday carry, and learning how to use them in my daily life, I feel more confident in the way that I tackle the world.

When was the last time you updated YOUR keyring?