Large Fierce Mammal

Use of this picture represents neither criticism nor endorsement. (Source: https://www.smartpreppergear.com/best-bag-for-bugging-out-when-shtf/)

“EDC is a current era initialism for “Every Day Carry”. As used in the common vernacular, and at its most basic, it unsurprisingly refers to accoutrements and items of equipment and associated accessories an individual may find it necessary, be called upon, or simply want, to carry daily — spectacles, wallet, watch, keys, mobile phone, pen, hopefully a knife, flashlight, sunglasses, professional credentials, disposable lighter, a condom or two for the hopeful — things like that.” ~ EDC — The Appetizer

Throughout history, the items people have found necessary to carry around with them reflected the necessities of their everyday life. For the most part, these were of a practical nature, and as society progressed in complexity, came to include artifactual expressions of social position. The sword of a nobleman for example, forbidden to the commoner absent temporary authorization in time of war.

The soldier’s “kit”, the cowboy’s “outfit”, are examples of the way one’s every day life will shape what is considered important to carry daily, whether or not you choose what gets included, or it’s chosen for you. EDL can be expected to shape EDC, as it were, and this will hold True until a society creates, or is at least perceived to have created, a “safe” space wherein self-sufficiency becomes a choice. Then we find the development of two extremes — heightened demand for dental care resultant from teeth overused to open packaging, and people who clank when they walk in their preparations for everything, and nothing, simultaneously. EDL no longer drives EDC.

“Everything in Nature is about efficiency and balance, which is why life is, first and foremost, an exercise in energy management. For example, the Way of the Wild demands of each parent that their offspring be made self-sufficient as quickly and efficiently as possible. A tool need not be a physical artifact – rest assured that skilled parenting is a Tool – but to be True it must help, not hinder, such processes, and must never represent a brilliant answer to a question that was never asked.” ~ Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – Tools

My professional skillset includes decades of training and experience in identifying and quantifying threats, assessing risks, planning and equipping for when (not if) things go wrong, as well as more than six decades of days in which the worst outcome was mild inconvenience. Nonetheless, the Dread Prophet Murphy ever lurks, and fortune favours the prepared even as it makes no promises it won’t turn you into a grease spot no matter what you do, and I make no claim of immunity in the face of this constant. Every one of my scars comes with the story of a teachable moment.

“While some wounds are mortal, and others just hurt,
They all have their standards of care,
And the scar that each leaves on the soul and the flesh
Comes with memories, foul and fair.

“Let who sits with us here in a skin that’s pristine,
Soul unstained as at birthing’s travail,
Be advised to keep tongue safely locked behind teeth,
While they speak who’ve the courage to fail.

“Some scars come from teachable moments, you see,
While still others are gifted by time,
And yet more are mere badges of hopelessness from
Doing stupid things time after time.”

~ Time Wounds All Heels ~
(Excerpt)

Through the avenues afforded by social media platforms, YouTube channels, et al, the term “EDC”, in its current usage, has come to stand as an expression, instead of an outcome, of an individual’s hard won savvy in what will best serve making his or her way in the world. One finds a plethora of “experts” promoting the latest shiny toys in flagrant violation of the rule that a True Tool, “… must never represent a brilliant answer to a question that was never asked.”

Competence and favourable outcomes in the face of hard problems, both personally and professionally, is what we’re after, and what one brings to the BYOT (Bring Your Own Tools) party we call Life needs to support that goal.

“There’s a very old word that sees little use today, but that I still persist in using – garniture. While it can refer to any item used to embellish or “garnish” something, I exclusively employ it in its other meaning – an assemblage of useful and related equipments, usually connected through common features of design, and representing key elements in accomplishment of goals considered important to the bearer. For example, there was a time when a well heeled gentleman might commission a serviceable garniture of accoutrements bearing designs, colours, and/or embellishments that made it obvious to the beholder that each item was part of a set, and in no doubt as to who owned it. In those days this might include arms and armour for the battlefield, items specific to hunting pursuits, clothing, and equestrian equipage. In my own small way, I adhere to these principles today, as do some of the people I know, whether they have a word for it or not.

“It should come as no surprise, however, that because a Tool need not be an object you can hold in your hand, likewise a garniture need not be an assemblage of physical artifacts. In fact, the very best and most important garniture one can assemble isn’t made of matter at all. It exists purely in the mind in the form of knowledge, skills, wits, and personality. Properly crafted, honed, and maintained, they will comprise, just as described above, a serviceable garniture of accoutrements bearing designs, colours, and/or embellishments that make it obvious to the beholder that each item is part of a set, and in no doubt as to who owns it. I would posit then that the Way of the Wild demands acquisition and diligent maintenance of the Tools that will form your Garniture, Tools that can never be broken, worn out, stolen or legislated away. That are always with you even when standing naked as the day you were born.” ~ Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – The Word of the Day is “Garniture”

At the end of the day, I observe too much information being released into the wild about the tools people have, the why of their acquisition, and the where, when, and what of their personal equipage in daily life. Too often this comes from those preparing for sudden onset of “The End of the World As We Know It” (TEOTWAWKI), or at least the “Shit Hits the Fan” (SHTF), and so much of the EDC and “Bug Out Bag” (BOB) type and contents being advocated comes from a “tactical” mindset of single handed mortal combat in a dystopian future.

Ah well, as the Chinese say, “A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song,” and you should keep that in mind as you wend your way through The Forest of Truth Goode Reader, even if the only bird you hear singing is me.

More on this when next we convene, and I will leave you today to meditate on the philosophy of Lord Eddard Stark in the matter of keeping one’s jewels hidden until their day of revelation.