Basic materials, plus a few tools like knives and the mindset to adapt and shape materials into what you need.
This is the key.
Jackknife once shared how he and his dad used pocket knives to get a ladies car stuck in the mud, unstuck.
Humans are tool users, we have opposing digits (a thumb) and other attributes, including those in the brain.
All "critters" are equipped with things to survive in their environment.
Birds for instance find materials to make nests.
Birds do not go a hardware store, and buy lumber, materials, neat tools and have a tool belt.
Granted they might obtain from a hardware store "property" or "lot" - hay, fast food wrappers, empty cigarette packages, some rope scraps, piece of duct tape...
My truck, for many years did not have a tool box.
I grew up with trucks not having tool boxes, and we did fine.
Those with tool boxes, they did fine too, and there was none of this "versus" we have today about everything.
I added a tool box, for some tasks. It actually took me a bit of time to actually use it, as I was accustomed to now using one.
It may surprise folks, but a lot of tool boxes have nothing in them, and only do , when a task is going to be done.
Mine fit inside the rails, and was deep, running from top of bed rail to bed floor.
I could and did put sacks of groceries , feed sacks, luggage and other large items in it.
Tools & Equip: I had some in there, I normally do not keep, due to January's weather.
My fault, I was tired, lazy and really had planned on removing these, just everytime I turned around, I and mine found ourselves using tools in that toolbox.
"Guess it is to be" as they say.
Truck had problems, I got caught, and it was busted into while I went to get assistance to fix it, not far from the house.
They got all them tools, busted out windows, ripped my seats, ripped glove box, ash trash and then opened hood and started pulling and yanking wires and whatever else.
Oh they got me , and good.
I was violated, and big time, and expensive.
I had taken such care of that truck, as it was the first new truck I had ever bought, and knew I would only buy one new vehicle in my life time.
Heck, the darn thing is sentimental - to me, and some others.
So I got it back in one pc, glass was a priority, getting the original problem fixed as to why I got caught, and all the other damage under the hood.
Being honest, I could not afford all that needed to be done, so some used stuff was used, like used plug wires and rotor, and distributor cap...
Got the tool box hammered back to work , got some el cheapo tools to get by, as all my nice ones, were gone.
Adding stuff as time went on, with budgets and not the quality I had, just "good enough".
That tool box got busted into again.
I know about criminals, from street punks to more professional criminals.
So they simply waited, to allow me time to get more stuff, watched for the truck and hit the tool box again.
Criminals do this, I know, and those that know me, know that I know about criminals from punk to professional.
New thing going down, is to steal tool boxes and license plates.
It seems I was the "test case" for these criminals, and they get past the good locks, (master keys, or drill them out) use cordless drills to remove fastening screws, and remove the entire tool box, snag plates, and gone.
So I went in with very little, and some others did as well, as some had been hit as I had been.
During all this, criminals prey on weak, and some victims , already down, got kicked again, to find tool boxes and license plates gone.
I grew up before 911, heck I did not have my own phone line, instead a "party line".
I grew up and was mentored to be self reliant, and all.
I know about disasters, and we survived back then before 911, cell phones and new fangled.
Criminals preyed on weak back then, that had been in a disaster.
Add my other "knacks" and ...
Criminals were out and about, so one thing I had folks do was remove license plates.
I wanted to give the perception "we" had been hit, and had nothing to get.
I know about some very serious life stuff, and used these "knacks".
Folks were prepared, but what folks never think of , is supplies can and do get damaged, or cannot be accessed.
You might have a safe full of knives, and guns, and a garage full of tools, but if the house has been hit, and everything is under rubble, or blown who knows where, - you do not have those guns, knives and tools.
Add, some jerk steals your tool box with emergency supplies.
Wee hours, and hitting Stop&Rob to get "tools", slip joint pliers, hacksaw blade, 2 cycle oil, a gas can, food, water, ...
Criminals knew and were out.
Security is serious, and one is wise to know how to read the street.
SouthNarc calls it "3+1", these signs and signals that let one know they are about to get taken down.
I an mine, used these skills sets, as we did what we had to do, to survive.
A street thug can and will be upon you in the blink of an eye, and kill you with a .99 cent screwdriver, before you can get a $200 tactical knife out, or a $2500 custom 1911.
Give me a $10 drug store cane instead of a $200 tactical knife as "stick beats knife".
Toss in a 20 oz bottle of water, and I for sure have more tools in my "tool box" to stay safe on the street.
Case Peanut, was to cut, and do as it was designed to do.
I got a sidearm, it is in the wee hours, I have folks to watch, some are kids, some are ladies and some are physically limited, and some elderly.
I know a very serious work...these tools from that tool box come in handy.
The key is know signs
before one is targeted and taken down.
Wal-Mart does not care about me and mine's safety at 3am, it is not their responsibility, it is mine and ours.
Every bit of six groups of punks were in and around Wal-Mart.
We needed supplies, including knives and we did so.
We did not get hit, none of the vehicles got hit.
Peanut, stayed in my pocket.
I was using a borrowed cane, had a screwdriver in one back pocket, a 12 oz bottle of water in the other and three sidearms.
Screwdrivers do not have to be opened, they do not cut the user, as often happens when used in a serious situation.
In a courtroom , or grand jury, it is just a screwdriver.
"I was in fear of my life".
One can firearm retain with a screwdriver, 20oz/120x bottle of water, or cane better that a $200 tactical knife.
And...it plays for grand juries and courtroom juries better as well.
"Yes your honor, he had a knife, just a small folding knife , with two blades, that do not lock, less than 3" closed , on his person at the time of the incident"
I know about courtrooms, juries, investigations, and the whole nine yards from various aspects as well.
Staying safe is a whole package, not one tool, or skill set.
