EDC - Every Day Carry for Adult Autistics... The stuff I take everywhere to keep me sane!

Ah yes, the man bag ... especially for times when it is too hot to wear a jacket.  I also have "the box" in my car, which is a treasure trove of small tools, bits of wire, spare bulbs, packets of instant coffee, powdered milk and sugar, assorted pens, pencils, post-it notes and stationery, duct tape, biscuits and emergency chocolate, disposable razor, "tissue, general purpose"  ... you get the idea.

Every day carry items - Swiss Army knife; Moleskine notebook; Diary; Keyring complete with a beer bottle opener and a Fisher Space Pen (mini) ; Tissues and spare face mask; Wallet, ID badges; iPhone, spare change.

If friends and colleagues want a paperclip, spare fuse or headache tablet their response is "Ask Ian" - usually I have the item in my bag or in the car!

I have my shoulder bag which contains my EDC which is...

• Paracetamol.
• Cat biscuits (for my cat not me lol).
• Bag of sweets in case of emergency.
• Torch.
• Pair of knickers in case of emergency.
• Knife.
• Wand.

I forgot to say that usually I do not go anywhere where I have to be inside a building with other people, but on the occasion that I do, I also always take two face masks inside a ziploc bag; one to wear and the other as back up in case something happens to the one that I am wearing! I have never stopped wearing face masks even though nearly everyone else seems to have. 

a man of many pockets.

good thing you dont put your baccy in a satchel etc actually, i did, and tobacco just gets everywhere in it lol

but yeah, i dont even think of buying any lower clothing unless it has atleast 4 pockets

haha same, i begin with relevamce, get carried away, then realise:

"was any of this actually what was asked?" lol

• Paracetamol, for headaches and other injuries
• Antacids because I often feel sick.
• A 500ml plain spring water bottle.
• Plasters in a small medical kit.
• Half  a loo roll.
• At least £50 in cash, I prefer £100 in case the banking networks go down.  And many shops are still cash only.
• My mobile.
• A stand alone camera.
• Face mask.

I do not like to carry a bag or a backpack, because it makes my back sweat, but I often do if I have to carry something more than EDC, which I have inside 4 side pockets of work trousers I wear (I have 2 grey and 2 black), I can't fit in any trousers that are not combat or work design anyway, years of cycling made my calf and tigh muscles to big for jeans and such.

EDC:

left thigh pocket - mobile phone with cards and ID

big right thigh pocket - pack of tobacco, with rizlas and filters

small right thigh pocket - pack of tissues

left side pocket - cigarette case with few premade

right side pocket - keys with hidden disabilities sunflower strap (in stressful situations I can take them out pretending to look for something to let others know to give me a break, not that it works) and a lighter

watch pocket - dock with earbuds

Smoking in public helps me hide hand stimming, and dulls my nose for an hour

I don’t carry anything with me that assists me, as I don’t feel the need. I have a ‘work’ handbag, which holds tissue, plasters, a nail file, chewing gum, spare car keys, work gloves, a couple of pens, painkillers, a tampon, a pad, a lighter, a bit of change, my water bottle, glasses wipes, hand gel, spare name badge, a few face masks, and some scraps of paper with old passwords on!

The other bag I use for personal errands and nipping to the shop has an umbrella, tissues, chewing gum, face masks and my purse. I really don’t like carrying too much stuff with me. My most important items would be my purse or cards, and my phone. 
My psychologist said I don’t seem to seek sensory input compared to others my sex and age. That’s very apparent. 

I think that my reply might have been irrelevant to the original post too, I just got excited by the opportunity to list something that I am interested in! I am disappointed that more people haven't replied as I would like to know what other people have in their bags and why!

They do look like nice bags and it would be good to have one that did not disintegrate after a few years!

i also carry a military style satchel(i refuse to call it a manbag lol) everywhere with me funnily

i cant say anything in it usually aids with autusm traits, although i do have things that help which i should start using again

but it generally holds:

pain relief (over the counter)

loperamide incase of ibs flare ups

e cig spare, liquid, gloves for removing tank caps to refill

power bank thingy to recharge both phone and ecig

and assorted things related to plans

i also love having loads of pockets, so tend to wear combat/cargo trousers/shorts, so i always have capacity to carry 2 bottles of water (which i refill)

and plenty of tissue as ive had what i believe is chronic rhinitis for years

maybe this is irrelevant to op now i think of it 

This is my bag with typical contents...

I carry my fidget cube with me every day. When I go out somewhere far away I also take a computer bag with my A4 notepad (I'm a writer and I like to be able to write whereever I can) , whatever book I am reading, two magazines in case I get bored of one and a water bottle

For you next bag, Can I suggest you have a look on ebay for 'French leather and canvas army bag',  then you'll get a very tough antique bag for about £30.  There are lots of people selling these but the best places grade them with higher prices for better condition.  Use clear shoe wax on the leather and you'll be amazed how good they can look.!

This is really interesting! I certainly have a bag that I have to take every time I leave the house.

This is the bag that I use, it is made out of canvas.

Eventually they wear out and disintegrate into holes so I am on my third one now. It doesn't have any pockets and I wish it did, and also it doesn't have a zip to fasten to stop things from falling out, but because I am used to it now I always just replace it with the same type. I like the way the shoulder strap goes across my chest, it gives me a sense of security and I feel naked and exposed without it.

So, the things I ALWAYS carry in my bag.

1. Woollen mittens (even in the middle of summer)
2. A cotton handkerchief
3. A pair of sunglasses
4. A packet of paper tissues
5. A packet of ricola original swiss herbal lozenges
6. A tube of unscented zinc oxide suncreen.
7. A small unscented hand sanitiser.
8. My blue Nokia 2310 mobile phone, in case of emergency. I do not have a smartphone!

I do sometimes, but not always take a small notebook and pen. This is mainly in case I observe a crime and need to write down a number plate, although in the past I used to sometimes need to hurriedly write down a poem or thought. The problem is that if I am in a public situation, such as a waiting room, I freeze and cannot take anything out of my bag. If I try to or even think about it then my hands shake too much and it sets me off panicking even more so it is better for me not to move at all. 

Not in my bag, but always on my person is:

1. a very wide brimmed cotton hat. It protects me from the sun but more than that it makes a nice dark sheltered place for my head and face. It also makes me feel less exposed and hides me from the view of other people. I can pull the sides down over my ears and it muffles sounds a bit. I have five of these hats and they all have chin strap and a sturdy toggle to tighten under your chin to stop them from blowing off if it is windy.
2. a scarf  (woolly ones in winter, and cotton ones in summer). They make me feel more secure and also I use them to cover my face when I am assaulted by offensive smells such as traffic fumes, cigarette smoke, smoke from people's bonfires or chimneys, people's perfume or the washing powder and fabric conditioner residue on people's clothes.

If I go out when it is dark or approaching dark I also carry a high visibility vest in my bag or on my person.

Sometimes there are other things in my bag, but these are the things that I will never leave the house without.

Thank you for an interesting conversation.

Also, I do not carry a pebble or feather with me, but sometimes I find one and bring it home.