response 51 of 100:

Oct 19 01:44 UTC 1996

I really need to replace my Swiss Army Knife sometime when I have some extra
cash.  I had one of those knives with absolutely everything, including pliers
and wire cutters.  It was really useful, but I lost it. :(

response 53 of 100:

Oct 20 06:33 UTC 1996

        I carry a bike messanger bag with a notebook, books of my poetry,
books I'm reading, sometimes a walk man, pens, magazines, etc.  It's my
potable information sachel. :-)

response 55 of 100:

Oct 20 14:51 UTC 1996

Those of you who have those major-deal Swiss army knives - do
you have any trouble taking them on commercial airplanes?

response 57 of 100:

Oct 20 17:02 UTC 1996

I never had trouble getting my knife onto airplanes.  It would generally set
off the metal detector, at which point I would show it to them and they would
let me through.  I did have trouble getting into the Federal building downtown
with it.

response 59 of 100:

Oct 20 18:34 UTC 1996

I suspect actual terrorists are likely to use something other than a four inch
knife.

response 63 of 100:

Oct 21 04:12 UTC 1996

I had to give up my Swiss Army Knife once on an international flight (to
Japan).  But I've never had any trouble on a domestic flight.

response 65 of 100:

Oct 22 12:43 UTC 1996

Back when I was in high school, we were going on vacation and when my (at the
time) six year old sister set the metal detector beeping, all the guards
descended on us suspciously.  They made her empty out everything in her jacket
pocket (it was winter and she had a *huge* jacket) only to discover that there
was a metal box, the type usually used to hold candy, filled with *toothpicks*
inside her left pocket.  They gave us strange looks but let us pass... :)

The only time my Swiss Army Knife ever aroused suspicion was at Ithaca airport
(which if any of you have been to, is *very* small) and I think part of the
reason was because it was the first time I was travelling alone and I looked
nervous and they interpreted that for the wrong reason.

response 67 of 100:

Aug 10 04:42 UTC 1997

oK, back to purses. I can't leave the house without one. I wish I could carry a
tiny little bag but mine is kinda big. I must have, at all times: Keys, wallet,
cell phone, asthma meds, eyedrops, lotion, lipstick, pads (a notepad as well as
those kinda pads), a small phone book, mirror, face powder, lip balm,
anti-inflammatory meds, pens. I manage to fit this all into a Prada bag with a
chain handle. I am not as bad as my mom, however, who has to carry a friggin'
duffle bag. She has old makeup in there from the 70s as well as an old can of
Mace that surely has no effect now. She has a zillion purses and she rotates
them with the season. She carries a small bag within that one that is crammed
with every pad/tampon ever made, despite her going through menopause. It must
be rooted in some insecurity.

response 69 of 100:

Aug 14 03:38 UTC 1997

I am so paranoid about my purse these days. I am in constant fear of it  being
snatched or my forgetting it somewhere. I am going to Europe next year, and I
am told purse snatching is rampant, especially if your look just screams
"tourist". Any suggestions? A tiny purse across the body maybe?

response 71 of 100:

Aug 14 23:25 UTC 1997

I used to travel quite a bit in Europe and Central America and here's 
what I found worked best for me:

Get a good sturdy backpack! (They're harder to snatch unless they're on 
the floor -- solve that by putting one or both of the straps under the 
seat of your chair when your sitting at a table.  Theives can't snatch 
it without knocking you off your chair or cutting the straps.)

Also, wear a money belt under your clothes.  Keep the major stash of 
money, your passport, Eurail or airline tickets, and anything else you 
can't replace in there.  Keep a day's spending money (or less) in the 
backpack in a wallet you don't care about losing.  That way, if you get 
pick-pocketed, the thief thinks they got your money and you're less 
likely to be retargeted. 

Never, under any circumstances, show your money belt in public.  Need 
more cash?  Find a washroom and get the money out of your belt and into 
your wallet while you pee or something.

Of course, if you stay away from major tourist traps, all this is 
probably unnecessary, but I'd always prefer to be safe.

response 73 of 100:

Aug 20 02:36 UTC 1997

I've found I'm a backpack person. I have a great L.L. Bean one that's lasted
forever. It's big, but it's great because even if I started the day with a
light bag, I always end up somewhere (like the library, or a store, etc.) and
end up bringing stuff home. It works the other way.

That, and, again, it's harder to steal.