Other front pocket: Zippered pouch containing keys, change, and RFID tag for opening the doors at work.
Back pockets: Nothing. Ever. Never understood how people copuld sit on their wallets.
Coat pockets: Things needed immeadiately to hand, like my bus pass or cellphone. I put them away afterwards.
Backpack: Sketchbook. Pencilcase containing pencils, pens, eraser. Library books (sometimes overdue). Reference book from work. Contact lens supplies. Toothbrush and paste. DAB/FM radio with headphones. CDs and DVDs (music or otherwise). Cellphone. Printouits from work. Bills. Bandages (had blister on ankle from new shoes).
This, of course, leaves the umbrella at loose ends.
Left front – keys
Right front – money, lighter, possibly cigarettes
Right hip – cards (credit, video, driver’s license, insurance), comb
Left hip – This space for rent
The keys are the most important thing. A few traumatic childhood experiences taught me early on to always know where my keys are. If I can’t sense them in my pocket, I go into a mild panic.
Left front: Keys, with a small bottle opener/knife on them
Right ass: wallet, comes out when I drive and goes on the desk at work (i.e., I don’t sit on it)
Center front: cock 'n balls
Right Front: Kahr PM9 in holster, Benchmade folder clipped to side
Left Front: Cigarette case, Zippo, keys, miscellaneous
Right Rear: Wallet
Left Rear: Surefire flashlight
My solution is to either wear pants with large pockets, or cargos. I prefer the latter as it sucks digging around in my left pocket for 30 seconds to find my keys.
I’m all about cargo pants. The thing about cargo pants is that they’re too casual for the workplace. But I wore 'em in high school and loved them. I could keep extra pens/pencils, extra cash and stow illicit tobacco products in the side pockets.
And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a shoulder bag unless you really are worried about people who might question your sexuality. You should do what’s comfortable.
The usual stuff in my pockets:
Front right- Keychain, lighter
Front left - Smokes
Back right - Wallet, pen/pencil vertically to the outside edge
Back left - nothing, usually
Anything else gets stuffed in willy-nilly. Cellphone, receipts, change, etc.
I just remembered this. In basic military training I (like every other trainee on the base) was issued an ID card holder worn around the neck, which also happens to hold money, credit/debit cards, photos, keys (but not bloated keyrings like mine), pills, etc. fairly well. You might look into something like this.
It’s a good thing you live in Iowa, I suppose!
To those of you who keep cigarettes in your pocket–how the hell do you do it? My packs always get crushed. I used to have a cigarette case, but I lost it, and I never got around to getting a new one.
Well, my dear wife just returned from Target, where she found cargo pants for $17!! I’m going to give this a try - they seem comfortable, and lots of pockets. Thanks all for your feedback and suggestions.
