Last night was a new one for me. Instead of the standard "I'm smoking again", "I lost a bunch of teeth in a fight/accident/something", or "I've skipped every class this semester and finals are tomorrow", there's a new dream that's been added to the repetoire of issues my subconscious deals with while I rest.
I lost my wallet.
I didn't just lose it, though. I set it down on a counter in a public place, and when I went back to
get it, it was there - with everything missing. MA LTC, credit cards, motorcycle registration; everything was gone. I *knew* everything was gone. I had about 10 minutes of absolute panic while I thought about everything that would need to be canceled, having to go to the RMV; re-submitting for my LTC; etc. Then the secondary stuff, like contacting the various businesses that are connected to the credit cards that would be canceled; etc.
I'm sure there's something about preparedness that brought this about. I keep a pretty comprehensive list of what I carry around on a USB stick that sits in the fireproof/waterproof safe - but it doesn't do me any good if I'm on the go. I suspect there's a larger issue - no matter how prepared you think you might be, there's always something that could come up that you haven't covered. It's how you deal with sudden unexpected changes that can make or break a situation.
At least this time I wasn't in my underwear...
That is all.
7 comments:
Add a small USB to your key chain and keep a copy there as well.
.... and Password protect the folder.
well last night was one for bad dreams.
Lost my wallet last year, knew where it was (in a store) yet they were useless. Large sum of cash (on my way to buy a toy), A few CCWs and perhaps too many DLs, charge cards, lots of phone numbers, ATM/shopping receipts... It was a royal CF getting everything replaced. And three days later they "found" the wallet. Intact even, not missing a thing.
But I do keep scans of all my ID-type cards on a thumb drive. Home in the safe, I know... May move to a secured USB on a keychain... and a copy in the BOB too.
And this is why my wallet never leaves my front pants pocket except during the brief moments when I pay/show card. So the only time I don't have it on my person is when I've taken my pants off... typically to go to bed.
And it's the front pocket because they're harder to pickpocket.
A Sandisk Cruzer Fit or Switch would keep a smaller device with you at all times. The Switch is designed to fit on a key ring and keeps you from losing the protective cap.
A better alternative and one rarely thought of is storing much needed documents on a Micro SD card like the ones your cell phone uses. You can also store documents on a standard SD Card that also works in a camera. The documents of the most importance that you want with you should rarely exceed a 2GB capacity. I recommend the camera cards in your camera in a separate folder since people, when traveling, usually have a camera with them.
Case in point. You are planning on traveling to the NRA convention soon. Why not take the time to make a copy of important documents in a secure folder on your cameras SD Card for the "just in case" scenario.
DISCLAIMER: I have no affiliation with Sandisk in any way, I just refer their products over the competitions.
Good point, and reminds me, I need to do some updating of the info on file...
What great ideas Jay and others. I have never thought about doing that but after my current laptop just crashed with no warning, I got to thinking that having a backup list with all of my CC and ID info along with a few other things would be a very good thing. BTW I thought the stuff that dreams are made of was something like the Maltese Falcon and not a nightmare like losing my wallet and all my ID. You sir have bad dreams.
Remember to place a READ ME file in the root of every flash drive/SD card you own, that includes basic contact info.
That way, if you ever loose said device, it may find its way back to you.
I have a folder of funny photos with me holding my address on a piece of poster board on my drives. So if the finder is only looking at the photos, they still can find my address...
Another good idea is to keep a list at home of what drives you own, and what info is stored on each drive. If you loose one, you need to treat it just as if you had lost your wallet. Because no encryption is perfect.
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