I've had at least 4 situations where I was thankful to have a firearm in my posession even though I never had to draw:
1. A mentally disturbed individual in Austin, TX decided to follow my wife and I when we left a movie theatre. She hurled insults and started throwing street trash for no reason at all. At one point she picked up a small chunk of wood - we picked up our pace and managed to evade her. Honestly, I never thought of drawing but I did concider using OC if she closed distance.
2. Another mentally ill individual in Alexandria, VA (King Street) was yelling at other pedestrians. He was shrieking and threw a few punches at random strangers before hurling a city trash container into the street. He eventually spun around and pointed at me before rapidly closing distance. I turned heel and ran while doing a mental check that my .38 made it to my front pocket that afternoon. I made it to Murphy's Pub when I looked back I saw he had found someone else to harass. The bouncer noticed I looked a little freaked out. I gave him a heads up about who was coming. He just smiled and told me he'd handle it. I promptly left. (The bouncer was easily twice my size!)
3. I was in a Shell station late at night in Desoto, TX. While paying for my soda I noticed a pair of shifty looking teens at opposite ends of the store casing the place - it was just an overwhelming feeling that something bad was about to happen. When one walked past me, I noticed a pistol grip bulging under the back of his shirt. There was NO way they were old enough to be legal CHL. I told my wife to head back to the car and wait for me, then I whispered to the clerk about what I'd seen. He waved me off so I paid and left. As I'm getting in the car a highway patrolman pulls in to get gas. I give him a brief heads up and head out. The .380 stayed in my pocket.
4. The last incident was at a stoplight in Orlando about 2am. I slow and stop for the red when a discheveled looking guy runs to the passenger side of my car and demands a ride. I told him no and he tries to open the door anyway. My right hand went to the Walther on my strong side. Before I drew, I noticed the light change so I slammed the gas and escaped.
Close calls, but I feel lucky to have made it out of each one.