Quality of Life

[Nushif]

I've been dipping around in this section for a bit and no doubt have found some pretty good information to have, but I am starting to wonder at something.

Some of the advice on here, while sound seems a bit ... limiting in terms of quality of life. Let me elaborate:

One piece of advice is to not use the remote door opener feature on cars, because an organize team of criminals could attack you as you open the car in a parking lot in front of a grocery store.

I hate to say it ... but I love that feature. It gives me a small bit of "quality of life" when I can conveniently open something. But at the core of the argument here I'm wondering about one's quality of life when one walks through an every day situation contemplating how exactly one is vulnerable at every corner. And ideally we should all be at "yellow" at *all times.*

I just can't get myself to do it. Obviously this is just one example. If I see a set of clue as to something being seriously fishy and out of place, sure I'll up my alertness a bit. But I'm still more likely to be on the curious rather than tactical side of the spectrum.

If every day I walk from WinCo to my car feels like stepping outside the wire in Afghanistan ... where's my quality of life? If instead of going to white at home, behind a locked door I am constantly scanning windows and outside cameras for suspicious movement, at which point am I no longer in a sanctuary where I can recover from my strenuous days at work or at school?

Imagine someone who comes home from work and then follows all the recommended safety advice on all their property, and then follows all the safety advice, which inherently is a pretty good collection of ideas, what kind of life are they so desperately defending? An existence in which they can't relax even in their own home and they are wary of anyone whose path they cross? Where every person is to be evaluated based on lethality?

Am I just reading too much into this or does this at all have merit?
If we're all cowering in our houses because of a small minority like the criminal element in our society, haven't they already won?
Similar to the treatment the TSA subjects passengers to .. if we're going through all this just to be "safe" ... haven't they won?

I'm not saying we shouldn't be prepared, but I'm wondering at which point the pursuit of preparedness becomes so large that there's not much of a life left to defend.

 

[david58]

Nushif,

We have the benefit of living in small towns in a farm valley, me being just up the road a bit.

I can't turn myself on to the concept of "have a plan to kill everyone", but do understand the constant condition yellow. I try to practice the condition yellow, but I don't keep a gun under every pillow and in every drawer.

There are places in your town and mine I avoid, and I most assuredly have the alert on "after hours" when I can't avoid those places. Our state's high homeless population (due to its attractiveness to them) has me flashing to the brighter yellow hue quite often.

When visiting the big cities (Portland, Seattle), I definitely go to a different level - but Eastern Oregon is a wild place that would be a headline grabber more often than most would believe if there were more folks living there.

I hear you - at some point we verge on paranoia. I don't want to go there - but I am on condition yellow as much as I can be. I do watch, carefully, but I don't live the life of fear - at least I hope I don't. So, as I turn in and lay the pistol on the nightstand, I hope I am at the right level at the right time.

 

[Manco]

While the points you bring up are valid, there are no absolutes here, just degrees. People are all different, of course, and I suppose that we all have a different ideal balance point between maintaining vigilance and being able to enjoy life without suffering from anxiety or hypervigilance as a result. Actually, for those who are naturally distrustful or wary of others, being alert, knowing what to look for, and knowing how and being able to handle bad situations should they arise can be quite a comfort, relieving anxiety rather than causing it. They still have to find the proper amount of attention to devote to situational awareness so that it does not distract unduly from their lives while making them feel--and really helping to keep them--safer. At the other extreme are those who almost need to live in denial that bad things can happen at any time (and fortunately they are unlikely for most of us in the grand scheme of things), or else they may feel nervous and cannot enjoy life as much. These folks may need to compromise more if constant vigilance becomes burdensome for them, as you're right that if one's life is ruined by fear, then the bad guys have won. I'm guessing that most people are somewhere between these extremes, so just do whatever makes you feel more comfortable and improves your overall quality of life rather than detracts from it.

By the way, in the most extreme cases, some people actually feel paranoid when they're armed, as though bad things were significantly more likely to happen as a result (I've seen some seemingly sincere anti-gun testimonials to that effect). In such cases, I think that there must be some kind of issue with their perspective, as guns aren't talismans for good or evil, they're just tools. Perhaps adopting a different and more realistic perspective would help some overcome their anxiety, while others are probably better off disarmed. Maybe a similar principle apples to vigilance in some cases, with people becoming paranoid that something bad is likely to happen just because they're aware of the possibility and are devoting excessive attention toward it. The best suggestion I can make would be to gather and use knowledge constructively toward developing a realistic perspective on the dangers of the world around us. Realize that danger is unlikely in most situations (relax!), but be able to recognize it quickly, avoid it if possible, and act on it decisively if necessary. It's a delicate balancing act to be able to relax while at the same time be reasonably alert for any signs of danger. That said, it's probably a lot easier to achieve for individuals who innately feel safer with their guard up than for those who have a need to let their guard down in order to relax.

 

[Squatting Bear]

I think there are some minds that are naturally (genetically or post-traumatically) at yellow, 24/7.
You've brought up some very good points for the rest of us.
People on here have been discussing dogs a lot lately. Some dogs are always at condition yellow, so you can be home at white.

 

[Squatting Bear]

Nushif, just out of curiosity...
If it were dark outside and there were an unexpected knock at your door, would you grab a firearm before answering? Maybe that's a way to measure your mindset at home?

 

[Nushif]

I would, actually.
But I wouldn't don my kevlar vest in case it's the proverbial Marine fire team armed with 12 gauges and kevlars.
Hell. I've grabbed my 12 gauge from next to the bed when walking outside into our living room because I got some bad JuJu.
But I don't regularly walk through the parking lot keeping a lookout for people hiding behind my car or approaching my car from three directions before getting in.

 

[Manco]

But at the core of the argument here I'm wondering about one's quality of life when one walks through an every day situation contemplating how exactly one is vulnerable at every corner. And ideally we should all be at "yellow" at *all times.*

I just can't get myself to do it. Obviously this is just one example. If I see a set of clue as to something being seriously fishy and out of place, sure I'll up my alertness a bit. But I'm still more likely to be on the curious rather than tactical side of the spectrum.

Well, I don't usually think about it unless I "sense" that something is wrong with somebody or the situation. I trust my instincts and intuition enough to devote most of my attention to whatever I'm doing (living life). I do my thinking about these things ahead of time, when I feel like it (like right now), because I like the subject (not real danger--I avoid it like the plague). I guess that's my balance point for vigilance.

If every day I walk from WinCo to my car feels like stepping outside the wire in Afghanistan ... where's my quality of life?

This a valid point, if a somewhat extreme comparison. Maybe some of us just don't feel as overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of suggestions. Using myself as an example, I'm definitely a creature of habit, so for the most part it's just a matter of modifying my habits. At any given moment, in my free time I'm always enjoying life, albeit while keeping an eye on things around me. I assume that nothing bad will happen, but I can still usually see it coming, and if it comes then I'll deal with it; otherwise, I don't consciously think about it. In general, I don't let the possibility of bad things happening occupy my conscious mind, unless I deliberately allow them to, of course. I train for defense a lot because somebody is threatening to kill me, that's true, but then I refuse to let it bother me. If he's serious after all, then he can try, and I'll be as ready as anybody can be. But I don't let things that haven't happened interfere with my life--I do whatever I feel like doing without fear. Maybe I'm just a stone-cold, gritty hard-ass, I don't know.

If instead of going to white at home, behind a locked door I am constantly scanning windows and outside cameras for suspicious movement, at which point am I no longer in a sanctuary where I can recover from my strenuous days at work or at school?

I feel pretty safe at home, but only because I've hardened it against forced entry and have alarms on all of the entryways. I do carry a pistol while at home, though, in case something happens that needs my immediate attention. Has anybody here seriously suggested the level of vigilance that you're describing?

Imagine someone who comes home from work and then follows all the recommended safety advice on all their property, and then follows all the safety advice, which inherently is a pretty good collection of ideas, what kind of life are they so desperately defending?

It's just a bunch of habits to me--no big compromise.

Am I just reading too much into this or does this at all have merit?

Your ideas have merit, but I do think that you're reading a little too much into what people are suggesting. Either that or I'm unknowingly applying my own "filters" to what people are saying in this forum. Or maybe we're just different people with different perspectives and tolerances.

If we're all cowering in our houses because of a small minority like the criminal element in our society, haven't they already won?

I'm not cowering--if they want me, then they can come get me. I'd be scared if they did, yes, but they should be scared, too, and they will be. But since it hasn't happened and hopefully never will, I don't feel any fear right now. It's just a good, smart habit to keep one's doors locked, that's all. When I'm outside (which I am frequently), then I'll look around a bit more.

Similar to the treatment the TSA subjects passengers to .. if we're going through all this just to be "safe" ... haven't they won?

People are still traveling in droves despite the inconveniences, so I guess the bad guys have NOT won. The real problem is that I doubt the draconian measures in place really make people safer, although it may make some FEEL safer, which in the view of the government is even more important.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be prepared, but I'm wondering at which point the pursuit of preparedness becomes so large that there's not much of a life left to defend.

It's different for everybody (sorry for stating the obvious , but I did give my take on things).

 

[leadcounsel]

Sometimes I envy those who are blissfully ignorant of dangers and situational awareness. They seem to float through life naive to the dangers of parking in dark allies, leaving their home unlocked all the time, etc.

And then I come back to reality.

I live a very happy and fulfilling life. Could it be better in areas. Of course. Who has 100% zen? But I know that I have the awareness and ability to protect myself and loved ones, and it's highly unlikely I'll succumb to violence or be in a situation where I can't either escape or fight back.

My being aware of simple things (like observation, forward thinking, etc.) does not negatively impact my happiness. It does make me annoyed at others who are blissfully ignorant, and does impact who I like to hang out with... but other than that I would prefer to be aware than an oblivion...

I think the OP exagerates some... certainly stepping 'outside' the wire is worse than any likely situation most will encounter here stateside. Extra precautions are certainly different than being subjected to constant threat of IED or small arms fire...

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I think we are just reverting to our natural state of wariness. It has been dulled or even bred out of the species due to the creature comforts of modern life.

 

[RTR_RTR]

This is actually a big hot topic in health care that translates pretty well here. As a previous poster said, it's a matter of degrees, not absolutes. Find your best personal compromise between preparedness/safety and happiness.

 

[Old krow]

If we're all cowering in our houses because of a small minority like the criminal element in our society, haven't they already won?

Not necessarily, I don't believe that was their game in the first place. That statements assumes that the criminals sole intentions are to scare us, or make us cower. There could always be the element of fear, but I wouldn't automatically assume that it is why they targeted me.

All any of us are really doing is playing the odds. The situation is dynamic at best. If we survive to live a long life, then we have succeeded in our intentions to ensure the preservation of life. The simple truth of the matter is; there are some bad people out there that would do us harm given the opportunity.

You could avoid using key-less remote only to find that you left yourself vulnerable somewhere else and met with the same outcome. Individually we will all face a different set of scenarios and it is up to us as individuals to analyze them and take the appropriate measures to ensure our safety. Not using key-less entry may make sense for some folks. To an owner of a CJ-7 it's a silly proposition either way.

I do not use key-less entry. I don't bother with locking the doors all that often (read EVER). The inside of my vehicle is always a box cutter away anyway. What is more important is that I am aware that I do not lock my doors and that there may be possible consequences for doing so. I acknowledged that risk and will act accordingly. On the other hand, I refuse to put a military tag on vehicle. I believe that the tag would make me more of target than key-less entry would. You on the other hand might have <pick your branch and/or rank> on yours and it work out perfectly fine. I suspect that we live in a completely different set of circumstances.

I don't answer my door in Kevlar either. I am willing to accept that risk as well.

There are no standard answers. It's only paranoia if the incident that you are preparing for does NOT happen. If it didn't happen due to your preparations, would it still be paranoia? IMHO the best things about SnT is seeing things from other people's perspectives and the threats (and solutions) that they have found.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by nushif: Imagine someone who comes home from work and then follows all the recommended safety advice on all their property, and then follows all the safety advice, which inherently is a pretty good collection of ideas, what kind of life are they so desperately defending?

You've lost me. I'm nether desperate nor defending any kind of life.

An existence in which they can't relax even in their own home and they are wary of anyone whose path they cross?

We relax quite nicely--particularly now that we remember to lock the doors and be in a position to react effectively if something happens to go bump.

Where every person is to be evaluated based on lethality?

Lethality? No. If I encounter a group of people I do not know in a place in which I am otherwise alone, I may well evaluate my ability to handle a threatening situation, should one arise, but I do not evaluate the lethality of others unless they produce weapons.

If we're all cowering in our houses because of a small minority like the criminal element in our society, haven't they already won?

I do not cower in my house, and no one can "win" anything because I remain vigilant, avoid remote parts of parking lots, and lock the doors of the house.

I only lose if my spouse and/or I are injured.

 

[blarby]

"I think the OP exagerates some... certainly stepping 'outside' the wire is worse than any likely situation most will encounter here stateside. Extra precautions are certainly different than being subjected to constant threat of IED or small arms fire..."

I would say walking down the street of some major metropolitan areas definitely qualifies. A large majority of the places I have lived certainly do, although being able to drop in for a beer or order of fries helps shake its presence away.

These are also neighborhoods a fair amount of folks live and walk in on a day to day basis, acknowledged of the dangers or not.

Think differently ? Check out the homicide counts in a few major US cities : Baltimore, MD- Washington, DC- Detroit, MI- Little Rock, AR..... over the last ten years and compare them to the head counts of major world warfare hot-spots, city by city. The parallels except in the situation of direct pitched assault battles or homicide bombings is quite eerie....

In any event, I mean not to take light of our service members struggle and daily sacrifice, so I will digress......


With that said, the OP has some good points. Happily I no longer live in a crime hot-spot- (recently) and am looking forward to a little more white time- and a little less overall orange. It is a significant mental step, but one I enjoy taking on a daily basis.

The concept of being prepared and situationally aware applies well to personal defense. However this entire argument applies equally well to many of the internal struggles of conscious awareness : Personal Health, pursuit of wealth, mating, driving, what you give your kids for dinner, how much soap you buy, and how much you take care of your lawn.

Those who are unable to perceive yet alone grasp the fine line between safety and psychosis are troubled indeed- but if you look outside of the self defense example you see them all over.... some medicated, some not.

If preparedness rules your life, you are already beaten. There isn't much left to take but the carbon.

If preparedness influences your life, then you are just that : Prepared for someone to come and take your carbon.

If you are never prepared, someone will come and take your carbon. The question becomes not if, but when.

A preponderance of levels of attitude and response exist within those last six sentences.

Those who tend towards the extremes of either one are a mixed bag of the happiest, and saddest folks I have ever met.

Being aware ( as the OP ) that the line exists and where it might be drawn is very important, and is quite worthy in my opinion of discussion at length. Fortunately ( or unfortunately, depending on your glasses' water content) that line will differ for every individual. Making some broad strokes in the sand for guidance is not in and of itself a bad idea with that limitation in mind...but is certainly no reason for outright dismissal.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Actually, for those who are naturally distrustful or wary of others, being alert, knowing what to look for, and knowing how and being able to handle bad situations should they arise can be quite a comfort, relieving anxiety rather than causing it.

This, but I don't really like the "distrustful" part. I'm a very trusting person, almost to a fault. But that doesn't mean I ignore warning signs, or that I don't take reasonable precations to avoid bad things happening.

I live in a very rural community, our crime rate is almost nil. But I still lock the doors before bed. It's just not that much extra effort. I also have a CC camera at the front door. Again, it's not that I'm monitoring constantly, but if I hear a knock and my hair stands up a little, I can get a glimpse of what I might be dealing with without putting myself in any danger. And when I hear strange things late at night, a gun and a flashlight are in hand until I decide there's no threat. Doesn't mean I expect one, just my nature to be as prepared as is reasonably possible.

This extends to many other aspects of life besides defense, though I'll not elaborate here. Some of us just have that innate desire to be able to cope with whatever comes our way, whenever it comes our way. We are uneasy when we don't feel prepared.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Nusihf,
You make a very valid point. I am a patrol cop, and I must be in a state of "yellow" all the time at work. Off duty, hanging out and enjoying life, I CANT let myself do that (although sometimes I have to force myself to relax a bit). Yes, I could be targeted by someone I've arrested, or I could just become a random target. More likely I'd die of a stress-induced heart attack by the age of 45 if I didn't allow myself to relax and enjoy life.
That's not to say I don't carry all the time off duty, I do, but I refuse to be "code yellow" 24/7. At the same time, I'm not walking around oblivious to everything and I am prepared to flip the swich (so to speak) if need be.
Very, very good discussion.

 

[Uteridge]

I have yet to meet the person that is condition yellow ALL the time and I associate with quite a lot of people who have varying levels of PTSD. I am almost always in condition yellow when on the move though; be it a parking lot or driving my car (all people should be in yellow when driving because it would save a lot of car accidents that are caused by people not paying attention). When I am at home I am pretty much completely condition white. I have a gun on me or near me and I have three dogs that are all pretty much condition yellow from the time I come home in the evening until I leave the next morning. If they think something is wrong, night or day, then I check it out...otherwise I am relaxing. Most of the time I am not in condition yellow sitting in a restaurant; though I do sit with my back to a wall with a good view of the room so I will see trouble before it becomes trouble. When I am at work in the states I am in condition white until I see something out of place.

It is not healthy to live your entire life in condition yellow but if you follow a few simple rules to maximize your response time you don't need to. Most people spend little of their life truly in condition yellow. Ask anyone who has ever done any kind of protection work or military patrolling outside the wire; it is very had to maintain condition yellow for an extended period of time and it only gets worse the more monotonous it gets. A security guard, regardless of training level, should never be left staring at monitors for more than 30 minutes or they will start missing things. By the same token in search and rescue you don't work dogs longer than 30 minutes or they start to slip. My dogs stay in yellow because their are three of them; when one or two are resting there is always at least one alert and looking around. If you watch a herd of horses for any length of time you see the same thing; most of the herd may lay down but there are always some on watch.

I don't walk around all day looking at every little detail; I only do that when I am moving. I mitigate going into condition white while stationary by sitting towards the back of the room in a place with good visibility and no way to approach unseen. As long as I am not sleeping I will still have enough time/space to react if something happens. I do the same when site seeing. I check my immediate surroundings, find a good spot, and enjoy for a few minutes. Even outside the wire in Iraq you won't always be condition yellow. If you are not moving then rotate watches and let people have down time because it keeps them sharper for longer. You can enjoy your life with basic awareness and setting your self up for success but choosing good times and places to relax. Sitting at the bar with your back to the room and all the entrances is neither the time nor place to relax

 

[hso]

Nushif,

You're right and most folks here are no different than you.

Life is about compromises, but when it comes to our safety those compromises are based on the risk assessments we do for the what/when/where of our lives. Members that live in high violence communities have a higher risk than those of us that live in low crime communities. When any of us go from a low risk area of our community to a higher risk area of our community we adapt our behavior to match and back again when we return. Where we are secure we can relax to a lower level of vigilance. That doesn't mean that we wander around in "condition white", just that we make the effort to assess the risk of what/when/where and act accordingly or we make ourselves miserable.

There are parts of my community that i would be at a high level of vigilance if I were in them after 1300, but there are others that it isn't needed most of the time. That doesn't mean that I walk around in a Nerf fog even in the lowest risk situation, it just means I actually think about what the risks are and act accordingly.

Jeff White repeatedly said that you can't live your life in "condition orange" and have much of a life. He's right and most of us here at THR don't actually go through our day in condition orange.

Heaven help the people that have to.

 

[JohnKSa]

A lot of people think that in order to be properly alert they must constantly be expecting SOMETHING bad to happen.

It's my opinion that it's sufficient to avoid falling into the trap of constantly expecting NOTHING bad to happen.

In other words, you don't need to view the walk to your car in the Wal-Mart parking lot as a trip outside the wire in a war-zone. You just need to avoid telling yourself that there's nothing bad that could possibly happen to you in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Just because it's unlikely that something bad will happen to you in the parking lot doesn't mean it's impossible--and if you allow yourself to begin to believe that it is impossible your chances of being able to react properly are much reduced. You'll have to spend too much time convincing yourself that something bad is REALLY happening and it's really happening to YOU and that if YOU don't do something to make the situation better that it's only going to get worse. The time spent engaging in that exercise is time that you may not have.

 

[Art Eatman]

I was introduced to the four colors idea a tad over thirty years back. About all it meant to me, really, for Condition Yellow to be a bit more in the forefront was to pay more attention to what I might be hearing.

As near as I can tell, just growing up with much so outdoor time and a heckuva lot of time spent in hunting had me pretty much naturally in Condition Yellow without really thinking about it.

"You can't control your environment if you're not aware of your environment." Okay, what's so difficult about awareness? In a sense, I'm just casually hunting when I'm out and about. Dunno what I'm hunting; doesn't matter, really. It's just sorta what I do. I mean, I don't really expect to see Bambi in downtown Big City, but that doesn't keep me from looking for him. Casually but steadily assessing folks along the way. Profiling.

When just hanging out? I never saw a housecat with ulcers. Ever try to sneak up on a housecat? Same sorta deal.

I don't really know if I'm in Condition White when I'm at home. Aw, sure, probably a lot of the time--except that my little half-deaf ears usually seem to be on some degree of guard duty.

Trying to figure out the right words, I guess I'm pretty much always alert without being uptight about it.

 

[Cop Bob]

Hummm... Most folks don't understand that if you live with your head in the sand, You leave other parts of your anatomy exposed...

One need not live in fear, but a sense of heightened awareness to your surroundings.. Are things in their place? What is out of place and why?

Be aware of your surroundings when entering business and parking areas that may be prone to crime... Eye contact with approaching strangers,, especially those that appear to be moving quickly or with purpose and that purpose is unclear.. It has nothing to do with fear... it is done so that you don't HAVE to be afraid...

It is nothing more than common sense situational awareness..

 

[doc.lonestar]

There is nothing wrong with having situational awareness. This does not apply to firearms only, for example martial artists train to protect themselves – pushing for being aware thus able to react quickly and decisively. If you are not constantly scanning how do you see it when the crap hits the fan? I hate to say this but my take on things is cut and dry: there are two types of people in this world – predators and prey. Sharks know other sharks, wolves know other wolves and they all know what prey looks like, smells like, and act like. Now that is not to say that everyone is trying to kill me or eat my liver but I am saying that I am not easy prey, and neither should you. Simply put being at condition yellow, or having situational awareness, HELPS to prevent you from being prey. It does not guarantee survival – it does give you a fighting chance.

I think the issue that many have is that they simply get bored or complacent in their daily lives because they live in a nice area, work in a nice area and do not see evil. Then we see on the news about the local bank getting robbed, little old lady being the victim of a home invasion, deadly road rage, people getting robbed in nice mall parking lots, late night stroll on a bike path with a loved one, hell they get shot in schools and colleges, court houses and police stations, ALONG WITH parking lots and alley ways. So to answer your question…

My quality of life depends on the safety and well-being of my wife, children, someday grandchildren. MY JOB IS TO PROTECT MY FAMILY – TO BE THE ONE TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF SAFETY – AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT BE OLD MEN. I lead by example and my children have learned and make better decisions because of it. Does that mean that I am afraid or paranoid? No – I just choose to be a realist and see that there is good and evil and not be a victim of the latter.

Doc

 

[loneviking]

And what happens when you try to sneak up on the blissfully asleep housecat? He's usually gone like a shot!

How did kitty do that? Well, he has conditioned responses to danger such that he doesn't have to think when startled...he just acts. He's also really good at listening to that spidey sense of 'something just ain't right here'. And finally, he can go from relaxed and peaceful to blurred action in a heartbeat. No warmup needed, no 'got to get my attitude straight'...just instant pre-programmed response.

And that's how you wind up with quality of life. Train until responses become automatic. Practice good saffety habits. Listen to your inner self when it starts warning of danger.

 

[Rexster]

I just wanted to say that the remote entry feature for cars is quite compatible with being tactically aware. IMHO, pushing a button allows one to remain more alert to one's surroundings than concentrating on inserting a key into a tiny keyhole. If the alternative is leaving one's car unlocked, well, I don't want homeless folks taking naps in my vehicles, nor going through my console and glovebox looking for change and stuff.

Living in Condition Orange all the time would indeed be a burden. Yellow works for me, and the vigilant pooches at home help me relax better.

 

[Onward Allusion]

To each their own.

There are those who go around with their head in the sand and let the "universe unfold as it should".

Then you have others that will have cameras in and outside of their home, guns stashed in numerous locations throughout the house, monitored alarm systems, wears a gun pretty much 24x7, has their hand on their carry piece when a stranger approaches, checks every door and window twice before hitting the sack, and has a modified Saiga 12 with a 20 round drum next to their nightstand.

I fall somewhere in between. My wife and I hope make it to our 80's untouched by evil. We also hedge our bets with God, guns, and gold or other shiny things.

 

[JerryM]

For me I think that one should not walk around in a dream world, but attempt to be aware of what is going on around him. That is not difficult.
Having said that I think that the color code is baloney. I also want to enjoy life, and I am not going to worry about what color I am operating within. I don't carry at home or carry into the bathroom.

I use door openers and other convenient devices.
I admit I do live in an area where there are no violent entries. If it started happening I would move.

Life is about more than seeing a monster behind every bush or door.

I try to use my head. I don't have reasons to go out at night except to visit friends and that is not often. We prefer to visit in the afternoons or at lunch.
I do not go into shady areas or bars.

One can quote all the statistics he will, but I remain convinced that I have a much greater chance of being struck by lightning than attacked. I do carry, but don't expect to have to use my firearm.

I think taking a lot of defensive courses is a sport. Go for it if you desire, but it is just for fun unless you are looking for trouble. Will someone need such skills? Yes, but maybe 1 in hundreds. Stay away from trouble spots and mind your business and you will be OK. Nothing wrong with being cautious. A "Luby's" (Texas) is possible at any time and anywhere.

Best,
Jerry