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If you’re concerned about your personal security, you may well have good reason. While we’d all like to live in a nonviolent utopia (or at least a utopia that only uses violence in self defense?), the possibility of assault, robbery, murder, and theft are parts of life that aren’t going away. A range of tactics can be used to protect personal security and safety.
To start with, don’t let fear stop you from using common sense. Pay attention to your surroundings. Is there adequate lighting? Are there many other people around? Be especially sure to take note of your surroundings when you’re about to do some task that will take up your attention, like loading or unloading a vehicle. Attention can be a powerful security tool. You should also be careful about what situations you place yourself in, and evaluate situations for security risk. If you like to get really drunk while you’re out at bars and clubs, ask yourself if you really enjoy it enough to make it worth the risk. If you do, make friends who are really trustworthy, and willing to rotate designated driver/security person. Communicate with them to make sure they won’t ever leave you stranded, or let you leave with someone they know you wouldn’t leave with if you were sober.
Security almost always involves trade-offs. In the middle of the winter, is your privacy more important, or is it more important to boost your mood by getting the maximum amount of sunlight? If you love to travel but can never find anyone to go with you, is the life experience worth the risk of going alone? These are questions everyone must answer for their own lives. You can reduce your level of over-all risk by investing in some more serious security measures as well. You could invest in a home security system, either from one of the many vendors or by building your own. If you do build your own, you’ll probably want to get books that will help you home security system building, and order parts online. Or, invest in self-defense training.
