92LikesA little back story:
My other half and I move almost annually for his work. Sometimes we end up living in some not so awesome places. I am a stay at home/student and he is gone long hours, often 8a-8p. I have a small dog but we all know how little she could do to protect me (though she is EXCELLENT at alerting me!).
Anyway our last "post" (we are not military) put us in a hurry to find a place to live and get settled in FAST. Unfortunately this left me no time to go and observe the apartments before we signed a lease and moved right in. Two days into life in the new place, a 14 year old STABBED and 12 year old over a bicycle in our parking lot. Needless to say I was terrified! Jon and I decided that since I would not be able to physically fend someone off (I have back injuries that prevent me from doing a lot of things) that we would go and learn everything we could about firearms. We got so lucky, because we ended up training at NRA headquarters. We spent a year going for weekly lessons, plus additional shooting time on the weekends. We got our CC's in VA, and now in PA.
We now reside in a nice farm house in the country in SE PA. I'll admit I BEGGED to rent the place when we got here, but once we moved in and he went off to work, I became so wigged about being home alone, way out in no wheres ville... that I started carrying CONSTANTLY. And I am glad I did...
Back in May, I was home (alone of course) on a super nice day. I had every window in the house wide open, the front door propped and fans going to air this old place out. Was dusting and cleaning and singing along with VH1, the dog was upstairs in the bed avoiding the noise lol (stupid on my part!). I bent over to flip up the edge of the living room rug and when I stood back up, there was a man STANDING in my doorway! This guy had come onto the property on foot, walked up and into the screened in porch and was standing mere feet from me before I even knew he was there! I jumped out of my skin! I screamed get out! He backed out onto the lawn and I followed him with my hand on my holster...
"I'm selling magazine subscriptions..." he said
"I don't care... what you're doing, that's MY home you just walked into without being allowed! I could have SHOT you!" My hand stayed on my holster (I have an inside the waistband setup, that sits on the back of my right side). "You need to leave."
He backed himself to the driveway and turned and walked on up the country road. He never saw my gun, but just my body posture had to have given away what I was prepared to do to keep myself safe.
This man was a BIG guy... I'm talking 6'2" 275lb with big beefy arms and stuff. (for reference, I am 5' nothing, 135 lbs) Later that day (after calling the non emergency # and reporting the weirdo), they put out a bulletin that there were fake door to door salesman reported in my county and the county south of me and in Philly!
The ONE time when being a bit paranoid may very well have saved me!
I lease a horse for trail riding with access to 1700 acres of state park. Because I am not working currently (and that is by choice I am not a bum nor do I receive any public assistance) I am able to ride almost any time. That's great and I love it, but it also means I am 90% of the time out there alone. There are always people out there, but sometimes you can ride for 2 hours without seeing a soul. I carry. My weapon, my ID and CC permits and copies of the local laws, along with my phone (with the "find lost phone" app activated) and other small things that will help me stay safe and happy.
