Seeing news story on TV about purse snatching (and muggings) I realized what a nightmare it can become if someone has your house keys, address, checks, etc. so quit carrying a purse several years ago. I wear pants or jeans most of the time anyway & carry necessities like keys, drivers license, Ins. card & cash in a front pocket. Maybe I'm super cautious, but NO ATM cards for me either after someone who lived near me was kidnapped & held for days so the sorry bum could get to her daily cash allowance. Suzi

I carry small purses nowadays, usually an across the chest shoulder strap type so I'm hands free. My most used is a little larger than a wallet with a zipper pocket for keys and my drugstore reading glasses (tiny and in a metal tube case), a pocket pack of Kleenex (always need those) and an outside phone pocket which I use for my smallest camera (I've never had or needed a cellphone.) I also have one of those flat plastic credit card-sized magnifying glasses which I bought and then forgot where I put it. I use glasses only for reading as I'm farsighted, but when I went to the optometrist for a checkup I thought about being fitted for computer glasses. Best idea I ever had as we could fine tune the correct distance at the optometrist's office by looking at his computer. Spending long hours gazing at my computer screen was tiring, so this was a good solution for reading the screen from about 27 inches away without eyestrain. Yes it is common here in Europe for men to carry a bag and it looks quite natural because so many of them are camera bags or backpack-type sling bags over one shoulder, often used by bikers and hikers. Most supermarkets and some stores here have a set of small lockers at the entrance where shoppers can leave their big backpacks or large carryalls. And some still have signs at the entrance asking people to leave their bags of all types in the lockers provided. Some years ago there were shops which asked people to leave their handbags with an employee at the front door. I would always walk out of such places, because as you said Lars, what guarantee do you have they're not snooping inside. Nowadays nobody bothers me even if I take a larger satchel-type handbag into a shop. SharonCb

My bag? I am on the constant lookout for the perfect bag, and have been for 30 years. At the moment I am using a dressy type of backpack/handbag, and so far it's been the one that suits me best. It has 2 small outer pockets, one with a zip, which I like for the security of my wallet and mobile phone. It has 3 separate sections, two outer ones zip up and the middle one clips together with a magnetic stud. When they're all closed, it's very compact and neat, and stuff can't fall out, but it's easily accessible. I have a lanyard attached to the inside of the middle pocket, and I have finally got into the habit of using it for my car keys. This has saved hours of my life! I love the fact that I can sling it onto my back when I want to use my hands...no more slipping shoulder straps, no more leaving my bag on the shop counter, and no more neck strain. I use the same bag every day, except for things like weddings, out for dinner etc. I still take my bag with me, but leave it hidden in the car, and just use a little clutch with a loop strap, for a tissue, lip gloss and mints. I don't use purse inserts anymore for my everyday bag. I found I just didn't use them. But I do have them in my tote bags... for library, yoga, swimming etc. I have one habit for organizing my bag.... don't know if it's good or not.. but it works for me. When I'm out for coffee with my friend, or eating out with my DH, or if we're on a trip, or have to sit in a waiting room, that's when I clean out and tidy my bag. I just hope anyone watching will think I'm looking for something. Occasionally I tip it upside down on a towel on the bed, and start from scratch, but that's usually only after a holiday or trip away when I just shove anything and everything in my bag. Interesting, here in Australia, we say "purse" for our wallet, and "bag" or "handbag" for what most of you all call your "purse". I used to get confused when I first came on here, why it was such a big thing to organize your "purses" till I realised you meant the "handbag"...LOL

No BACKPACKS at SCHOOL!? Uh, what are they supposed to CARRY THEIR BOOKS, HOMEWORK AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES IN???Perhaps we could go back to the 1800's and carry our supplies over our backs with a big fat rope? Oh no, then the kids would be accused of attempting or planning a lynching. Maybe bandanas? My grandfather used to wrap his sanwiches in those. No, it would start a gang war. Incidently, I think it was the same channel that I saw another program on almost 2 weeks ago... Also about back-packs, except it was announcing that some very smart man had INVENTED BACK PACKS MADE OF KEVLAR FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ALL THE FLYING BULLETS going on in schools today be it crazy lunes trying to take over the elementary or the high schoolers gone mad against each other. (Did anyine stop to think that maybe all of those scenerios is b/c our government's gone wild/"overboard" and it's affecting us all? No PURSES!? What are girls supposed to do; "All female students come to the office and please give official registry regarding your time of month" Then they give all female students a REAL SCHOOL ID to wear at all times so that school security can scan them and check whether or not they're in code per their 'legally monthly-alloted apparel'??? Hell YES we've gone "too far" as a nation and society. Guess what people... WE... ARE THE NATION AND SOCIETY! And if we don't stand up against this we will SOON find that it's TOO LATE. So many of us think that we "can't do anything about it" or we're too busy to, or "someone else will"... No, the day is already upon us... Indeed approaching dawn... It is time to ACT.