self defense

[grey]

LOL, a 'little' Aikido move would be the most basic hand disengagement, and it may have saved me some trouble back in college. It was nonviolent, but it showed the two drunk kids that I knew something. And then a cop conveniently walked around the corner. All was well. Lucky.
Looking for a new school. I'm picky. It's been 10 years.

And I agree. Physical confrontation is a last, last resort. Confidence saves a lot of trouble.
Don't forget to have a quick look at your car upon returning. Glance under it while at a distance away (so you don't look obvious, and are in a better position if someone is under it) and the backseat before you get in. Just be aware, aware, aware. No fumbling for keys or phone or tools.

I want to add to the meet their eyes part I said earlier. It's a glance, but a direct one that just says 'I see you.' Nothing more, because then you verge on looking threatening. For animals and people, a stare is a threat of harm, and might trigger a response rather than avoid it.

[Becky]

Jess, check with your employer about self-defense classes. When the women here voiced concern about similar issues, our HR located some county and state police officers who taught self-defense and arranged for an in-house class specifically targeted to our needs. It was fantastic, and I'd take it every year if I could.

Good luck and be safe out there!

[OakLeaf]

One tangentially related thing -

I get the impression by what you said about weaponry that you have to travel by air. If that's the case, then you don't necessarily have much choice about rental cars.

But if you get to use your own car, you might think strongly about getting one with a "smart" key. I rarely park in places where I'm uncomfortable, so for me it's usually mostly an enormous convenience. But I'm very aware that not even having to look for my key - never having to take my eyes off my surroundings or open my purse - is a big safety advantage, too.

[Irulan]

Jess, check with your employer about self-defense classes. When the women here voiced concern about similar issues, our HR located some county and state police officers who taught self-defense and arranged for an in-house class specifically targeted to our needs. It was fantastic, and I'd take it every year if I could.

Good luck and be safe out there!

This is good. If it's part of your job and you don't feel safe, HR would be a great place to start. Especially if you mention the words lawsuit because you weren't' adequately protected by company policy. Or something like that.

[Trek420]

LOL, a 'little' Aikido move would be the most basic hand disengagement, and it may have saved me some trouble back in college. It was nonviolent, but it showed the two drunk kids that I knew something. And then a cop conveniently walked around the corner. All was well. Lucky.
Looking for a new school. I'm picky. It's been 10 years.

Good work! Many of us brought up with internal voices of "don't hit, don't fight, don't punch your brother ..." and some count on the assumption that you won't react or will be slow to.

You did, instantly. Heh heh heh. Saved you and another woman because it may give them 2nd thoughts about doing that again.

Aikido is great fun and you never know when the ukemi (rolls/falls) could save you on a bike. It's helped me a couple times on that.

Find a good teacher and school here:

http://www.ai-ki-do.org/

[tprevost]

I do property management and am often in similar situations as you describe. I would definately follow the advise of others here and take another self defense class. Curious as to why you can't carry pepper spray or it's equivalent? I had my whole office take a self defense class here locally given by an ex-swat guy, it was very good...no fluff, very straightforward. He also uses a rope on his keys... It is attached to your keys and is long enough to hook on your wrist and still have 6+ inches of swing, which makes a decent unconventional weapon. It was nice to have the training though!

[jessmarimba]

Thanks for the suggestions. My coworker here also doesn't like me going into some of these areas so work might go for a self-defense class.

Can't be armed, pepper spray, etc. for reasons Oakleaf guessed - 95% of the time I'm flying to these locations. Work wouldn't pay to check a bag for $50 round trip simply so I could have a gun, and knives and pepper spray aren't allowed on planes. Pretty sure the big maglites aren't either . Flying is also why I have to go alone and no dog. I wish you could rent police dogs for protection, or something!

I'm pretty careful about not carrying much with me - usually just have my keys clipped to my belt loop, my camera, and my phone.

I just get a little disturbed sometimes by these camps and then it's hard to stay calm. Once I stumbled across a chair surrounded by beer cans, chip bags, and a chainsaw - in the middle of 15 acres of woods. I felt like I was in the middle of a horror flick. Where is the chainsaw's owner??? In a different job, I was with a group that stumbled across a pot field run by a drug cartel. I really don't want to run into the folks in charge of something like that. And the odds of that happening again are pretty low but it's easy to psych yourself out when you know no one would hear you scream!!

[Trek420]

Pretty sure the big maglites aren't either .

Not the big ones. I like the lil' ones like this

http://www.maglite.com/Maglite_Solitaire_AAA.asp

I wish you could rent police dogs for protection, or something!

Rentadog! I love it!