The second half of “better to have it and not need it” is “than to need it and not have it.”
This was a line I ginned up as a young carpenter loading my truck one morning—back when most of what I had fit in a truck box—and it made it to the pages of the novel I wrote (which about four people have read).
Even though I didn’t want to bring everything, I did. On that particular day, I brought a hammer drill I thought I’d have no earthly use for on the job I was doing. An hour after I arrived, the customer asked me for something unplanned and I needed it. It was there and that’s the rest of the story.
Anyway, my friend, colleague, and best carpenter going (also tool reviewer here at some point) Andy Engel’s jobsite had this emergency-contacts sign taped to the entry door. If you don’t know Andy, you will. He wrote this book and this book.
So, for those of us who drive to do our dangerous work, a tip from some smart guys about having what you need and hoping you don’t need it.
