I carried around the house to get used to the feeling and occationally wore the (empty) holster out and about. I was more self-conscious wearing the empty hoster than I have been the last few days with an actual gun in the holster. That little piece of plastic makes a big difference, even though there's nothing illegal with an empty holster. The first place I officially carried was at the auto shop trying to get my car back after getting a new tire turned into an all day affair (and made me miss Charles' seminar). They still haven't fixed what they broke and I have to bring my car back Monday. (long story) Nothing interesting happened there, hardly anyone there to notice if anything did happen.
Wally Walk - I made my official entry into the CHL fraternity on Saturday at Wally World. No nachos (sorry) but I stopped at the McDonald's for lunch. I caught myself checking my shirt-tail a few times when I reached up high or had to stoop for something. My shirt didn't ride up and expose my gun or holster at all. Definately a weird feeling to walk through all those people with a gun on my belt. Memo to Brady Campaign - not once did I have an urge to go on a shooting rampage...maybe guns themselves aren't the problem after all. I bought a few things and walked on out without a problem.
I went to a big shopping mall after that, just to jump straight into the deep end. It was waaay more crowded than Wally World, with a different customer base. I was mostly a mall-walker there, but I did buy a few things. I got a little self-conscious in line at the food court. It was so crowded I was a little worried about the people in line behind me bumping into me and noticing the holster and/or the gun. They didn't, and I left without anyone being the wiser. I got the same feeling in the Apple store when one of their experts "helped" me navigate the new iPhone. She was basically looking over my shoulder and I hoped she wouldn't brush against the holster either. She didn't. I walked past quite a few LEOs also and none gave me a second look.
Went to the movies today and saw The Dark Knight. Edward's Theater has "gunbuster" signs but no 30.06 that I saw (and I looked pretty good). I had that same slightly self-conscious feeling in the ticket line with so many people pressed up behind us, but again nobody noticed/cared.
Here's what I've learned in 3 short days of carrying:
1. Everyone has been right - nobody notices/cares about the extra weight on my hip
2. The general self-conscious feeling goes away pretty quickly, maybe a little longer when people are standing directly behind/next to you
3. I have to remind myself to take a look at a store's doors and windows for a 30.06 (once or twice I did enter without a deliberate look, but on my "2nd" look they weren't posted)
Here's my carry setup:
Except for the grip occationally "poking" through my shirt, I think the blackberry is the only thing printing
