So I was on vacation, and spending a few days in San Diego after returning from a Mexican cruise.  My boo and I had walked from the hotel to Little Italy and enjoyed a fantastic meal at Fillipe's.  Best Italian food I've had in decades!  We also enjoyed a carafe of the house red.

We're meandering back thru Little Italy on our way to the hotel.  We're full, a bit inebriated, and being all lovey.  I trip over my own feet, and in recovering, glance behind us.  There, about a half-block back, is a young man.  Well dressed, well groomed.  If we'd been in Hawaii, I'd have guessed hapa Chinese.  Given the area, I'll go with hapa Latino.  And he is dawdling up the street, hands in pockets.

When we get to the next street corner and wait to cross, I look back.  He's still back there, half a block behind, gazing at something across the street.  Not walking.

We cross the street, I look back.  He's walking again, still about a half block back.  Little smile on his face, as if he's just meandering along in his own little world.

I slip my hands into my pockets (well, it was cold!) and get my pocket knife in a good grip. And I tell my boo that I think we're bring followed.  She sneaks a glance back, and the guy is still half a block back, having just crossed the same street we had.  We decide to push the issue, so we stop.  We're in the middle of the block, and the storefronts there are closed.  We put our backs to the wall and just hang out.

The guy keeps meandering towards us, then turns and wanders into an open storefront that we had passed.  As he goes inside, he is putting a cell phone to his ear.

We cross to the other side of the street and continue home, not hurrying, but not lallygagging quite like we had been.  We take turns looking behind us.  The guy doesn't reappear.  We come across a deli, and needed food for breakfast anyway, so she goes in to shop.  I stay outside to watch.  The guy never reappears.

Then we walk back to the hotel.  It's about 7 blocks of industrial (and therefore closed) area between the hotel and Little Italy.  We keep a suspicious eye out behind us and on other pedestrians we encounter.  And make it home with no additional worries.

Obviously, I have no way to know if the guy was just window shopping, daydreaming, or actually stalking us.  But I am interested in feedback on how we conducted ourselves.

Hi Tom,

Glad to hear that the incident came and went without harm to you and your gf.  I'd say you played it well.  Your awareness of your surroundings enabled you to recognize a possible threat thus saving you both from being easy prey.  You stayed calm, you took turns looking back therefore letting the person know that you are aware of their presence, this in turn, probably decreased the risk vs reward, and aside from that, you did not allow him to have the element of surprise; something an assailant will use as his or her strongest tool.  You both came out unharmed and your here to write about it, this is a testament to doing something right!

It's great that you spotted him and were aware of your surroundings.
I keep hearing stories about an attack vector where someone follows behind you while you walk into another person in wait. It doesn't sound like the same thing, but it does sound like he was following you. Scary stuff. Alot of attackers will also only prey on the weak and unknowing. Just being aware of him could have stopped an attack.

One of the things I think about now is not drinking just so I can always be aware of my surroundings. I know in many states you CAN'T drink anything while you are CCing. I dunno.

Tom, I think you did really well.  Most attackers/robbers operate on the element of surprise.   By being vigilant you were able to take control of the situation and make the stranger operate on your terms.  I especially liked how you and the missus alternated taking peeks back at him; that's clever thinking right there. 

Out of curiosity, what type of knife do you carry with you? 

Out of curiosity, what type of knife do you carry with you?

Just  little 3" lockblade.  Better than nothing, but not by much. 

Man, your boo trained you well-enough to train her good .  I am hoping that the rest of us can help these situations turrn-out like that: nice cruise, dinner, wine, a little adrenaline, and whatever follows .  I would say you handled it well and the outcome shows it!

Awareness of your surroundings and people is everything.
 
Your Body language transmits a lot too.
 
Remind me to tell you of our Night in China Town "adventures" when I was working and took
the Wife with me.  that was before BenchMades....