I can't stress how important it is for you if consider yourself to be a photographer to always have a camera on you and to have a charged battery and card or film ready to go. Often I have gone for walks, on my own and forgotten my camera, or even left it in the car thinking I could run back and get it (this is never the case, I never have enough time). Amazing moments pop at so many unexpected times and your camera is the only way to record it in a way that lets others know what you saw at exactly that moment. If you have a valuable piece of hardware that you can stand the thought of getting damaged, then invest in a cheaper camera that will get the job done for you. But be sure you have something with you whenever you go out.
