Hi James Brown, Bon voyage and best of wishes. Who/What are you afraid of? Humans, bears, wolves, gators?
As a deputy sheriff did you were you trained licensed to use pepper spray, batons, or tasers? Since pepper spray activates the flight response in people and bears, would carrying pepper spray make you feel safer? I don't know the laws for carrying pepper spray in vehicles, but I do know that hikers in Glacier National Park are advised to carry bear spray, which is a concentrated pepper spray for bears.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert