It's for exactly this reason (as it's essentially useless otherwise unless say, I decide to drive to TJ) I got a Passport Card when I renewed my passport this year. My real PP will stay in the room safe when I take a cruise later this year, and the Passport Card will go in the clip with the one credit-card, a few $$ and my ship's card (all of which go in the "crotch safe"; the belt-hook wallet).

I've also got scans of my PP (and those of my traveling party) in a hidden-away place on the internet, just in case I lose everything while abroad.

I was surprised at the speed of passport renewal, too- I sent off my old PP, the $$ and the new pictures (waaaaay better looking than the set from '99! ) on the 1st of July and I had my new "Sure, the RFID's unhackable; trust us!" version (and my punched-up original PP) on the 11th. The passport card showed up before Sept. 1st, which I guess isn't bad considering they're new.