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Jeff Cooper was always on target. I instruct my classes that the only time you should be in Condition White is when you are at home, in bed, and asleep. Every other minute you had better be in Yellow and ready to go to Orange.

For those on this thread who don't know about the color-codes, the late Jeff Cooper (a master firearms instructor) created a scale of awareness:

Condition White: oblivious. If attacked in this state, your first awareness that there's a threat will be when the bad guy knocks you down or sticks a knife to your throat.
Condition Yellow: relaxed alertness. You are aware of your surroundings, and observant for potential threats. If you are out in public, you should be in Yellow at all times.
Condition Orange: you notice a potential threat. You may be noticing a group of guys looking at you like they are sizing you up, a guy in summer wearing a heavy jacket, whatever. You notice something not right and become very alert. You may take evasive action (cross the street, whatever) and evaluate the response of the potential threat.
Condition Red: the potential threat has revealed himself as a real threat. You draw you weapon and prepare to defend yourself.

More detailed discussion here