It’s a common problem, of course. People lose track of their belongings all the time. Usually it’s something common like the car keys, a wallet, or glasses. Usually it’s little more than a momentary annoyance. You look around for a few minutes and there they are. Sometimes, though, it evolves into a major problem. You are late for work, and now you’ll be later. Maybe you have to get to the bank before it closes, and if you don’t get there in time your mortgage check will bounce. Or perhaps you have to catch a plane. In that case, you not only miss the flight but it costs you extra and your vacation loses a whole day. Maybe losing items is common, but it can have uncommon results. My contention is that it’s not only time lost, but it could even change the trajectory of your existence. Suppose you miss meetin g a new friend or maybe even the love of your life. You could be forever denied the possibility of marital bliss with your soulmate. And the worst part is, you’d never know.
Maybe it’s an exaggeration, but it is something that can never be proven or disproven. I guess the only answer is to try not to lose things. I have a few suggestions.
There are devices that you can attach to your keys or any other object. Then you can find the location with your smartphone. I picture it as something like playing “hot and cold” when you were a kid. If you walked close to a hidden object, someone would yell “hot” as you got closer. “You’re very hot — almost burning” meant you were almost on it. “Colder” meant you were walking away. But that’s only if you buy the device. Most of us don’t go to that much trouble.
Another method is to retrace your steps. Go to each room or area you have been in. That’s pretty good, but not good enough for an advanced misplacer. Some people, like me, are really good at setting things down in weird places. Like my keys in the refrigerator. Or maybe setting a letter to be mailed on the top of the box of Cheerios. That takes more than a quick glance around the room. It takes some serious searching.
Another common practice is to sit down calmly and go over every move you made since the disappearance. That takes some time and brainpower, but it can have good results if you can clear your mind — usually your mind is racing, though, and it’s nearly impossible to concentrate. One time, I misplaced my house key. I looked high and low for the thing and ended up getting a new door lock. I eventually found the key. It was setting exactly where I put it, of course. Inside the top drawer of my tool chest. In the garage. Under the drawer liner. Covered up with a set of metric Allen wrenches. Two years, eleven months later.
I’m pleased to say, though, that I’ve finally solved the problem of losing my keys. It was a simple and cheap solution, and I’m pretty proud of it. It has been in use since I found the house key, and I don’t plan on dropping it. I just put a little chain on the key ring, and attached the other end to an object easily spotted. Maybe people think I’m odd. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it — but nonetheless, it works like a charm. And I’m the only guy I know that has a keychain attached to a chainsaw. The only thing is, it won’t go through a security turnstile at the airport. But then again, I gave up on airports, too, since I put my passport in a safe place. And it’s still there. Somewhere. Safe.
It’s a common problem, of course. People lose track of their belongings all the time. Usually it’s something common like the car keys, a wallet, or glasses. Usually it’s little more than a momentary annoyance. You look around for a few minutes and there they are. Sometimes, though, it evolves into a major problem. You are late for work, and now you’ll be later. Maybe you have to get to the bank before it closes, and if you don’t get there in time your mortgage check will bounce. Or perhaps you have to catch a plane. In that case, you not only miss the flight but it costs you extra and your vacation loses a whole day. Maybe losing items is common, but it can have uncommon results. My contention is that it’s not only time lost, but it could even change the trajectory of your existence. Suppose you miss meetin g a new friend or maybe even the love of your life. You could be forever denied the possibility of marital bliss with your soulmate. And the worst part is, you’d never know.
Maybe it’s an exaggeration, but it is something that can never be proven or disproven. I guess the only answer is to try not to lose things. I have a few suggestions.
There are devices that you can attach to your keys or any other object. Then you can find the location with your smartphone. I picture it as something like playing “hot and cold” when you were a kid. If you walked close to a hidden object, someone would yell “hot” as you got closer. “You’re very hot — almost burning” meant you were almost on it. “Colder” meant you were walking away. But that’s only if you buy the device. Most of us don’t go to that much trouble.
Another method is to retrace your steps. Go to each room or area you have been in. That’s pretty good, but not good enough for an advanced misplacer. Some people, like me, are really good at setting things down in weird places. Like my keys in the refrigerator. Or maybe setting a letter to be mailed on the top of the box of Cheerios. That takes more than a quick glance around the room. It takes some serious searching.
Another common practice is to sit down calmly and go over every move you made since the disappearance. That takes some time and brainpower, but it can have good results if you can clear your mind — usually your mind is racing, though, and it’s nearly impossible to concentrate. One time, I misplaced my house key. I looked high and low for the thing and ended up getting a new door lock. I eventually found the key. It was setting exactly where I put it, of course. Inside the top drawer of my tool chest. In the garage. Under the drawer liner. Covered up with a set of metric Allen wrenches. Two years, eleven months later.
I’m pleased to say, though, that I’ve finally solved the problem of losing my keys. It was a simple and cheap solution, and I’m pretty proud of it. It has been in use since I found the house key, and I don’t plan on dropping it. I just put a little chain on the key ring, and attached the other end to an object easily spotted. Maybe people think I’m odd. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it — but nonetheless, it works like a charm. And I’m the only guy I know that has a keychain attached to a chainsaw. The only thing is, it won’t go through a security turnstile at the airport. But then again, I gave up on airports, too, since I put my passport in a safe place. And it’s still there. Somewhere. Safe.
