Comment divide and plan (Score 1) 763
plus my storage space, bicycle and motorcycle locks, pool cue locker at the local billiards, and a whole bunch associated with the motorcycle racing trailer etc. yes i obsess over keys a lot. makes me feel twelve but whatever.
a couple of things i accepted:
- while at a normal 'work-day' i don't need to be able to go 'elsewhere' on spur of moment.
- most of my office keys can stay in the office.
- i don't need to check my snail mail every single damn day.
what i ended up doing works very well for me but does take a bit of planning (but honestly if you're even semi conscious it's not hard).
i made four separate rings (because this would be nuts to carry with me even most of the time):
1) HOME. thankfully only two keys for me, two more for g/f, key for the pool cue locker, and a final sixth to my office door at work. six is more than i wanted but it's workable. this always goes in pocket. _always_
2) WORK. two keys for storage rooms, keys to four subordinate's offices (they have mine too), about five to various lockable file and parts drawers. this ring stays in my office and doesn't go home with me.
3) SHOP. two keys for the roll-top padlocks, one for the front door, and another for the inner private door. one more for shop mailbox. NOTE - i put my personal mailbox key on this ring, as well as one for 'padlocks' (which we'll get to)
4) RACING. one for the trailer tongue lock, one for the back and side-door padlocks, two backups for my buddy's pickup, two backup keys for the racebikes (they're production based so yes have keys), again i put my personal mailbox key on this ring, as well as one for 'padlocks'.
- if i'm just going to work, or out to play pool, or over to see her, i'm all set. same ring, always in pocket.
- if i'm going to my shop i grab that ring and it goes in my bag (because i'm almost always carrying something there anyway).
- ditto the racing 'ring'.
- all my vehicle keys have their own ring and just a leather fob since i can't stand that shit banging around on the ignition.
- if you look around you can find some very high quality weatherproof padlocks in multiple sets with one common key. look for the serial number on the package and dig in the shelves and you can find multiple packages. i've got eight nice all weather masterlocks common to one key. i use them for the b/c lock cables, the m/c lock cables, the storage locker padlock, etc.
so yes i generally only check my snail mail when i'm heading out to my shop, which is about twice a week. bit me. of course if i'm expecting something important i can just grab a ring when i'm doing laundry or something and go downstairs and check.
and i can now put my contact info prominently inside my bag for the return of the bag because it never contains keys associated with my home address.
-bc