# You can tell how complicated a persons life is by how many keys he/she carries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572 "2003-04-18T16:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/21 "2003-04-18T20:20:39Z")
I would say a person’s life is as complicated as the number of cards they have in their wallet or purse, but that’s another thread. 🙂 Dorm, dorm room, office. ---
**Author:** ![altoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@altoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/altoid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/22 "2003-04-18T20:31:38Z")
Most of the keys I have I need, only one is kind of a joke: The key to the beer cooler at TGI Fridays, and it’s the real deal. Other than that I use many keys because: I am subletting my apartment, and that’s three keys on the ring. I am living in another apartment, and that’s two keys I have a storage area, one key I have a classroom at school, four keys- one for the door, two for classroom storage and one for the faculty restroom I have keys to my old classroom, two keys (I need to pick stuff up there, still…) I have keys to my Aunt’s house, two. Fifteen friggin keys! Yes, life’s complicated, all without a car. On the bright side, I wear them on a latch on my pants and I jingle. If I want one of my students to stop doing something without my asking, I conspicuously jingle when I walk up to them, they know I’m coming and they usually knock it off. If the student needs to be caught, I put my hand over my keys and quietly sneak up on them. Heh, heh. ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/23 "2003-04-18T20:33:27Z")
Well… - Car keys - Video store tag - Metal widget thingy - Minimag light - Pocket knife - 2 x office keys - House key - Couple of padlock keys Yeah, my life is a mess - although I do get to walk around with a huge bulge all day:p “Hi, are you incredible deformed or…” ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/24 "2003-04-18T20:34:06Z")
Oh man…I have one of those multi ring keychains and I love it: Ring #1 Front security door Mailbox Front door Back door Basement Laundry room Bike Room Ring #2 Ex Wife’s Security door Ex Wife’s front door Kids’ bike lock Ring #3 Girlfriends’ security door Girlfriends’ front door Girlfriends’ daughters’ bike lock Ring#4 Office Red LED nightlight Ring #5 Catch for multi ring Cheap Bike lock Expensive Bike Lock Ring #6 Car It’s cumbersome but the rings come apart simply so I can leave some at home if I know I won’t be using them. Unfortunately I’m kinda compulsive about the keys so I almost always keep all of them with me unless I’m bike riding. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/25 "2003-04-18T20:46:36Z")
Home SUV Office Club Boats Bike Life is busy but relatively simple. Pity one lock and key won’t work for all. ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/26 "2003-04-18T20:53:51Z")
home latch home deadbolt Office other office third office I don’t use much anymore building key for the two latter offices storage shed bike laptop lock gun case other gun case trigger lock other trigger lock padlock on ammo box and a little white-LED mini-flashlight/ bore light ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/27 "2003-04-19T17:39:54Z")
My keys: Car key (one key for ignition as well as doors and trunk) House key (only one for front door, back door is sliding glass door) Key to storage closet at back of the house Ignition and trunk keys for my mom and dad’s vehicles in case I have to borrow them Front and back door keys to my mom and dad’s house Miscellaneous keys to padlocks ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/28 "2003-04-19T18:05:06Z")
Home Car Multitool Ah, the simple pleasures of being unemployed. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/29 "2003-04-19T18:40:00Z")
House Car Bicycle lock Laboratory Office Building Upper desk cabinet Lower desk cabinet Sometimes 2 other work keys for a total of 7 Life will be simpler when I quit next month. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/30 "2003-04-19T19:59:28Z")
When I’m absolutely unemployed, I’m down to my front and back door housekeys (a liberating feeling). However … at the moment, I’ve got them, plus 15 various keys to do with one of my cleaning jobs, half of which either (a) I haven’t the foggiest idea which lock they’re for – yet, or (b) they’re obsolete, and I haven’t chucked 'em – yet. Jangling them from a loop at my hip as I walk, though, is cool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/31 "2003-04-19T20:23:08Z")
Building key Condo deadbolt key Condo doorknob lock key Car key Mailbox key Laundry room key Key for something I don’t remember I do have other keys, but I don’t carry them around. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/32 "2003-04-19T20:25:38Z")
Apartment key, outside apartment door key, car keys. _And_ I’m not unemployed. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/33 "2003-04-19T22:56:06Z")
I have two rings: 1.(home) Car, car alarm thingy, apartment, mailbox, pool 2.(work) 15 different keys. Only two doors in the theatre have the same key. A master does not exist. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/34 "2003-04-19T23:19:33Z")
Dorm room key (which is never used. If the door’s locked, that means go away for a while) Bike key Work key I think a more accurate measure, now, is how many passwords and entry codes I have to remember. **Way** more than I have keys, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/36 "2003-04-20T00:04:40Z")
Ha! If I can count my work keys I believe I have you all beat. At last count the grand total was forty three, not counting the key for the water spigot. I’m an art teacher and every blessed supply cabinet requires it’s own key, so my key ring is bigger than even the head custodian’s. Does anybody else have trouble tossing out old keys? I once gave my old truck to my cousin and when he came to visit, he managed to lock the door with the engine still running. I rummaged through my jar of old keys, found a duplicate and saved his bacon. Proof one should never throw away an old key, the way I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572/37 "2003-04-20T01:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*I would say a person’s life is as complicated as the number of cards they have in their wallet or purse, but that’s another thread. 🙂 > > Dorm, dorm room, office. \*\* amen to that! keys carried? one! the dorm room… cards carried? let’s just say i could use my wallet to significantly alter my center of gravity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-tell-how-complicated-a-persons-life-is-by-how-many-keys-he-she-carries/169572.md?page=1)