The Key to Success
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
April 17, 2016 7:39pm CST
This is the second time this has happened. We were locked out today.
The last time we got locked out it was because the door we have the key for had a chain bolt. We locked it, set the bolt then went out the other door. That time hubby unlocked it, the pushed through and the molding came off. We took that chain bolt off.
Today hubby is missing his house key, and I did not take my purse with us to church. He is missing another key as well. I am sure they will show up again soon. Meanwhile, we did manage to break into the house through a window, but it was not easy at all. If he was not so skinny we would not have made it. We tried about six windows.
Hubby took my key and got two copies made. One for him and one to hide. I put that one in an empty pill bottle.It is hidden for now, but I have different plans at a later date. At my other house the spare key was in the shed hung behind a light switch box. I am not going to do that here. My hiding hole will have something to do with the garden. We could easily go without locking but that is inviting trouble.
So, do you lock your home, do you hide a key, and do you have any suggestions for me.
13 people like this
16 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
I had one friend that would constantly lose her apartment key or her car key, etc. I had a whole set of her keys.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Apr 16
hide a key is always a good idea, extras too on the keychain with the car keys helps
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt Yeah, then they wonder why they get a bad back or wear holes in their pants.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
That is the problem. He has an entire bouquet of keys on his belt on a carabiner.This one was there. I do not know where he lost it. He has lost that key and the key to the car he is working on. I think they ran away together.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I made hubby go through his key ring the other day, to get rid of some stuff. He had stuff there from the job that let him go still!
@AmbiePam (120533)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Growing up, we had a spot in the rock garden where we hid the key. Now, it is literally impossible to lock myself out. The person who lived in my apartment before me, apparently, continuously locked themself out. So management put a new door in, one unlike any other front door in the apartment complex.
When I leave my apartment, the only way to lock it, is from the outside. So no matter what, I will never be locked out of my apartment. It just won't lock any other way once I leave.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@AmbiePam Bob never has found where his key was. I bet if I ever get the lawn done up I will find it outside. You will always get out the door with that key. I lived in a duplex that always locked when you went out and I constantly went out without a key. Climbed in windows often.
@AmbiePam (120533)
• United States
21 Apr 16
@GardenGerty Certainly. But you were talking about leaving your keys inside your home, and getting locked out that way. Which is impossible for me to do.
It's a good thing because I'm sure I would have done it a lot by now.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
18 Apr 16
We never go without locking, that is too dangerous. But we have a spare key in each of our vehicles and there is one in a magnetic box hidden underneath a shelf on our gas grill. We have a big heavy leather cover on it, so it wouldn't be the first place anyone, such as a thief, would look for a key. But we've not had to bother with that since we both have a spare key in the consoles of our vehicles.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Hubby fills the console up with so much junk that it would not work for him to do that. A hideakey on something metal would work, though.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@Juliaacv That is the trick where ever you hide it. It has to go back out.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
19 Apr 16
@GardenGerty In our old car we used to keep change and a spare key in the ash tray, but since our vehicles are no longer equipped with those, there is a small space in each console that we can save a key with a keyring. The only downside is that if you use it, you have to put it back out in the SUV or car, you can't leave it in the house.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
18 Apr 16
Our house is surrounded with rocks, all shapes, colors and sizes. We have rock gardens all around the house. Years ago we bought a key rock. Specifically made for a spare key. A key lives in it and its hidden among the real rocks. It is hard to see but not hard to find because we know which one it is. We did it for ourselves but my kids also know where the key rock is so if they show up without their key, they can get in.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I have put the spare in an empty medicine bottle. I was considering gluing a rock to the top and burying the bottle with just the rock to mark it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@PainsOnSlate Probably could. I have seen them online.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
19 Apr 16
@GardenGerty That would work. You could probably find a key rock at a dollar store...
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Apr 16
I like coded garage entries better than remotes, as too many times someone else will share your frequency. you just have to be careful whatever you do.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@cintol That would be a sight to see.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
22 Apr 16
@GardenGerty Thats very true, I love my garage box, it makes life much simpler for me and I don't have to climb the fence to break in the back of my house anymore. lol
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
According to some statistics your city has some of the highest crime in Kansas, on the other hand, with as many people that are coming and going at any time a burglar would never really know when no one would be home or coming home.
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
20 Apr 16
Well there is almost always someone home so it isn't a big problem usually, but one time I got locked out during an ice storm, with the dog! That was really fun!! I had to drive to meet my husband who had another key.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
I am certainly glad you had a car key. You at least stayed a little warmer by being in the car.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Apr 16
we bo th had keys to the front door whem I lived with my son and shared a two bedroom apt. once I had left my front door key in my bedroom and forgot it went out with my friend got home the door was locked but my son was in his bedroom with ear plugs on l istening toi some music. my next door neighbors mom helped me we went arund to my sons bedroom off the alley and kept banging on his window til he heard us and let me ln . then I put my key back on the key chain lol.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Apr 16
here in the last room we were moved to I gave upo n keys to our room as my roommate Kathy had senile dementia an was constantly losing her key then gettin me to give her mineand she lost that. so we gaveup and our room was open all the time. the only things to go missingwere my led small flash lights finally which ever care gver it was guit stealing my flashlights we never hadf any trouble from other residents but some care givers have sticky fingers here.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@Hatley Sad that you have to watch out for stuff in a Retirement Center.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Apr 16
@GardenGerty yes its just not right at all those girls are paid and led flashlightsare not expernsikve let them buy heir own
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Apr 16
Several we know have keys in their wallet or in their car. We use keyless entry so we just have to remember our codes. Some don't like these, but we find it a handy thing.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
We had a job where we changed the codes on a rented cabin. It was a pain, but pretty secure.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Usually I would have had my purse with me and we would have been able to get in easily.I can remember things like keys it is other things that I lose.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
27 Apr 16
I may go that route eventually, but I go off walking sometimes and would like to have one outside for me.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I had a friend when I was growing up who kept their spare house key in the garage.
@KuznVinny (768)
• United States
18 Apr 16
If you are getting older (yes, in your 60s or up), you need to have a key hidden somewhere outside. No, not under your doormat. No, not somewhere obvious. Somewhere NOT obvious. Under a rock under a boxwood. Something like that. And don't tell ANYONE that it exists, or where.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@GardenGerty Or in case I lock myself out! 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@peavey Yes, that too. i hope I do not jinx anyone.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Before we moved I was beginning to see more crime in my other town. This one, I do not worry about the town folks, it is whoever might be passing on the highway.It is good your daughter has a key just in case you would need some help sometime.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
18 Apr 16
I keep one at work and my fellow department people know where it is in case I have some problem. I used to leave one year-round with the people who take care of my cats, but they decided they did not want the responsibility of having that key. I would give one to a nearby good friend or relative that you can trust.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
18 Apr 16
I have no relatives nearby and really no friends close either. I think leaving one where you work is great, though.
