How Do You Handle Your Keys? 763
arisvega writes "I lost my backpack some time ago, but was lucky enough to have left my laptop at home that night, and my cell and keys in my pocket. The inevitable habit-change that followed was to start strapping my keys on my pants, so at least I would still be able to get home (as long as I kept my pants on). But I realized I had a lot of keys: one for the outer door, two for the inner, three more for my girlfriend's place, one for the office, one for the postbox, one for my bicycle, the car, the motorbike and the roof. ... Plus, I keep a tiny Swiss Army knife on my keychain that I really wouldn't want to part with. Needless to say, this makes a jingly bunch that eats through my pocket. I ask you, Slashdot people, how do you carry/safeguard a hefty, pronouncedly jingly bunch of keys? What are the alternatives? Any suggestions on clothing or technology? Would having 'The One Key' make things better, or worse?"
News for nerds. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
The only thing worse than wankers who make useless, inane comments like this are the wankers who moderate this sort of tripe as "Insightful".
Re:News for nerds. (Score:5, Insightful)
Now that I think about it, a good idea may be to make a new section for 'life hacking' topics like this.
Re:News for nerds. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'd rather read about other people's processes than anything else. If you find key management as trite then perhaps you don't understand what being a nerd entails.
Re:News for nerds. (Score:4, Funny)
I do agree. My only problem with this thread is that so far no one has come up with a magical way to deal with this problem - the only real answer I've seen so far (and it's unstated) is "man up and deal with it". If you are the sort of person who needs to put an end statement right after every begin statement just so you won't forget to put it in after you've nutted out what should go in between, having tidy little application specific keyrings just won't cut it, no matter how much mangling they do to your pockets. If simply remembering "wallet, keys, phone" is almost too taxing for your organizational skills, guaranteed the only time you will remember to bring your post office box key with you when you leave the house is the moment when you pull up at the post office. And by the time you get home you will have forgotten what it was exactly that you forgot before.
The other solution is to leave your house or mother's basement so few times per year that most of the time your keys live on your desk. This way, your clothes will wear out faster than your pockets. If you intend to maintain the practice of living in mom's basement, another poster had an excellent suggestion to keep your keys ensconced in a snot-rag. This will be at least as effective a ward against future girlfriends/wives as garlic is to vampires. For extra efficacy, make sure the handkerchief emblazoned with either the D&D or Star Trek logo, your choice. You can't be too careful.
Re:News for nerds. (Score:5, Insightful)
Motorbike key stays at home keeping the roof key company. Unless you use your bicycle every day, take that off too. Assuming you live in an apartment and the outer door is a communal one, keep that one and one of you inner door ones. Leave the other lock unlocked. Locks are for honest people anyways. Ditch either the girlfriend or her keys. They are weighing you down too much. Get her to buzz you in. Why carry they keys? With that you are down to 5 keys. Buy a $2 keyring (don't get any extra crap, just a ring) and ta-da key problem solved.
Tune in tomorrow to learn how to clean your room.
Get a security guard, I cannot believe nobody.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, there are some useful replies from all those nerds.
I personally just have one key (house key). The rest is covered by keycards, which stack nicely in a pocket or wallet. In fact, I'm considering a deck protector (like for card games) at this point :P
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Bullshit
The question is a good one for nerds
All nerds have pockets fulls of keys along with pocket protectors
I just keep a syringe of strong acid with me
Whenever I lose my keys, A small shot of the acid will dissolve the lock tumbler and I'm in
Try it, it works well on other people's locks as well
Sort of like a master key to the world
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Even the trolls are weak these days!
More on-topic -- what I learned from the Special Forces and Rangers: dummy cord everything to you. If you don't like cord, use a carabiner [google.com].
Re:News for nerds. (Score:5, Informative)
I keep a large ring of keys for the house/truck/garage as well as a larger keyring for the shop, trailers, chains, and various pieces of power equipment.
The best way I have found to keep them all on hand is with a chain wallet. I use a good leather chain wallet, but replace the small stock chain with a 2 foot length of chain cut from the end of a large dog leash. The hook on the end is robust and large enough to accommodate several key rings.
The short chain length gives enough length to unlock doors without unhooking the keyring, and allows it all to be dropped in a front pants pocket to keep it low-key so as to avoid looking like some sort of trailer-trash skateboarder wannabe with 4 feet of chain hanging out of the pants.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
One note about the Kwikset SmartKey. I have seen people screw up the lock by not following directions exactly when changing the key (mainly by not inserting the new key fully). Well, screw it up until you disassemble the lock and put the cylinder into a reset cradle, or try your luck with a five-tonged custom tool.
It also have another advantage -- it is a lot more difficult to pick than the usual five cylinder pin tumbler lock that Joe Sixpack has on their front door. Because it uses a sidebar mechanism,
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally I break contents down to separate keyrings down for things I might want to remove: house keys on one ring, car on another, Leatherman Squirt P4 on another, small metal container with a micro USB stick and some paracetamol on another, photon torch etc, and then clip them all onto a steel spri
saves time and money! (Score:5, Funny)
move in with your girlfriend, that will save you 3 keys right there
Re:saves time and money! (Score:5, Funny)
move in with your girlfriend, that will save you 3 keys right there
And replace them with so many chains.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
And if he does that, then he has plenty of balls to go with them.
Re:saves time and money! (Score:5, Funny)
Or dump two of them.
oops, this is slashdot
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Exactly; our home uses the same key for all the doors. Also separate key rings based on activity. eg. I don't need my bicycle key when I use my vehicle.
Re:saves time and money! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:saves time and money! (Score:5, Insightful)
Alternatively, stop carrying around pointless keys. Don't carry around the key to the roof of your house for example, leave it in your house. Taking your car? Leave your bike keys at home and vice-versa...
I would have thought this was pretty obvious.
Talk about intelligent people and lack of common sense >.
Re:I don't really worry about it. (Score:5, Informative)
Most badge readers aren't two-factor. They rely on something you have, and that's it. Some combine it with something you know (a keypad) and/or something you are (handprint), but in my experience, those are the exception.
Re:I don't really worry about it. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:saves time and money! (Score:4, Informative)
If you are going to a locksmith, you might consider getting deadbolt and other locks for your house that uses SFIC [1] cylinders. This way, you can not just have a rekey job in the future be insanely easy (pick up the new cylinders from the locksmith, use the old control key to slide out the old cylinder on each lock, and use the new control key to slide in the new ones), but you can also change brands of cylinders. If you want to change from Best to Medeco, or from Medeco to Schlage Primus, it can be done very quickly.
You also will have good security, since in general, locks that use SFIC cylinders tend to be a lot better made than most consumer stuff.
[1]: Small Format Interchangable Core.
Is this guy an adult??? (Score:3, Insightful)
move in with your girlfriend, that will save you 3 keys right there
If he's asking a question like this on slashdot, I don't think he's ready for that. I don't know about you, but I was made responsible for a set of keys to the house sometime around the age of 7 or 8. I'm surprised he's not asking slashdot about toilet habits "What happens when you want to go poopies?"
Re:saves time and money! (Score:5, Informative)
If you live in an apartment building with a single entrance (think movie style with the stairwell in the middle), you have the main apartment building key, the door knob key, and the deadbolt.
Three keys, designed for increasing levels of individual safety (insofar as locks are not designed to keep you safe, but to make it noticeable when someone is actively violating another persons safety ~ or however that gets said)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Why are you carrying around a key to the front and a key to the back? Do you often need to go in two doors at once?
Seriously, I've lived in places with unmatched keys, and, um, I carry enough keys to open one door. The one closest to where I always arrive at the house. I use these keys to get in. Which is, I believe, the entire point of carrying keys.
I suppose there could be some configuration of a place where you often arrive from different directions, in a city or something, but it can't be that common
Re:saves time and money! (Score:4, Informative)
I have lots of keys .. but I'm a man. I put them in my pocket, and maybe sometimes they bulge a little. So what...
The day your bulge of keys is what you're concerned about is the day you realized you're not doing anything to challenge yourself or not pushing yourself to do something seriously worthwhile. That's fine by some people's standards. Not mine, but to some I suppose....
Like I said... I'm a man. There are keys and sometimes I have a lot of them and sometimes I prioritize them. But I'm far too occupied with something far more important to drivel on about it and ask the public for help.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
If I look out my window and I see the doddery old bloke from downstairs who keeps you chatting for half an hour (anything less and he thinks you're being rude and starts hanging onto your mail and other crazy-old-man stuff) about how the bin-men put the bins in the wrong order or something, then I go out the back door.
If I don't see him out front, I go out the front door, and fast - I usually hear him unlocking his door to come for a chat. I've discovered that his hearing is very acute, so speed trumps stea
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I try to minimize the number of keys I carry -- front door, front door deadbolt (don't ask me why these could not be consolidated), apartment lobby door, apartment stairwell/elevator doors, laundry room, and mailbox, and that doesn't even count a car key or any other building. One I decided to drop was my laundry key, which I keep on a string tied to the bottle of laundry detergent. This works well enough. Then I dropped the front door (not deadbolt) key because it's pointless to lock something I know can b
Re: (Score:3)
Must. . . resist. . . correcting reference. . . . Doh, I can't. I'm weak, and will now commence pedantic nitpicking. I apologize in advance.
Count Rugen (That's with an 'e', not an 'a') did not carry the key to the castle gate. The Chief Enforcer of Florin did. His name was Yellin.
There, I feel better now.
Ask yourself: WWGFD (Score:5, Funny)
And then carry around a crowbar, just like Gordon Freeman. It's the universal key!
RFID (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Really? How many different places do you routinely need access to?
Re:RFID (Score:5, Funny)
I did. And then I read the body of the post. And then I wanted to know how many different locations he uses RFIDs to get into. So I posted a reply. Asking how many locations.
Re:RFID (Score:5, Funny)
I did. And then I read the body of the post. And then I wanted to know how many different locations he uses RFIDs to get into. So I posted a reply. Asking how many locations.
What happened then?
Re:RFID (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Man, I wish my wife would eat me alive more often. I should try to pull that.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
My Mazda came with a credit card sized "key" that slips in my pocket and as long as I have it on me, the doors open and the car starts... it's just a bit too thick for the wallet. I use the garage door opener on my mirror to get in my home and I keep my mailbox key in a compartment inside my car. when I leave in the morning, I have my wallet, my car "key" and my sunglasses.
At work, I have a numeric keypad door to get to my desk.
In case the garage door doesn't open, I have a hidden key in my car for my apartment. I don't carry it with me.
that's how I manage my keys. ;)
I know this is so 1850's of me to ask, but what the hell do you do when there's a power outage? Drive the car through the garage door to get into your house?
reduce key count (Score:2)
2 car keys, 1 house key.
why do you need 3 keys for your girlfriend's place? You have 3 girlfriends?
Re:reduce key count (Score:5, Funny)
why do you need 3 keys for your girlfriend's place? You have 3 girlfriends?
* The lock on the front door
* The lock on her bedroom door
* The lock on her chastity belt
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
The key to that lock is metaphysical.
Or a plasma cutter.
Depending on your burnt-flesh-stench preferences.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
You’ve obviously never tried it.
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Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Use your imagination.
It's so she can lay in wait for him, (mostly) naked, with dimmed lights and romantic music playing, posed provocatively on her bed. All while trusting that only he (holder of the Sacred Keys of I-Gave-You-Unfettered-Access-Where's-My-Ring) can enter her abode and ravish her.
Having the girlfriend's housekeys can lead to all kinds of laying-in-wait-for-him goodness, very few of whic
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If your relationship ends so badly that you have to change the locks when you break up (rather than simply asking for the key back and getting it), then it was a mistake giving him/her the key in the first place.
Solution: (Score:3, Interesting)
I prefer to use two keyrings: one with the bare essentials(1 key for car, 2 keys for house) and a big one for the more obscure keys that I could go pick up from home if I had to do something special. I also make backup duplicates of all my keys.
Hollow rocks and magnetic key holders are also good places to store backup keys in case you lock yourself out of the car or house.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Never really got into lanyards. My work id clips on a retractable hook, which also helps me do my wind-up-doll routine.
Lanyards are either a safety hazard, or are the breakaway type which means you'll lose them.
Keep an extra set of keys with friends and family, rather than hiding them around the house or car. But it's probably better just to simply not have any valuables.
Re:Solution: (Score:4, Interesting)
Easy! (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
just 2 (Score:2)
One for my house, one for car
Other work related keys are in a briefcase (with travels in the car or back at home/office)
Other keys stay in the house (for the garage, etc...)
Girlfriend? (Score:5, Funny)
three more for my girlfriends place
Why must you turn the internet into a house of lies, Ralph?
Re:Girlfriend? (Score:5, Funny)
three more for my girlfriends place
There goes "as long as I keep my pants on"
Prioritize and partition (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Prioritize and partition (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I tried doing that at home, but mail is at the bottom of the stairs, on the way to my apt. No sense really in leaving my mailbox key in my apt, because I'll have to cover a flight of stairs twice to get mail th
One suggestion (Score:4, Interesting)
The only key I actually need to keep with me is my car key; I use the garage door remote to get into the house. But that is a non-issue anyway, since all your keys should be on the same keychain!
Re: (Score:2)
This. Carry your car key; use your car as a giant key storage container, for all other keys.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Keys in pocket (Score:2)
I always carry my keys, lighter, cellphone and a few other things in my pockets, but then I always wear baggy pants with lots of pockets.
Back when I was in to street BMX riding I had everything in a backpack to minimize the risk of damaging anything (including myself) or losing stuff when I fell. The trick in those cases is to always keep track of your backpack. I can't really say I understand how some people manage to constantly misplace bags, I've had several girlfriends who would put their bag/purse down
I used to get holes eaten in my pockets (Score:2)
Carry Them (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Carry Them (Score:5, Funny)
I do the same thing with my penis. You can never be too careful.
I'm in the same leeky boat (Score:2)
CDO Key Habits (Score:5, Informative)
I keep my keys in my front right pocket. They don't go anywhere else. They're always there unless they are in my hand and I'm unlocking something. If I do set them down, I usually notice that they are missing (and also am in the habit of patting myself down to make sure they are there before leaving the house etc). The same goes for my cell phone in my other front pocket and my wallet in my back pocket. that's where they go and I simply don't put them anywhere else except for unusual situations. That usually solves my losing things issue and when people ask me how many times I've lost my phone, I can say 0.
For too many keys, since I didn't want to change my system, I eventually had to split up my key rings. One for every day, always have keys. Another for the car. Another for my photostudio. Another one for work keys. The work keys go on my lanyard at work and the others I only pick up and put in my pocket when I actually use them. They actually do fit better on different key rings rather than all on one. Otherwise, they sit in the same coffee mug on my desk at home.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Otherwise, they sit in the same coffee mug on my desk at home.
That's one way to hide them, I guess, but doesn't the coffee taste a bit odd?
Re:CDO Key Habits (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:CDO Key Habits (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I have two of those thumb push key-things. You now, where one cylinder goes inside another, and you push the end in and it falls apart? They're a lot easier to use than carabiners, you can detach them one handed. (Erm, except half your keys fall on the floor if you do that.)
I'd recommend using them over carabiners, but for some reason they seem almost impossible to actually find and buy.
I don't use them for different sets of keys, though, I just grab another keyring from my car if I need it. I use them to
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
You might also look at using a cable key ring.
http://lifehacker.com/5302086/use-a-cable-key-ring-for-easy-key-management [lifehacker.com]
And a quick disconnect keychain
http://www.google.com/search?q=Quick+Disconnect+Keychain [google.com]
And an S Biner clip
http://www.countycomm.com/sbiner.htm [countycomm.com]
I keep mine in my coat.. (Score:2)
Because i hardly ever need my keys when I'm sitting in front of my TV...
Also my house key is on a longer chain than my other keys so i can easily find it in the dark and while drunk....
Also if I'm ever chased by an mad axe-man I won't have to fumble around to get the key for my front door...
Re:I keep mine in my coat.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm in Scotland...
Summer lasts only 4 hours a year....
Carabiner (Score:2, Interesting)
Hang it on my belt.
Work key - big old thing
GF's car key on a key ring with brass Iguana fob
GF's car remove in key ring that has a Forza 3 fob
House key on key ring
Truck keys (2) on three key rings with a Chevrolet key fob
Easy... (Score:5, Funny)
3 or less (Score:2, Informative)
I rarely have more than three keys on me at any given time. One for the house (all locks keyed the same), one for the vehicle I'm driving (SUV, Car, or motorbike), and optionally the mail key. Work is all proximity card readers, and there are precious few other locks that I ever use.
I did see an instructable or the like that had a way to put a number of keys into a leatherman by removing the tools.
Cargo pants are nice. (Score:2)
Do you really need all those keys on you? It seems to me that the *three* keys for your girlfriend's place are probably somewhat redundant. Maybe they're front/back/basement keys, in which case you probably need only one unless you're living there. Your roof key can probably be stashed at home.
Cargo pants are really nice, if you can wear them. In general, keyfobs aren't worth the hassle. If you need what they have--the SAK, for instance--take them off the keychain and carry them either in your pack, which
Re:Cargo pants are nice. (Score:5, Funny)
It seems to me that the *three* keys for your girlfriend's place are probably somewhat redundant
Yup, there's an alternative [xkcd.com]
small lock pick set (Score:2)
then you don't need to carry all these different keys with you. you can have just one that works everywhere.
although the bank was a little annoyed when I tried to open my safe deposit box.
Stupid question, stupid answer (Score:2)
I recently got my keys down to 1 house key, 1 USB memory stick, and 1 key/FOB thing for my car. I really wish my FOB opened my house door. The USB memory stick is optional.
Simple? (Score:2)
I mean, it's still illegal to steal stuff, so no one's going to.
Seriously, though... when I had a mess of keys, I had the same problem. You've mentioned a couple issues that need to be addressed.
1. Emergency backup. One option is to make friends with your neighbors and give them a key if you trust them. Another is to have a backup key near your pad with a combination lock on it's case. You can also buy these for your car, you ca
Only eleven keys? (Score:2)
Only eleven keys? Get a keyring and buy a better brand of clothes that use sterner stuff for the pockets. (Or learn to sew and patch.)
Seriously, eleven keys aren't all that much.
Are you smarter than a Realtor(TM?) (Score:3, Interesting)
Put a handkerchief in your pocket... (Score:5, Interesting)
I place a handkerchief in my pocket before I put my keys in, the handkerchief then protects the pocket from the sharp keys and pocket knife, and also provides padding that will at least muffle the noise of jingling keys in your pocket.
Don't carry them (Score:5, Funny)
I'm posting this as I stare at all the different keys and key chain items I carry around. They include my own house keys (3), my neighbor's keys (2), car keys (3), car alarm fob (2), RSA SecurID token, trigger lock keys (4), ThinkPad dock key (1), padlock keys (2). These are only the primary keys as the backups are stored elsewhere. Add to this the optional items such as a couple Leatherman Squirt S4s and Micra, Gerber Clutch and Shortcut, keychain flashlights, and assorted carabiners and I can understand your plight. After losing a set of keys after the disengagable clip came apart somewhere along Ft. Lauderdale beach, I looked for alternatives.
First, separate all your keys based on need. I carry around my Leatherman Micra, main house key, ignition and car alarm fob on one ring. On your second ring, add the garage key, car trunk key, Shell Gas RFID fob. On the third ring, place your firearm trigger lock key, the docking station key, and padlock keys. On the fourth ring, place the remainder.
Next, acquire a locking carabiner. Don't opt for the spring loaded ones you get for $5 for a 6 pack at WalMart. You need climbing gear biners. These can be had from Altrec or Eddie Bauer or even Home Depot. Attach the primary key ring set to this carabiner.
You'll then need to purchase a pair of cargo pants, and -- this is important -- make sure that it has belt loops that can accomodate at least a 2" leather belt.
Purchase a durable and reinforced leather belt. Along with this, pick up a belt-attachable key minder. Black leather ones are cool, but nothing says rugged like camo. You can attach the second and third rings to this belt. It will also have plenty of room for your cell phone holster, your Leatherman Wave, binoculars, primary flashlight, and optionally a spool of 550 paracord.
Finally, you'll need to purchase a MOLLE vest. These can be had for $60 used at an army surplus store but new ones can run into the hundreds of dollars. An ALICE capable vest is an option, but I prefer the MOLLE attachments. With this vest you can add several key rings and similar attachment devices.
What you need... (Score:3, Interesting)
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Leather-Holder-Wallet-Available/dp/B0007IQF5Y [amazon.com]
or a belt clip key chain, which keeps the keys outside of your pockets.
http://www.keychains4you.com/belt-clip-key-rings.html [keychains4you.com]
Which is the scarier thought? (Score:5, Insightful)
The fact that this story is not in idle, or the fact that it has so many "serious" replies?
Next up: An in-depth analysis of what brand of adhesive tape is best to mend your glasses.
The "Out The Door Dance" (Score:5, Funny)
multitool key mod (Score:5, Interesting)
http://lifehacker.com/399031/diy-leatherman-key-mod [lifehacker.com]
i bought a $5 multitool at the hardware store and removed the tools from it. get some copies of your keys made, cut them down to fit, and stick them in place of the tools. the multitool i bought holds eight keys, four in either handle. that just happens to be the number of keys i have too~
Just three (Score:3, Insightful)
Kwikset Smart Keys (Score:3, Informative)
Every housing lock I control, I swap over to run off the same Kwikset smart key.
With them, I can re-key to any other Kwikset key I like in a few seconds. If my wife or I lose a key, if we decide a friend who was trusted with a spare isn't so trustworthy now, we can rekey each lock in a few seconds and be good to go again rather than having to replace the whole damn lock. Plus, as I've re-keyed all the locks, the new key continues working in every door rather than being yet another variant.
They're not perfect but then most household locks aren't - they're simply good enough to deter most people.
one for the outer door, two for the inner, three more for my girlfriends place, one for the office ... and the roof
At the very least, that's one key in place of your three plus the roof. Depending on how close your girlfriend and you are, it could be one for all seven. If you were very lazy and happy with security through obscurity with your co-workers, you could key all six of your home/girlfriend's locks off your work key. That'd be eight keys condensed in to one.
That one plus the bike/car/motorcycle keys is only four and now pretty easy to carry. If your car is your daily ride and the bike/motorcycle are occasional toy rides, you can likely swap them off to a second keyring for just those occasions. At that point, a building and a car key on a keyring, even with your swiss army knife, isn't going to be that bulky at all.
Carabiner. Belt Loop. Several keyrings. (Score:3, Insightful)
Key Wallet (Score:4, Informative)
There's a rather old-timey solution to this problem. I, too, was tried of wearing holes in my pockets from the numerous keys I had to carry around. Get yourself a leather key wallet. It is a wallet sized object with a set of key holders inside. You can store your keys in a relatively small area, and no more tearing up your pockets. Some of them even include change purses.
Two strategies (Score:3, Insightful)
First, get rid of some keys. Many houses have exterior doors with both a lock on the knob and a deadlock. I've replaced all of the knobs with keyless versions. #1, the knob lock is pointless if you use the deadbolt. #2, if the only lock is a deadbolt, you *cannot* lock yourself out.
Second, split to multiple rings. There's no reason for me to carry my motorcycle keys when I'm driving my car. I have separate rings for each vehicle, with a house key on each. The rings are kept in a keybox, and I only take the one I need. I then have a separate ring with miscellaneous keys, but it mostly stays in the keybox.
I mean, seriously, why are you carrying around your *roof* key?
How hard is it to manage a few keys? (Score:5, Funny)
First I'm going to tell you all about my keys, then I'm going to criticize you. This makes me feel important.
I have my keys divided into two separate rings. The first ring has 1 house key and 3 car keys. The second ring has a redundant car key (for the car I drive primarily) and house key for convenience as well as 2 work keys, the key to my tool shed, 2 house keys which I can't identify, 1 mailbox key I forgot to return, and a key for a Kensington lock.
All said, that's 13 keys. I keep both rings in my pocket. It hasn't been a problem.
I recommend that you buy pants which are in your correct size. It seems obvious to me that having too many keys isn't the problem -- it's just that your pockets are too small.
If you can't afford larger pants, might I recommend losing some weight? Anyhow, the point is that your keys shouldn't be eating holes in your pockets unless you're doing something wrong. (Are you sleeping in your work pants or something?)
Given the problems you have with managing simple everyday objects, I'd also suggest moving in with your girlfriend. She'll easily be able to handle little life details like selecting appropriate clothing, keeping track of important things like keys, and will more than happily tell you when it's time to change your pants.
Use a key pouch instead of a key ring (Score:3, Insightful)
While you still might need to trim down on the number of keys you carry, at least this will protect your pockets, and any mobile that may be sharing a pocket with your keys.
And some of these pouches even have an additional smaller compartment that is handy for items such as USB keys.
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Re:Pokepantsu (Score:4, Informative)
For those in colder climates, try the heavyweight firehose material pants [duluthtrading.com]. Also recommended for winter desert hiking when you can have rain, snow, sleet, and hail in the same 2 hour period.
Re:Ring a locksmith... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's been suggested that it's "less secure"
I am a locksmith, and I have one key that fits my house.... and my mother's house... and my brother's house... and my father's house... and two of my friends' houses. Security is simply a matter of key control. There seems to be a common delusion that having more locks is more secure. Really, if someone is going to break into your house, they're going to break in to your house. People who steal using keys are nearly always people who have been given the key by the occupant. Having a bunch of different keys won't solve that.
...and if you think you have a lot of keys to deal with, you should see what *I* have to deal with. I have them by the thousands, and it's a constant struggle to keep them organized.
For work I have my work key ring in the truck, and that gets me into the lock shop. For home all I have is a ring with my house key, my HID prox fob,and my truck key (which also fits my other car--- a benefit of being a locksmith).