Less Keys More Freedom
Does anyone remember the movie Sex, Lies, and Videotapes? You know, it was before James Spader got Blacklisted and lost all his hair. Recently, I recalled a memorable scene in the movie where Graham, played by James Spader was talking with Ann, played by Andie McDowell, about he felt it necessary to own one key.
“No, it’s just, I, you know, I just think — right now I have one key and everything I own is in the car, and I just… I like that, you know. I mean, I just, if I get an apartment, that’s two keys, if I… get a job, you know, I might have to open or close, that’s more keys, you know, buy some stuff, I’m afraid it’s gonna get ripped off, or something, and I get more keys, and I just, I, you know, I just like having the one key, it’s clean.”
I hadn’t thought of this movie nor watched it in years, but this specific dialogue popped up for me in my recent housesit in Spain. Strangely, it all centered around keys. The homeowner has different sets of keys to get into the house, the car, etc. It got me thinking of what keys represented to me before I became a full-time traveler.
Keys Create a Time Vortex. In 2017, Pixie, a location app for iPhone conducted a “Lost and Found” survey and found that a ¼ of Americans lose their keys at least twice a week. On average we spend 15 minutes a day looking for lost or misplaced items. I’m sure many of you can relate to the countless hours we waste searching for our keys. Hands raised if you use a purse, and that small handbag somehow becomes a wormhole for endless searching.
I remember having out loud conversations with myself, sitting in the car, desperately searching for my keys, making a Girl Scouts promise to turn over a new leaf to get more organized. Nope! It lasted maybe a day and then I was back to randomly throwing them anywhere. Where was the Pixie App when I needed it!
Downsizing my key collection has given me more time. My nomad life has me limited to one hotel keycard or a key for housesitting. I can’t remember the last time I felt like I was running late or rushed because I misplaced my keys.
Keys = More Stuff: Having keys means I must lock my car, my house, my office, etc. We own keys to get us moving but also to protect things we love. Since downsizing our life and selling most of what we owned, I feel less connected to stuff and more connected to experiences. Owning more things requires more keys to keep them safe and protected. The keyring itself can even become too much.
When I sold my car and turned my house keys over, I noticed I had all these extra keys, I had no idea what they opened. I read somewhere that you shouldn’t have more than 3 keys on your key ring. How many do you have? Do you need all of them? Maybe start there first.
Keys Kept Me in Place: Yes, the focus of having keys can keep us grounded maybe even stable. Keys remind you of a steady job, with a steady income. Keys give you a feeling of safety when you walk into your home and a source of independence when you can drive your car. But they also reflect permanence and for me, I would rather float, migrate, and be less tethered.
Maybe Graham was right about this idea of keeping it clean. One key, serving one purpose, at least for me I am happy with more time, less stuff, and being nomadic. It’s not forever, but it feels right today.
