There are times—actually, most of the time—when I’m cleaning an area of the house and I find something that shouldn’t be there.
You know the kind of thing I’m talking about.
It’s not trash. It’s not something I don’t need. It’s actually something important.
So, naturally, I do the responsible thing.
I put it somewhere safe.
And then I lose it.
Not immediately, of course. That would almost be too easy.
No. I put it somewhere that I am absolutely, positively certain I will remember.
“This is a safe place,” I tell myself.
“I’ll remember this.”
Future Me has apparently never been consulted about this arrangement.
The Case of the Missing Universal Plug
A perfect example happened with one of our universal travel plugs.
We travel with it because, well, it’s a universal travel plug. It comes with us when we’re packing for a trip, and it’s one of those things you don’t want to discover is missing when you’re standing in your hotel room in another country.
So imagine me cleaning up a bedroom.
I find the plug sitting somewhere it shouldn’t be.
Rather than leaving it there, because I’m trying to be a responsible adult who keeps things organized, I put it somewhere safe.
Somewhere I won’t forget.
Or so I thought.
Fast-forward to the next time we’re packing our luggage.
I need the universal plug.
I know we have it.
I’ve seen it.
I have personally picked it up.
And yet…
Where the heck is it?
Suddenly I’m searching through drawers, cabinets, closets, random containers and every other place I could possibly have put it.
And the most frustrating part?
Before I cleaned up that bedroom, I probably saw the thing all the time.
It was right there.
In the wrong place.
Annoying me.
Waiting for me to put it away.
But now that I’ve actually cleaned up the room and put everything where it supposedly belongs, I can’t find the one thing I’m looking for.
Apparently, I made it too safe.
The “Safe Place” Is Not Actually Safe
This has happened more times than I care to admit.
I’ll find something while cleaning and think, Oh, this shouldn’t be here.
So I move it.
I put it somewhere logical.
Or somewhere that makes sense in that particular moment.
And then I completely forget where that logical place was.
Sometimes I’ll even remember the thought process.
I moved it because I didn’t want to lose it.
Great.
Where did I move it?
No idea.
And that’s when I start retracing my steps like I’m investigating a crime scene.
Okay… I had it in this room.
Then I picked it up.
Then I was cleaning this.
Then I thought, “I should put this somewhere safe.”
And that’s it.
The trail goes cold.
The item has entered witness protection.
Is It Just Me?
This is the part where I started wondering:
Is this just me?
Because surely I’m not the only person who has a designated “safe place” that is apparently so safe that even I can’t find it.
And if you have ever cleaned your house, moved something important somewhere “better,” and then spent 45 minutes looking for it later, you already know where this is going.
There may actually be a reason our brains do this.
When we’re cleaning or putting something away, our attention is often focused on the bigger task rather than creating a detailed memory of exactly where we’re placing one particular object.
And when we put something somewhere unusual—especially because we’re trying to make sure we don’t lose it—we may not create the kind of strong memory that helps us retrieve that location later.
In other words, our brain may basically say:
Got it. Thing is safe.
And then immediately move on.
Thanks, brain.
Very helpful.
Maybe Future Me Needs a Little More Help
I’ve started to wonder if the problem isn’t necessarily that I’m forgetful.
Maybe the problem is that I keep assuming Future Me knows what Present Me was thinking.
Present Me:
“I’ll put this right here. I’ll definitely remember.”
Future Me:
“Who are you?”
😂
Maybe the solution isn’t another storage container, another organizational system or another drawer labeled “IMPORTANT.”
Maybe I just need to stop creating mysterious little hiding places and calling them “safe.”
Because apparently, a safe place is only useful if I can actually find it again.
Until then, perhaps what I really need is a button.
A big one.
Right in the middle of the house.
WHERE THE HECK IS THIS?
Press it.
The house pauses.
A tiny alarm goes off.
A voice from somewhere in the ceiling says:
“You put it in the drawer under the printer.”
And I would like to formally request that technology make this happen.
Until then, I’ll keep looking.
And when I finally find that universal plug?
I’m putting it somewhere I’ll definitely remember.
Probably.
Maybe.
Let’s not get carried away.
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