Another Factor to Perhaps Consider in Retirement Relocation

[Submariner]

Every winter grocery store parking lots and post office parking lots become loaded with parked cars left running. Nobody is in them, and the keys are in them. It is fairly common practice here.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

We live in an upper middle class ...

I honestly can't see any reason not to lock your car/house. It's as easy as leaving things unlocked. Robyn

We live in the sticks... If I have keys for a lock / car (often I don't). It leave them in the door / car ignition. I find that Much easier to know where the keys are. If I am at my house....&... If I lock the door, the keys are in it in case someone wants to come in and use the phone or fridge. Or if the coroner needs to come in and 'check me out'!

Recently we had some kids visit and they 'misplaced' a tractor key. That tractor no longer requires a key

When dating, I lived in town for a couple yrs and future spouse wondered why keys were in the door, but the door was locked

"That way you know if I am home, no keys? = not home".

[Umbria]

Originally Posted by Umbria

I don't think people leave their doors unlocked anywhere in the NYC area or even where I am - Edina, MN (Mpls suburb - tier 1) - or any other city of any size.

Remembered a story: When I was in high school I was temporarily staying at a friend's house after my family moved to another city. This was a small town - pop of about 12,000.

One morning we all woke up and found a very elderly woman sleeping on the couch. Surrounding her were decorator pillows that had holes cut in them. This woman lived in the next block and during the night she went for a walk - because people didn't lock doors she walked into this house when she got tired. On the couch were several decorator pillows with "buttons" on them. This woman went in the kitchen, found a knife and proceeded to cut the buttons out of the pillows - she thought the pillows were potatoes and she was cutting the eyes out of the potatoes.

This was many years ago and there was little to no crime in this town but this a good example of why it's a good idea to lock your doors no matter where you live.

[cmarlin20]

I admit we don't lock our house doors during the day, we lock them at night. But when we leave during the day, they stay unlocked.

I also leave one car in my driveway usually unlocked, it is just easier when I go to get in it.

I might do it differently when we move, it works for now.

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by cmarlin20

I also leave one car in my driveway usually unlocked, it is just easier when I go to get in it.

I might do it differently when we move, it works for now.

I tend to leave my car unlocked in the driveway as long as it's not too close to the street (longish driveway). My theory being it's an old car and parts are hard to get for it. If someone wants to rummage through it (there's really only change in the ashtray to steal), I'd rather they don't break a window to do so.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by cmarlin20

I admit we don't lock our house doors during the day, we lock them at night. But when we leave during the day, they stay unlocked.

I also leave one car in my driveway usually unlocked, it is just easier when I go to get in it.

I might do it differently when we move, it works for now.

How old is your car? And what kind of car is it?

Our car is a 2010 model Lexus SUV. With "keyless" entry. When you enter the car - all you have to do to unlock the door is pull the door handle (with the key in your pocket). All you have to do to lock it is press "here" on the door handle. And it goes "click". How does your car work? Robyn

[Submariner]

My Dw's car has a fob. I have a van and a truck, both use keys that I tend to leave in the vehicles. Our house door has not been locked since the day I hung the doors, in 2006.