The illusive nature of hooks

Frequently, I lose things. At least I misplace them with such abundance that I usually spend more time searching for a particular good than I actually spend using the damn thing. Many people have this bad habit regarding small and mundane items like their car keys, or their iPod. I suffer in this area as well, but have perfected my affliction frequently misplacing things that, some might say, are rather difficult to lose; hammers, pets, siblings, my car and most recently my entire wardrobe of pants (clean and dirty alike) have all fallen victim to my propensity for misplacement. Frequently I accomplish this while simultaneously using/interacting with the object/person. Essentially, I've gone pro.

While comforting to know I'm highly proficient at something, it's also incredibly inconvenient. As a result I've developed a rather methodical approach to rediscovering my personal property. A method which principally involves walking around my house, hands outstretched [ala Marry Shelly] at eye level. While rather unhelpful while trying to find my parking space or my pet turtle (Speedy. Wasn't I clever?), it often it yields the object I was looking for and periodically the discovery of some other absent minded placement.

It has also led to a rather disturbing observation. Unless something is moving, dramatically colored or placed around eye level it might as well be invisible to the general public. The rampant neglect of public hooks is a perfect case study. Every where we go there are hooks placed for our convenience, which no one uses. Under most bars there are coat hooks. In every stall on every ferry I have been on there are coat hooks on the post. Buses, doctors offices, waiting rooms and probably many more. Once noticed it is hard not to notice them empty, with usually a pile of coats on the seat next to the person using occupying that particular space. Sometimes a friend pull up an extra seat because one has unnecessarily been burdened with a pile of dense outerwear.

What this negligence alludes to on a broader or even a societal level, I have no idea. However, in the future, if I want someone to notice something there is a good chance it will be brightly colored and flashing.