“Keeping up with the Joneses” has never been important to us. We may not have the latest and greatest gizmo or doodad and we’re okay with that. (As former IT people, we will never use Alexa or Google voice-activated devices.) When we do get some sort of new-to-us bells and whistles we’re a bit like kids with a new toy.
When we purchased Ruby, The Big Red Truck, we were excited to have a back-up/rear view camera and heated seats. (I thought heated seats were stupid until I actually tried them.) I particularly love having lane assist; Kenn hates the lane assist because it beeps at him all the time. (He tends to “wander” while he drives.) Daisy, our Subaru Outback, added a heated steering wheel, heated side-view mirrors, heated and cooling seats, and push-button start.
No longer needing a key to drive was a game changer – and not always in a positive way. Leaving home wasn’t a problem – lock the front door, drop my keys in my purse, and go about my day. Returning home never went as smoothly. Push the button to turn off Daisy, lock the car, and head to the house – usually with my hands/arms full – only to realize that I needed my keys, which were still in my purse. Getting my keys out entailed juggling whatever I was carrying while getting my purse open and digging my keys out. It didn’t help that I am one of those people who insists on carrying everything in one trip.
Our son and daughter-in-law installed an electronic combination lock on their house and it made a world of difference when we were helping them move. We didn’t need a physical key and if they weren’t home, we didn’t need to wait on them, we could just use the combination to get in. I decided we needed to make the switch as well. But, Kenn doesn’t adjust to change as easily as I do so I have to open a topic of discussion, such as switching locks, and give him time to think on it for a while. (Or to decide it was his idea.π) The idea grew on Kenn and we did our research and decided on a Kwikset brand lock. We’ve used Kwikset door knobs and keyed locks for years and didn’t see any need to change from a good thing.

The change has been wonderful! We can create different combinations for different people and the app lets us know who is unlocking/locking the door. I’m thrilled that I no longer have to leave a physical key outside for the pet-sitter when we travel. We also have the added capability of locking/unlocking the door via the Kwikset app. We should have done this ages ago!
Do you use keyed locks or electronic one? Do you carry everything in one trip?
We put a keyless lock on our camper, but we’ve had trouble getting it programmed. So far, it’s been frustrating, but hopefully we’ll get it worked out. Our doors at home are unique in that they don’t have conventional door handles. Our door is 8 feet tall with three areas that lock. I did some research once – to make it easier when our kids visit and need keys – but I didn’t find anything that would be compatible. I do think the keyless ones are nice!
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That is a serious door lock, Betty!
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Yes, it is. I was told the 3 locks (top, middle, bottom) were needed to close the door tight everywhere since the door is so tall.
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Kenn put a combination lock on our camper. I don’t know why because we never us it; we still use the key! Have a great day!
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Maybe in case you get locked out?
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Maybe? But the combination only controls the deadbolt, not the lock on the door handle.π€·ββοΈ
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We have a keyless entry on the back door of the room we rebuilt. Interestingly, the first time I needed to use it was during the January ice storm and it was frozen stiff, and nothing would budge it. I had to go around to the front and open the front door. I am fine with a key, although I do like the convenience of the electronic door lock and keyless start on the two hybrid vehicles we own.
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Oh no! I’ve had car door handles freeze on me, but no locks so far. I hope it stays that way.
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Oooo! Thatβs cool! π Iβll have to mention it to my better half!
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Nope, I’ve just got an old-fashioned set of keys…which I never use, because I always go in/out through the garage. On those extremely rare cases when I actually need to fish out a key, I’m fumbling around forever because I’ve forgotten how the damn things work.
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I have been known to try to use a vehicle’s key fob on my front door. I was not successful.
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Haha! I’d be impressed if you got it to open that way.
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Well aren’t you fancy! I live alone and have no family coming to my house and no one has my key but me, so because I’ve not given a spare key to anyone, I carry my spare house key on me always. I don’t like hiding it under a rock either – too obvious!
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We had a semi-good key hiding place but it always made me nervous to leave it out even though the petsitter would pick it up the next day at the latest.
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Yes, that would bother me too as it’s a likely place to hide a key.
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Definitely a “everything in one trip” person. And now that I have an electric car that automatically locks, I leave my purse in the car and my keys in my pocket. The electric door lock sounds kind of awesome now, actually.
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The thought of leaving my purse in the car makes me twitch, LOL.
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