Sounds Like I'm Talking to You

Wallet

Current Contents:

Drivers License
Expired Drivers License
Buckle Primo card (just over half filled)
Borders Rewards card
$5 Starbucks gift card
Everett Public Library card
Costco membership card
Traxx member card (go-kart racing)
Voters registration card
Health insurance card
Debit Card
QFC Advantage card
Haggen C.A.R.D.
Alberstons Preferred Card
Blockbuster membership card
Hollywood Video membership card
EVCC student identification card
Starbucks iTunes pick of the week card (Neko Case)
Spy Comics and Cards business card
Sprint Premier discount card

My wallet contains a variety of items, many of which are membership cards to multiple stores of the same business type, like grocery store discount cards. My typical behavior is to just go to whatever store is the most convenient to obtain the items I need. If I'm across the street from an Albertson's and I need some flour, I'm much more likely to go to Albertson's than across town to Safeway. My parents are the type of people that have loyalties to specific grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and clothing outfitters, but I''ve developed an attitude of fulfilled needs, not preference.

If someone else were to look at the contents of my wallet, they would probably think that I'm very organized. I have all of the cards of like type (grocery store cards, for instance) in the same pocket. I would probably come across as a person who likes to spend money on overpriced things, based on the Starbucks card and the Buckle punchcard. The clothes at buckle aren't in the price range of most college students, so the person inspecting my wallet would probably assume that I have a steady source of income, more than just a part time job somewhere. I may come across as someone likely to sign up for any type of discount card that I get offered. The Borders card, the library card, and the comics business card would probably do a proficient job of relating that I enjoy reading, whether it be novels or comic books.

In examining my wallet, a person would not be able to know that the reason I have membership cards to three different grocery stores is because, in the past four years, I have each of those stores be the closest store to me, whether it's when I lived in Everett, Portland, or Lake Stevens. They wouldn't know that I have a comic store business card because I was at a comic book convention this past weekend and I have a interest in creating a comic book someday. Other than the names of family members on my insurance card, there would be no way to know about Thanksgiving dinners with my mom's family, or keg-based birthday parties with my dad's family. Looking at my license, nobody would guess that I've never had a car that stayed running more than six months, no matter how perfect the condition of the vehicle when it breaks down (I had a Kia Sephia that would just shut the engine off while going down the road, even though two mechanics from different garages swore the car was in perfect shape.)

There's a lot that you can learn about someone by looking at their personal belongings, but there is always more to them than discount cards, or pictures. There isn't a card that will tell you a person's favorite flavor of Jell-O, or what James Bond portrayal they prefer. (Lime and Sean Connery) Perhaps I should put this post in my wallet in case I ever lose it, or it gets stolen.