Terms Governing Pocket Check Departure
Phone: confirmed. Keys: confirmed. Wallet: confirmed. You are checking again.
Terms Governing Pocket Check Departure
Article I. The Check
Upon approaching a door with intent to exit, the party shall perform the Pocket Check Departure sequence. The sequence consists of:
- Pat of right front pocket (or designated phone location)
- Pat of left front pocket (or designated keys/wallet location)
- Brief pause to register that both items are present
This sequence takes approximately two seconds. It may be performed at the door, at the elevator, on the way to the elevator, in the elevator, at the building exit, and at the vehicle.
Article II. Timing and Redundancy
If the sequence is performed successfully at the door, there is no technical need to perform it again at the elevator.
The party performs it again at the elevator.
The sequence is not performed to gather new information. The sequence is performed to generate the feeling that information has been gathered. These are different activities and these Terms make no claim that they produce different outcomes.
Article III. The Origin
The Pocket Check began after an incident. The incident involved leaving either a phone, keys, or wallet somewhere and discovering the absence at an inconvenient time.
The incident happened once or twice. The ritual that followed has been performed several hundred times.
The ratio of incidents to ritual responses is noted here without interpretation.
Article IV. Escalation Conditions
Under certain conditions, the sequence escalates:
4.1 High-stakes exit (airport, important meeting): Sequence is performed at intervals not to exceed ninety seconds from initial check to vehicle entry.
4.2 Unfamiliar environment: Sequence may be supplemented with visual confirmation, not just tactile.
4.3 Following a dream about losing keys: Sequence begins before the party is fully dressed.
Article V. Reflex Status
The check has become reflexive. The reflex operates without triggering uncertainty first. The party checks pockets before uncertainty is present. The reflex happens before the reason is remembered.
This is, per these Terms, successful internalization.
These Terms remain in effect until the party leaves home without performing the sequence. This has not happened in documented memory.