Like a key that could use a little turning

[venta]

I've just been reading an article about the threat posed to companies by sysadmins, and the trouble they can cause when they leave. In it, the writer draws the analogy to his own son who, on moving out of the family house, will be required to leave his doorkeys behind: "Just because he lived here does not mean he's entitled to just walk in when it suits him."

Which surprised me. I still have a key to my parents' house, despite having not significantly lived there in a decade. I feel it would be impolite just to walk in unannounced (not to mention impractical - our respective abodes are a couple of hundred miles apart), but in theory I could. When I visit, I let myself in rather than ringing the bell. Occasionally I stay there when my parents are away, though I do ask in advance.

Observation of a limited number of friends in the environs of their parents' houses has suggested that they have broadly similar arrangements.

So, o LJ, tell me what is normal, usual behaviour.

I guess it depends to some extent on the relationship you have with your parents and, possibly, whether or not they've moved since you last lived with them. I have never formally 'moved out' of my parents' house - my bedroom is still notionally my bedroom, and has quite a lot of my stuff in it; I suspect this will change if/when I ever manage to purchase my own residence. How many people do officially 'move out' as opposed to slowly drifting into new routines, leaving their parents' house festooned with junk to be tolerated, delivered in a crate or quietly thrown away. How many people have been relieved of their keys ? Have people been presented with keys to a new parental abode in which they've never lived ?

Comments

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Both my parents have moved twice since I actually lived with either of them, and I've only in the last few weeks got my first key for either of them (for "feared medical emergency" purposes).

I've never thought of asking or them of offering AFAIK, basically when I visit either of them it's as a guest.

Can I beg a kudo for initially reading it as "will be required to leave his donkeys behind"?

("Get your ass out of here!" was the thought that followed.)

[venta.livejournal.com]

I do habitually refer when speaking to the bits of metal which open my doors as my donkeys :)