When people leave stuff at your house, does it mean they want to come back?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220245)
Walnut Creek, California
November 28, 2016 11:20am CST
I remember hearing that when I was a kid. When people leave, or "forget," stuff at your house, or in your "room" (when you're a kid) it means they want to come back.
I studied psychology for years and never did learn whether there's "empirical support" for that truism, but I'd have to say I agree with it now.
My kid clients often leave jackets, etc., in my truck, but only after they know and trust me. My neighbor buddy (now 8-years-old) has brought more and more cars over to my house, and now has a parking lot near my stereo, in addition to two smaller parking lots elsewhere. I just consider it a part of my decor.
When adult friends leave stuff here (or me at their house), we just say, "Eh, I'll pick it up next time I'm there."
Do you believe the old saying is true? Had you heard it before?
32 people like this
34 responses
@LeaPea2417 (37379)
• Toccoa, Georgia
28 Nov 16
Yes, and it reminds me of one of my son's friends who use to leave stuff here at our house all the time when he was a kid playing with my son.
4 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37379)
• Toccoa, Georgia
28 Nov 16
@TheHorse Yes, I remember how my son & his friend were always going back and forth between houses and they had such a good time. I miss those days now that they are adults and off doing their own thing.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Nov 16
@LeaPea2417 I have to admit I re-live a bit of my childhood when I "play" with my neighbor buddy or the kids at the preschool. They're so "in the moment" that things like Donald Trump, attacks on police officers, the possibility of domestic terrorism, and even taxes, don't matter.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100615)
• India
28 Nov 16
Ha ha... not for something that is not valuable...if people forget expensive things or essential things, yes, but if they forget something that they can buy and it would be too expensive for them to return to pick that thing up, then it is just carelessness. The only time such rule may be valid would be in case there is some romance blooming and the person needs some excuse to ring the bell. lol
4 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
28 Nov 16
Ahh you're right! That does seem true. I do leave all my junk (junk to him) at my boyfriends =) but I know I'll be back.
The car collection is sure adding up hehe so cute too!
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
28 Nov 16
@TheHorse Hehehe. He is taking well care of your Mustang, surrounded by his other cars 
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Nov 16
@infatuatedbby Yes, I just noticed that my Mustang is parked neatly next to another Mustang, down and to the left in the photo.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472110)
• Switzerland
29 Nov 16
I know that this means they want to come back. Or friend from Monte-Carlo, when left this summer said he is going to leave here his French to Swiss power converter, so he is sure he will not forget... hummm I think he wants to come back next summer.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
28 Nov 16
I am certain there is some truth in it. When my husband and I were dating I intentionally left things at his apartment......maybe I was just marking my territory. he never complained 
he never complained 3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
3 Dec 16
@TheHorse Uhm... what kind of idea did you want them to get? (That you wear women's undies? Or that some of your "dinner companions" were too good to forget easily, so you kept their panties within easy reach? Just curious.)
@celticeagle (168269)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Nov 16
Yes, I've heard it before. I think it does give a person a good reason to come back.Just don't want to make it too obvious. Men as a ploy to visit a woman again and vice versa. For kids I think they just forget. Too much in the moment to remember what they left behind.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137770)
• India
29 Nov 16
As kids we believed in that and if we liked someone, we would hide their things (lol)
2 people like this
@allknowing (137770)
• India
2 Dec 16
Wow!! What a cute kid!!
And those whose things we were hiding were quite happy as that was an indication that we kids liked them.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 16
@allknowing I always enjoy their antics.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31970)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
28 Nov 16
Your picture looks like my house daily lol. My 5 year old son has a ton of toys. I feel like people do it on accident at times. But I agree with you otherwise
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 16
@carebear29 What's not cool?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
29 Nov 16
it does show a level of, trust in that they do expect to be back.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
29 Nov 16
I think there is truth in that. I love the parking lot in you house, adds color
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
28 Nov 16
Is that so...I have heard about it for ye first time
2 people like this
@r_reitsema (17)
• Canada
28 Nov 16
One of my ex boyfriends came over to my house to fix a bed or something. He brought his very expensive toolkit and plunked it in my closet and never took it back home. Even after many reminders he always said he will get it next time. It seemed like to me that he he wanted an excuse to always come back. Turns out when I broke up with him I found it really annoying that his toolbox was still in my house. I didn't want anything to do with him anymore and just having his stuff in my house was like him still being there. I definitely believe he purposely left it there so he could still have a chance to see me in case we broke up.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Nov 16
@r_reitsema Yikes. I'd never take him to a Sushi Bar.
@r_reitsema (17)
• Canada
28 Nov 16
@TheHorse Yeah he did finally pick it up because I told him I would sell off the tools if he didn't come and get it. The guy was a real stickler about money I have never met anyone like him. For example ate expired and rotten food just because it was cheaper. Its good to be thrifty but he went way too far.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Dec 16
It depends. Sometimes it just means that they don´t know the word "order"
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
24 Jan 17
I don't think I believe in that though. I think it is only that they feel comfortable with you. They do not feel threatened. If I leave something at someones house I freak out. I always make it a point to go get it. I hate losing things.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
3 Dec 16
I have heard that saying all my life. IDK if it is true or not. When someone is getting ready to leave my house, I do a "sweep" of the area they have been in and pick up and present them with anything that might have gotten left behind if I had not checked the area.
I usually tell them I'd prefer they come back because they want to come back, not because they forgot something at my house.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
27 Dec 16
@TheHorse Yes, I understand that is what people say. I still prefer they simply return because they like my company, not because they forgot something.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
3 Dec 16
yes sir, i've heard 'n 'xperienced such :) 'tis a wonderful feelin' to me that folks feel that way. i'm kinda jealous y'ave got all those filled parkin' lots't 'cher place though....i miss 'em!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Nov 16
I have not heard that before, but it could well be true with those kid clients.
1 person likes this
