Once I came home to find the little empty flower pots on my kitchen window edge knocked down into my sink. It bothered me until I found out our son had decided to come in to get the chain saw out of the garage!

Sue

Yes, I know!! My grandson used to come over when I was gone. He went through the doggie door, watched TV and went home. He was only about 5, but I KNEW the minute I opened the door he had been there. Then I found out later that when my daughter learned of his trick, she would send him in to unlock the door for her so she could come in. There was a cigarette burn on my new carpet and neither my DH or I smoked so I knew she was there even though she denied it. Even if we locked the doors and put the doggie door cover on, he could still get in. At the time the deadbolt hole in the door between the garage and house wasn't plugged and he could get his hand in and unlock the door. That changed in a New York minute when we found that out. I also know at our weekend house if DH or grandson has had anyone over when I'm not there. Like you said, nothing amiss, but a feeling. NOTE: any imbedded ads are NOT my doing.

No, I have come home and found things moved. One time I came in and found a bedside lamp on - one that I never, ever turn on. Not only that but the pull chain had been wrapped around the stem. That time a neighbor, whom I had never talked to before, decided to engage me in a lengthy conversation in my driveway. Every time I tried to end to conversation and get back to whatever I was doing he kept thinking of something else to chat about to artificially prolong out conversation. I think I was set up and his friend was pilfering my place. I don't have anything valuable to steal so I guess they were disappointed.

If you are a renter the landlord may be coming in to snoop. It has happened to me and others I know. One time as a renter I left for work at my usual time in my uniform. I had forgotten something and drove around the block. When I entered my apartment the building manager was pilfering my paperwork on my desk. Boy was he surprised to see me. His first words blurted out were "I thought you went to work!!!" He had no reason to be in there and was not doing any "repairs". I lived in another apartment were all the tenants complained that their place smelled like cigar smoke when they returned. The owner, who lived across the street, smoked a cigar. One time I found a forgotten cigar in an ashtray when I came home from work.

If you are a homeowner someone may have lifted your key and made a copy without you knowing it. It happened to me. A boyfriend who spent a lot of time at my house decided to sneak a key off my ring and "go to the store for cigs" he then made a copy for himself so he could snoop when I was not there. I don't trust anybody anymore.

NEVER give your whole key ring to a valet or auto mechanic when you drop off your car. And never leave your garage door opener in your car when you drop it off for repairs or what not.

I have been lax in locking my doors when I go out to do yardwork. One time I caught a teen exiting my back door. They when in through the unlocked front door snooped around and left out the back not knowing I was in the yard. How many times has this happened without me knowing it???? I told the parents and they handled the matter with the kid right in front of me. Hearing the screaming "I told you to stop going into people's houses." indicated to me the kid has done this before.

Unless something was rather obviously awry, I probably wouldn't notice.

I've lived in many places during my lifetime and am not deeply rooted to the place in which I live. Or to a number of material things, I guess.

I grew up in a farm home which had been tastefully but modestly furnished by my Mom ... but she was in hosp. from when I was young and Grandma was old and not in the best of health, and we had hired help in the house, so they were not committed to upgrading the place.

I spent six years in Univ. dorms ... and began my career in a place where we were helping refugees get back on their feet and our housing and much of the modest furnishings were provided, also this was true after my return to Canada while doing ministry. The first house was rather modest, and the second, in a suburban village, was a fairly new home and tastefully furnished ... which I appreciated. When our female canine had puppies, we built a big run of plywood so that there wouldn't be accidents on the floor.

When we moved into a rented place and furnished it, we got regular appliances, etc. and Sue got a lovely hardwood dining table and cabinet. As a matter of fact ... the kids stored the table and chairs here after their Mom's death: I don't know what happened to the cabinet.

That lasted for a short while, until our marriage ended, then I boarded with an old lady who had tasteful but modest furnishings, and then into another manse ... which had living room furniture whose chesterfield upholstery was a bit frazzled at the ends, as the former occupant's cat liked to use it to exercise his/her claws (some say "sharpen" but I'm not convinced that that is the result).

Now, some furniture is from Uncle's time, and some the modest things that I brought with me.

Quite likely most of it will go to Goodwill when I'm through with it ... or some to the landlord's burn pile!

I've found a couple of times lately that I've left the key in the deadbolt lock when I've come home at night ... which pretty well negates the value of my locking the door on the inside before going to bed. Car key not included, fortunately.

ole joyful

Several times. First, was when the basement window was broken, and a bunch of stuff gone... another time there were things wrong - couldn't put my finger on it until I went to the bathroom and the toilet lid was up and toilet unflushed (what's WITH some people??) Other times things were just off, not sure what but I checked and my sister had been over. Another time the front door was kicked in and my computer and TV were gone.

Things like this have gone down since I changed the locks. Occasionally something else is off, and I have beliefs it could be other activities. And I just asked my sis to leave a note or something just to let me know or make it blatently obvious she's been over.

How does Sis react when you visit her house and mess around when she (or anyone else)'s not there?

ole joyful

Only one time have I felt this way. I think the remote was not where I usually leave it. I found later that one of my DD stopped by after a class and forgot to leave me a note.
We don't use keys around here at all. I have a keypad that opens my garage door. I can also reprogram it at anytime, but haven't needed to for the past 10 years or so.

Trin

Just yesterday. And it's been bugging me all day. I was dishing myself up some spaghetti and meat sauce and decided to give some to my cat and dog. So I went on the porch and got a plastic plate, put some on it and rested it where their food was, in the kitchen.

Went back later and saw the spaghetti in the water bowl. So I asked my son if he did it (and why??). He said he didn't touch it and thought I had done it. There was no mess and the plate was sitting there empty with the other bowls.

My door was wide open and I'm wondering if a child came in and did it, but the gate latch is not exactly easy to open. Something just didn't feel right.

I'm still mystified.