Thread by @KodyGibby

While on vacation recently in San Diego, I lost my wallet. Happened at the end of the first full day. We had just seemed to find our groove as a fam at a new spot (spent the last 8 years on Lake Michigan). Seemingly ruined the day and threatened the trip. Enter the @TheTileApp.

My wife got me this killer gadget that helps me find my wallet when I lose it (2/3 times a month). You place the tile in the item you want to be able to find. When you lose your item, if you're in range of the tile, you can ping it and hear where your missing item is located.

After looking around our hotel and car in the usual places, I decided to open the tile app and listen for my wallet's location. Unfortunately my tile (and therefore my wallet) was "out of range." Gut punch! I begin to think it's time to give up the search and cancel the cards.

But I noticed a feature within the tile app that allowed me to "notify the community" that my wallet was missing. I'm not sure how this works, but apparently tile app users or tile app features beyond your own can help you search for your wallet. A thrill of hope!

The "community" (again, not sure what that means) identifies my wallet at "The Taco Stand" on S Coast HWY 101. Never been there. This is getting interesting! At this point, I'm thinking this is some kind of malfunction with the app. There's no way my wallet is at the Taco Stand.

Unfortunately for me, it's 10:30pm when I realize this information and closing time at the Taco Stand is 10pm. I called the Taco Stand at least 5 times hoping to annoy some closing time bartender enough to pick up the phone. Nothing. Taco Shop the next morning at opening (10am).

The next morning I decided to check my tile app to see if my wallet is still at the Taco Shop. It's not! My tile has been spotted by "the community" in a residential area down the street from my hotel. I'm on the case! The fam and I alter plans and head to the location.

WHICH IS A GATED COMMUNITY. Ugh. I did what any rational person would do in this situation - waited outside the gate until an official resident drove through and followed them into the neighborhood. Juli is getting a little nervous at this point.

We find the house address and I prepare to ring the doorbell and ask something like, "Hello, the community says you have my wallet." Ring ring. No one home. Arghhh. Another dead end. Not sure what to do, I check my tile app again and to my surprise, MY TILE IS NOW IN RANGE.

This means it has to be somewhere in the house - so I think. We'll come back later. I leave a note with my phone number included. A neighbor comes out and tells me he thinks the owners are out of town. My tile app says otherwise.

We spend the AM in La Jolla looking at Seals. Then we hang with my good friend @_mattrasmussen who came down from LA. While we're with Matt, I receive a text from a number I don't have in my phone, "Is this Kody?"

YES, DO YOU HAVE MY WALLET?!?!

No, we're out of town. Sorry😢

The owner of the home got my note via the neighbor and confirms that they're out of town and don't have my wallet. He does mention, however, that an older couple is staying at their place. Could it be?! No, he says. There is no way they have my wallet but he'll check just in case

He (the owner of the home) mentions that some odd people roam the neighborhood at times and suggests that maybe someone picked up my wallet somewhere and happened to discard it in the neighborhood bushes after finding no cash. Again, SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE!!!!

Same routine - drive up to the gate. Wait for a resident to enter. Follow along. Act normal. This time the plan is to look in a walkway / park next to the house where the "community" has located my wallet. As I drive up I see people waiving me down.

This could be really good or really bad. Wallet found or citizens arrest for trespassing.

The have the wallet!! Hallelujah! What was once lost has been found. The neighbor across the street, Sergio, hands it to me.

"THANK YOU!!!! AND HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET THIS," I ask?

It turns out this man saw my wallet on the side of the road where our hotel sits while on a walk. The good samaritan scooped it up and kept it in his car. Someone from his family took the car to the Taco Shop (ping) and then they parked it in the neighborhood until I arrived.

I guess I left the wallet on the top of my car before driving somewhere and it flung off to the side of the road.

One last question: How did Sergio and the neighbors know to flag me down (some random guy driving a mini van) to check if I was the rightful owner of the wallet?

Answer: My COVID-cut. Grew the hair out long in 2020. Got a new AZ license including a photo with said COVID-cut. Sergio and the neighbors matched the long blond hair in the photo with the long blond hair driving the mini van. Don't hate @camibethancourt @deaninserra.

If you've stayed for this entire thread, please do yourself or your loved one who can't keep their stuff in order a favor and get the @TheTileApp. You won't regret it. You'll have an entire community ready to help you find your lost items. THE END.