If I've ever had even the slightest shadow of a doubt that the $15 lifetime membership fee I paid to REI when I recently signed up with them was a waste of money - well, then this morning's events certainly dispelled that doubt.

At 8.45am I received a call from one of REI's membership reps in Seattle, telling me that I had lost my wallet yesterday at my favorite coffee shop in Bend - Balay, home of the Bubble Tea, and my own personal caffeine-soaked version of "Cheers", as they do know my name there (but just not my phone number).

Chris, the owner of Balay, had found the REI membership card in my wallet and had called them - after unsuccessfully trying to track me down via the phone book and other membership cards in my wallet (Note to self: Keep one business card in wallet at all times!). Apparently only REI was kind enough to take on his case, but since they don't give out member's phone numbers, they called me directly instead and told me to give him a jingle.

This is only the second time in my life that I have ever lost my wallet - originally bought on a fleamarket in Paris 18 years ago, the small (and now terribly tattered) black leather wallet has stuck through thick and thin and travelled the world with me. My friends and family have in the past gently urged me to PLEASE replace that wallet with something maybe less ... mutilated (and judging from the raised eyebrows and crooked grins of countless cashiers, I sense they have a point), but they just don't understand that this is no ordinary wallet.

Aside from being perfect in size and utility, it only got lost one other time - on a hike along the California coast about 8 years ago. Retracing my steps, I had found the wallet laying in the grass along the trail - seemingly just waiting for my return.

Today though, the wallet came back to me through the random kindness of strangers, and I feel enormously lucky and grateful for that.

As the REI rep joked: "See? It REALLY DOES pay to be an REI member ..."

Yes, it does. It really, really does. But it also pays to know the people that run your favorite coffee shop - and to have a magic wallet.