Hat o' nine tales

Or maybe the hat with 9 lives.   I can't count the number of times I've lost this thing, or left it behind somewhere, and had to go look for it or collect it.   It wasn't all that expensive to buy - in fact I think I got it thrown in with a leather coat for free, or at least seriously discounted.   It's cost me more than that in recouperation costs.

You guessed it.  I left it behind again today.  I swear it scuttles off to hide, and creeps out again once I've gone.