What is the best way to keep distance glasses handy?

[HollywentLightly]

I have worn glasses for more than 30 years, never minded wearing them (and in fact still miss one particular pair that DH accidentally drove over!). But I now only need them for distance, especially driving, and I get very discombobulated if I try to look at something up close with them on. So what do I do with them? If I put them down I'll never find them again and they tend to slip around if I just put them up like a hairband. Am I doomed to a rosary bead style necklace? Is there anything slightly more modern? My parents both have bifocals but they seem to be for close reading rather than distance.

I’d go for a slim glasses cord. There are some much less “school PE teacher” looking ones now, leather or beaded ones, and at least you always know where they are.
For driving, I tend to put mine on the little shelf by the door, but only because they’ve lived there for years. Otherwise they would disappear immediately.
You could also ask your optician about varifocals. They’re not only for close reading, and you might find a setup that lets you keep them on more comfortably.

I have worn distance glasses all my life and always wore them all the time, but as I got older couldn't see close up with them anymore, is that what you mean?

Varifocals are the answer. They fix the distance and the close up (and the middle distance).

That's it Spooll, I don't need glasses for up close any more, so I get very disoriented if I don't take them off, but then I need them for the TV and especially driving. So earlier I was knitting where glasses are a hindrance to see the stitches properly, but TV was on so when I looked up at that, I couldn't see it clearly without them. Based on the parental experience of varifocals being the opposite of that, I really didn't think hard enough about how they can work in both directions! I keep a pair in the car that I'm very strict with myself to make sure I have them there always.

In the meantime I'll look at less frou frou chains

Yes that's one of the things that made me get varifocals. I couldn't sew and watch TV at the same time.