sub find {
    my ($self, $search_item) = @_;
    eval {

        # skip expensive search if item not stored anywhere
        return unless $search_item->stored;

        # otherwise do expensive search
        $self->first;
        while (my $item = $self->next) {
            return 1 if $item == $search_item;
        };
        return;
        
    }; if ($@) {
        ... handle exceptions here ...
    };
};