diff --git a/packages/ludic.fishing/facts.ludic b/packages/ludic.fishing/facts.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1df7836e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.fishing/facts.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# facts.ludic - a fishing fact's record: one no drain holds any more, made fresh (and kept) only when
+# every one is held. A cast, a bite, every crossing and run of a fight is a fact, and a record a fact
+# is never given back (the ludic.wildlife idiom, facts.ludic there)
+function fishing_fact_record(fishing_st: mut FishingState) -> FishingFact {
+  if fishing_st.fishing_fnext[0] >= len(fishing_st.fishing_ffree) {
+    q_unheld(fishing_st.fishing_fact_q, fishing_st.fishing_fpool, fishing_st.fishing_ffree)
+    fishing_st.fishing_fnext[0] = 0
+  }
+  if fishing_st.fishing_fnext[0] < len(fishing_st.fishing_ffree) {
+    let f = fishing_st.fishing_ffree[fishing_st.fishing_fnext[0]]
+    fishing_st.fishing_fnext[0] += 1
+    return f
+  }
+  let f = new FishingFact
+  push(fishing_st.fishing_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
+# how many fact records have ever been made: the peak held at once, not the facts said
+export function fishing_fact_records(fishing_st: FishingState) -> int { return len(fishing_st.fishing_fpool) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.fishing/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.fishing/index.ludic
index cc285a58..db737519 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.fishing/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.fishing/index.ludic
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import "ludic.base"
 import "kinds.ludic"
 import "ports.ludic"
 import "state.ludic"
+import "facts.ludic"
 import "fight.ludic"
 import "verbs.ludic"
 import "run.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.fishing/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.fishing/state.ludic
index b572d9c8..72babe6f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.fishing/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.fishing/state.ludic
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ export state FishingState {
   fishing_run_next: float = 0.0
   fishing_dice: Rng = null
   fishing_fact_q: Queue<FishingFact> = fishing_fact_q__new()
+  fishing_fpool: []FishingFact = new []FishingFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it (facts.ludic)
+  fishing_ffree: []FishingFact = new []FishingFact
+  fishing_fnext: []int = words(1)
   fishing_n: int = 0              # the record: caught, the biggest (cm), a legend landed
   fishing_big: int = 0
   fishing_leg: bool = false
@@ -51,8 +54,8 @@ function fishing_rand(fishing_st: mut FishingState) -> float {
   return rng_float(fishing_st.fishing_dice)
 }
 
-function fishing_say(fishing_st: FishingState, what: int) -> void {
-  let f = new FishingFact
+function fishing_say(fishing_st: mut FishingState, what: int) -> void {
+  let f = fishing_fact_record(fishing_st)
   f.what = what
   f.species = fishing_st.fishing_sp
   f.cm = fishing_st.fishing_len
diff --git a/packages/ludic.fishing/tests/fishing_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.fishing/tests/fishing_test.ludic
index 80aad898..bf510c4d 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.fishing/tests/fishing_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.fishing/tests/fishing_test.ludic
@@ -254,4 +254,20 @@ program FishingTest {
     expect(fishing_legend_caught(fishing_st))
     expect(not fishing_active(fishing_st))
   }
+
+  test "fifty fish, their facts drained each time, reuse a handful of records" (fishing_st: mut FishingState, fishing_test_st: mut FishingTestState) {
+    fresh(fishing_st, fishing_test_st)
+    for k in 0 .. 50 {
+      fishing_cast(fishing_st, 20.0, 0.0)
+      facts(fishing_st)
+      hook(fishing_st)
+      facts(fishing_st)
+      play(fishing_st, 12)
+      facts(fishing_st)
+      fishing_stop(fishing_st)
+      facts(fishing_st)
+    }
+    print(`fishing: 50 fish, {fishing_fact_records(fishing_st)} fact records made`)
+    expect(fishing_fact_records(fishing_st) < 30)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/facts.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/facts.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23f67446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/facts.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# facts.ludic - a jobs fact's record: one no drain holds any more, made fresh (and kept) only when
+# every one is held. A deed that moves a job is a fact, and a record a fact is never given back
+# (the ludic.wildlife idiom)
+function jobs__fact_record(jobs_st: mut JobsState) -> JobsFact {
+  if jobs_st.jobs__fnext[0] >= len(jobs_st.jobs__ffree) {
+    q_unheld(jobs_st.jobs__q, jobs_st.jobs__fpool, jobs_st.jobs__ffree)
+    jobs_st.jobs__fnext[0] = 0
+  }
+  if jobs_st.jobs__fnext[0] < len(jobs_st.jobs__ffree) {
+    let f = jobs_st.jobs__ffree[jobs_st.jobs__fnext[0]]
+    jobs_st.jobs__fnext[0] += 1
+    return f
+  }
+  let f = new JobsFact
+  push(jobs_st.jobs__fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
+# how many fact records have ever been made: the peak held at once, not the facts said
+export function jobs_fact_records(jobs_st: JobsState) -> int { return len(jobs_st.jobs__fpool) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/index.ludic
index 6ff8a86a..30203e2b 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.jobs/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/index.ludic
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import "ludic.base"
 import "defs.ludic"
 import "ports.ludic"
 import "state.ludic"
+import "facts.ludic"
 import "jobs.ludic"
 import "giveup.ludic"
 import "count.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/state.ludic
index 370701f2..509038c8 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.jobs/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/state.ludic
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ export state JobsState {
   jobs__seed: int = 1000
   jobs__dice: Rng = rng_new(1000)
   jobs__q: Queue<JobsFact> = jobs__q__new()
+  jobs__fpool: []JobsFact = new []JobsFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it (facts.ludic)
+  jobs__ffree: []JobsFact = new []JobsFact
+  jobs__fnext: []int = words(1)
 }
 
 # the posts, every board's slots end to end from jobs__off[b]
@@ -58,8 +61,8 @@ export function jobs_facts(jobs_st: JobsState) -> Queue<JobsFact> {
   return jobs_st.jobs__q
 }
 
-function jobs__fact(jobs_st: JobsState, what: int, job: int, b: int, s: int, have: int, need: int) -> void {
-  let f = new JobsFact
+function jobs__fact(jobs_st: mut JobsState, what: int, job: int, b: int, s: int, have: int, need: int) -> void {
+  let f = jobs__fact_record(jobs_st)
   f.what = what
   f.job = job
   f.board = b
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/tests/giveup_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/tests/giveup_test.ludic
index 96b83c66..49a600b6 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.jobs/tests/giveup_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/tests/giveup_test.ludic
@@ -129,4 +129,17 @@ program JobsGiveUpTest {
     jobs_test_st.day = 2
     expect(jobs_offered(jobs_st, JOB_CATCH))
   }
+
+  test "two hundred jobs taken and given up, their facts drained each time, reuse a handful of records" (jobs_st: mut JobsState, jobs_test_st: mut JobsTestState) {
+    fresh(jobs_st, jobs_test_st)
+    for k in 0 .. 200 {
+      jobs_take(jobs_st, JOB_CATCH)
+      count_of(jobs_st, 0)
+      jobs_give_up(jobs_st, JOB_CATCH)
+      count_of(jobs_st, 0)
+      jobs_st.jobs__back[JOB_CATCH] = -1
+    }
+    print(`jobs: 200 taken and given up, {jobs_fact_records(jobs_st)} fact records made`)
+    expect(jobs_fact_records(jobs_st) < 10)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.minimap/README.md b/packages/ludic.minimap/README.md
index 5439cf5a..2dae73b3 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.minimap/README.md
+++ b/packages/ludic.minimap/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export port MinimapWorld {       # every member has a default
 | `minimap_pin_count()`, `minimap_pin_max()`, `minimap_pin_full()`, `minimap_pin(i) -> MinimapPin` | the marks |
 | `minimap_pin_set_label/icon/colour(i, v)`, `minimap_pin_last_icon()` | editing one |
 | `minimap_pin_open()`, `minimap_pin_select(i)`, `minimap_pin_followed()`, `minimap_pin_follow(i)`, `minimap_pin_follow_toggle()` | the open one and the followed one |
-| `minimap_pins_near(x, z, n, within) -> []int` | the nearest marks, not the followed one (for a compass) |
+| `minimap_pins_near(x, z, n, within) -> []int` | the nearest marks, not the followed one (for a compass), in a list the state keeps and refills: read it, do not keep it |
 | `minimap_config_view(span, zoom_min, zoom_max, focus)`, `minimap_window(x0, y0, size)` | the view's range, and where the window is this frame |
 | `minimap_px(x)`, `minimap_py(z)`, `minimap_wx(rx)`, `minimap_wz(ry)`, `minimap_span()`, `minimap_scale()`, `minimap_scale_metres()` | projection, and a scale bar's round distance |
 | `minimap_zoom()`, `minimap_zoom_set(z)`, `minimap_zoom_step(dir)`, `minimap_zoom_about(rx, ry, factor)` | zoom |
diff --git a/packages/ludic.minimap/grid.ludic b/packages/ludic.minimap/grid.ludic
index fb0689a0..0299249b 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.minimap/grid.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.minimap/grid.ludic
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # grid.ludic - the explored grid: square cells round the origin, and the part of it "explored" is
 # measured over (a core, so a bigger grid does not change what a share of it means)
 export state MinimapState {
+  mm_near: []int = new []int    # minimap_pins_near's answer, cleared and refilled: a compass asks every frame
   mm_land_n: int = 0            # land cells in the core, counted once per origin
   mm_land_ox: float = 0.0
   mm_land_oz: float = 0.0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.minimap/pins.ludic b/packages/ludic.minimap/pins.ludic
index c6994dea..7df34b15 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.minimap/pins.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.minimap/pins.ludic
@@ -71,8 +71,9 @@ export function minimap_pin(minimap_st: MinimapState, i: int) -> MinimapPin {
 }
 
 # the nearest n marks within `within` of (x, z), nearest first, leaving out the followed one
-export function minimap_pins_near(minimap_st: MinimapState, x: float, z: float, n: int, within: float) -> []int {
-  let out = new []int
+export function minimap_pins_near(minimap_st: mut MinimapState, x: float, z: float, n: int, within: float) -> []int {
+  let out = minimap_st.mm_near
+  List.clear(out)
   for k in 0 .. n {
     var best = -1
     var bd = within * within
diff --git a/packages/ludic.minimap/tests/minimap_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.minimap/tests/minimap_test.ludic
index f270b55a..645b1f77 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.minimap/tests/minimap_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.minimap/tests/minimap_test.ludic
@@ -111,6 +111,20 @@ program MinimapTest {
     expect_eq(near[1], 1)
   }
 
+  test "asking for the nearest marks every frame allocates nothing" (minimap_st: mut MinimapState, minimap_test_st: mut MinimapTestState) {
+    fresh(minimap_st, minimap_test_st)
+    minimap_config_pins(minimap_st, 8, 8, 5)
+    minimap_pin_add(minimap_st, 110.0, 100.0, 0, "near")
+    minimap_pin_add(minimap_st, 130.0, 100.0, 0, "next")
+    minimap_pins_near(minimap_st, 100.0, 100.0, 2, 400.0)
+    let before = Os.heap_bytes()
+    for k in 0 .. 1000 { minimap_pins_near(minimap_st, 100.0 + float(k % 7), 100.0, 2, 400.0) }
+    let grew = Os.heap_bytes() - before
+    print(`minimap: 1000 asks, heap {grew} bytes`)
+    expect(grew == long(0))
+    expect_eq(len(minimap_pins_near(minimap_st, 100.0, 100.0, 2, 400.0)), 2)
+  }
+
   test "the view: the world on the window and back, zoom about a point, a pan, focus and the clamp" (minimap_st: mut MinimapState, minimap_test_st: mut MinimapTestState) {
     fresh(minimap_st, minimap_test_st)
     minimap_centre(minimap_st, 100.0, 100.0)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
index 3ec7a04d..bb525d94 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
@@ -16,14 +16,15 @@ export function phys_is_open(physics_st: PhysicsState) -> bool { return physics_
 # which world this is: a body, shape or walker id kept from an older one means nothing now
 export function phys_generation(physics_st: PhysicsState) -> int { return physics_st.ph_gen }
 
-# everything let go: the world, every body in it and every shape (a world swap, a quit)
+# everything let go: the world, every body in it and every shape (a world swap, a quit); the lists
+# that held them are emptied and kept, since nothing is given back
 export function phys_close(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> void {
   if physics_st.ph_walkers != null {
     for i in 0 .. len(physics_st.ph_walkers) {
       if physics_st.ph_walkers[i] != null { jph_char_free(physics_st.ph_walkers[i]) }
     }
   }
-  physics_st.ph_walkers = new []pointer
+  if physics_st.ph_walkers != null { List.clear(physics_st.ph_walkers) }
   if physics_st.ph_world != null { jph_world_free(physics_st.ph_world) }
   physics_st.ph_world = null
   if physics_st.ph_shapes != null {
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ export function phys_close(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> void {
       if physics_st.ph_shapes[i] != null { jph_shape_free(physics_st.ph_shapes[i]) }
     }
   }
-  physics_st.ph_shapes = new []pointer
+  if physics_st.ph_shapes != null { List.clear(physics_st.ph_shapes) }
   List.clear(physics_st.ph_spare)
   List.clear(physics_st.ph_floats)
   List.clear(physics_st.ph_float_k)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/tests/reuse_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/tests/reuse_test.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ecbe8bcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/tests/reuse_test.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# reuse_test.ludic - what is taken away is given back: a walker made and removed two hundred times
+# holds one place in the list and no more heap, and a world closed and opened again keeps its lists
+import "ludic.physics"
+import "ludic.base"
+program ReuseTest {
+  numbers float
+
+  test "a walker made and removed takes the same place and grows nothing" (physics_st: mut PhysicsState) {
+    expect(phys_open(physics_st, 64, 1))
+    let w = phys_walker_add(physics_st, 0.4, 1.8, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 80.0)
+    phys_walker_remove(physics_st, w)
+    let before = Os.heap_bytes()
+    for k in 0 .. 200 {
+      let id = phys_walker_add(physics_st, 0.4, 1.8, float(k), 0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 80.0)
+      expect_eq(id, w)
+      phys_walker_remove(physics_st, id)
+    }
+    let grew = Os.heap_bytes() - before
+    print(`reuse: 200 walkers made and removed, {len(physics_st.ph_walkers)} place, heap {grew} bytes`)
+    expect_eq(len(physics_st.ph_walkers), 1)
+    expect(grew < long(1024))
+    phys_close(physics_st)
+  }
+
+  test "a world closed and opened again keeps the lists it held" (physics_st: mut PhysicsState) {
+    expect(phys_open(physics_st, 64, 1))
+    phys_box(physics_st, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+    phys_walker_add(physics_st, 0.4, 1.8, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 80.0)
+    let shapes = physics_st.ph_shapes
+    let walkers = physics_st.ph_walkers
+    for k in 0 .. 20 {
+      phys_close(physics_st)
+      expect(phys_open(physics_st, 64, 1))
+      phys_box(physics_st, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+      phys_walker_add(physics_st, 0.4, 1.8, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 80.0)
+    }
+    expect(physics_st.ph_shapes == shapes)
+    expect(physics_st.ph_walkers == walkers)
+    expect_eq(phys_shapes(physics_st), 1)
+    phys_close(physics_st)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
index eb439790..c77c5776 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
@@ -27,7 +27,15 @@ function ph_walker(physics_st: PhysicsState, id: int) -> pointer {
 export function phys_walker_add(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, r: float, h: float, x: float, y: float, z: float, max_slope: float, mass: float) -> int {
   if physics_st.ph_world == null { return -1 }
   ph_buffers()
-  push(physics_st.ph_walkers, jph_char_new(physics_st.ph_world, r, h, x, y, z, max_slope, mass))
+  let k = jph_char_new(physics_st.ph_world, r, h, x, y, z, max_slope, mass)
+  # a removed walker's place is taken again, so a horse called and sent away grows nothing
+  for i in 0 .. len(physics_st.ph_walkers) {
+    if physics_st.ph_walkers[i] == null {
+      physics_st.ph_walkers[i] = k
+      return i
+    }
+  }
+  push(physics_st.ph_walkers, k)
   return len(physics_st.ph_walkers) - 1
 }