CB -

Unfortunately, in most "up to date" organizations where they have real Gestapomeisters in charge of IT, passwords are required to be a minimum of 8 characters (some require 10), and must include both letters and numerals and at least one additional character (not a letter or a numeral). Password change authentication often automatically disallows any of the last 6 to 10 passwords that you've used.

(But then the meister forgets to change the default password for the wireless LAN, so ...)

But you're right about remembering the old phone numbers better than the more recent ones. I can even remember the combination to my first school locker padlock, from over 50 years ago (but then it's still on the shed out back).

John