Where should I keep items?

[Platypus]

I played this game for about half an hour and from what I see it's very similar to Oblivion. Before I play any more, I need to know. Can you safely store items in any container? and if you drop items on the ground, do they stay there forever like in Oblivion?

[CurtisC87]

If you disarm the bomb in Megaton, they will give you a house for free. It is the city nearest to the Vault and you do not have to have any upgrades that I am aware of to do disarm it.

I would keep an extra save open if you plan on activating the bomb though.

[CTHOMP]

Go to Fallout 3 Nexus and download the player shack mod that puts a player owned shack outside of megaton.

[DZMaven]

The megaton shack is the closest in game safe-house to where the game starts. Disarming the bomb nets you it.
If you decide to blow up megaton, there's another safe-house at Tenpenny Tower.

But to more specifically answer your question, no, you can't just store things anywhere. Cells reset after a certain time and items in boxes will reset too.

[Revortha]

If you do go for the Megaton house note that stored items in the living room lockers may disappear. I only use the ones upstairs. I got that information from the fallout wiki.

[k3nny]

Blow up Megaton. Tenpenny Tower is a million times nicer.