diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 3d6a79f..9cd99ef 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
         let
           nixosSystem = { modules, system }: inputs.nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
             modules = [
+              outputs.nixosModules.myOptions
               outputs.nixosModules.withDepends
             ] ++ modules;
             inherit system;
@@ -113,6 +114,10 @@
         # however, use on your own discretion
         banananetwork = import ./nix/nixos-modules;
 
+        # this one defines common options for my systems to my modules
+        # you definitely do not want to use this
+        myOptions = import ./nix/myOptions.nix;
+
         # this one also includes required dependencies from flake inputs
         withDepends = {
           imports = [
diff --git a/nix/myOptions.nix b/nix/myOptions.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d33c47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/myOptions.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# configures options only really useable for me
+
+
+{ config
+, lib
+, pkgs
+, ...
+}:
+let
+  myOpts = config.x-banananetwork;
+in
+{
+
+
+  config = {
+
+
+    x-banananetwork = {
+
+
+      # options defined in nixos-modules/options.nix
+
+      sshPublicKeys = [
+        "ssh-rsa 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 zocker Backup Key 2018-05-28"
+        "ssh-rsa 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 93e1bd26f6b02fb@keys.banananet.work"
+        "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIJ322iTs4HagYWO5C/O8t2smxBOJNW68amar99H7f0kq zocker@zockerpc 2018-07-22"
+        "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIOBdtHoYx74Dp2P/Th72JpY/vnSL8LUDG10HGoU+I162 zocker@thinkie 2019-06-04"
+        "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIAEaWqcgeNh3BjyDXCg0DQfbuPg5VLVYlt8ucYu7VZNr zocker@x13yz 2024-07-04"
+      ];
+
+      userName = "zocker";
+
+
+      # defaults for other modules, derived from them above
+
+      frontend = {
+        username = myOpts.userName;
+      };
+
+
+    };
+
+
+  };
+
+
+}
diff --git a/nix/nixos-modules/default.nix b/nix/nixos-modules/default.nix
index b2a106b..9736f53 100644
--- a/nix/nixos-modules/default.nix
+++ b/nix/nixos-modules/default.nix
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     ./debugMinimal.nix
     ./graphics.nix
     ./hwCommon.nix
+    ./options.nix
     ./privacy.nix
     ./sshSecurity.nix
     ./useable.nix
diff --git a/nix/nixos-modules/frontend/default.nix b/nix/nixos-modules/frontend/default.nix
index 65cca6f..488d1c6 100644
--- a/nix/nixos-modules/frontend/default.nix
+++ b/nix/nixos-modules/frontend/default.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ in
       username = lib.mkOption {
         description = "username of ego-centric single main primary user";
         type = lib.types.str;
-        default = "zocker";
         example = "username";
       };
 
@@ -361,13 +360,7 @@ in
           "wheel"
         ];
         isNormalUser = true;
-        openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = [
-          "ssh-rsa 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 zocker Backup Key 2018-05-28"
-          "ssh-rsa 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 93e1bd26f6b02fb@keys.banananet.work"
-          "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIOBdtHoYx74Dp2P/Th72JpY/vnSL8LUDG10HGoU+I162 zocker@thinkie.khitomer.banananet.work 2019-06-04"
-          "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIJ322iTs4HagYWO5C/O8t2smxBOJNW68amar99H7f0kq zocker@zockerpc 2018-07-22"
-          "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIAEaWqcgeNh3BjyDXCg0DQfbuPg5VLVYlt8ucYu7VZNr zocker@x13yz 2024-07-04"
-        ];
+        openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = config.x-banananetwork.sshPublicKeys;
         packages = with pkgs; lib.lists.flatten [
           kdePackages.kate
           (lib.lists.optional cfg.convertable [
diff --git a/nix/nixos-modules/options.nix b/nix/nixos-modules/options.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d36d652
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/nixos-modules/options.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# options used across of my modules
+
+# for me, most of them are defined in ../mySettings.nix
+
+{ config
+, lib
+, pkgs
+, ...
+}:
+{
+
+  options = {
+
+    x-banananetwork = {
+
+      sshPublicKeys = lib.mkOption {
+        description = ''
+          SSH public keys used to manage this system.
+
+          This is used by other option{x-banananetwork} modules.
+        '';
+        example = lib.literalExpression ''
+          [ "ssh-ed25519 ..." ]
+        '';
+      };
+
+      userName = lib.mkOption {
+        description = ''
+          my username for most/all uses
+        '';
+        example = lib.literalExpression "zocker";
+      };
+
+    };
+
+  };
+
+}