diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fa54c8e..13dd220 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 [project]
 name = "jo3util"
-version = "0.0.19"
+version = "0.0.20"
 description = ""
 dependencies = []
 dynamic = ["readme"]
diff --git a/src/hollow.py b/src/hollow.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..758d88e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hollow.py
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+from typing import TypeVar, Generic, Callable, Type, Union
+
+T = TypeVar("T")
+
+
+def HollowObject(init_fn: Union[T, Callable[..., T]], *args, **kwargs) -> T:
+    """ Return an object that only gets initialized when any of its attributes are accessed.
+
+    :param init_fn: Function that initializes the real object.
+    :param args: Positional arguments for the init_fn.
+    :param kwargs: Keyword arguments for the init_fn.
+    """
+
+    # Case for types.
+    if isinstance(init_fn, type):
+        base_class = init_fn
+    # Case for functions.
+    elif hasattr(init_fn, "__annotations__") and "return" in init_fn.__annotations__:
+        base_class = init_fn.__annotations__["return"]
+    # Case for callable class instances.
+    elif hasattr(init_fn.__call__, "__annotations__") and "return" in init_fn.__call__.__annotations__:
+        base_class = init_fn.__call__.__annotations__["return"]
+    # Case for unnannotated non-type callables.
+    else:
+        base_class = object
+
+    def initialize(hollow_object):
+        real_obj = init_fn(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        try:
+            # Change the type of `self` to match the real object
+            hollow_object.__class__ = real_obj.__class__
+            hollow_object.__dict__ = real_obj.__dict__  # Copy the real object's attributes
+            return False
+
+        # For certain builtin immutable types, we can't change the __class__ or __dict__.
+        # This means the instance will always stay a HollowObject subclass and the below
+        # wrapper will keep firing for all calls.
+        except TypeError:
+            hollow_object._real_obj = real_obj
+            return True
+
+    def wrap(fn):
+        def inner(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            if hasattr(self, "_real_obj") or initialize(self):
+                return object.__getattribute__(self._real_obj, fn.__name__)(*args, **kwargs)
+            else:
+                return object.__getattribute__(self, fn.__name__)(*args, **kwargs)
+        return inner
+
+    class HollowObject(base_class):
+
+        def __init__(self):
+            pass
+
+        def __getattribute__(self, name):
+            # Avoid infinite recursions.
+            if name in ["__dict__", "__class__", "_real_obj", "_get_call"]:
+                return super().__getattribute__(name)
+
+            if hasattr(self, "_real_obj") or initialize(self):
+                return getattr(self._real_obj, name)
+            else:
+                return getattr(self, name)
+
+        def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+            # Avoid infinite recursions.
+            if name in ["__dict__", "__class__", "_real_obj", "_get_call"]:
+                return super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+            if hasattr(self, "_real_obj") or initialize(self):
+                setattr(self._real_obj, name, value)
+            else:
+                setattr(self, name, value)
+
+        @staticmethod
+        def _get_call():
+            return init_fn, args, kwargs
+
+        @wrap
+        def __str__(self):
+            return ""
+
+        @wrap
+        def __repr__(self):
+            return ""
+
+        @wrap
+        def __add__(self, _):
+            pass
+
+        @wrap
+        def __iter__(self, _):
+            pass
+
+        # todo: add all the magic functions
+
+    return HollowObject()
+
+
+def lazy(fn):
+    """ Replace fn with a lazy function.
+
+    A lazy function does not immediately fire, but instead returns an object
+    that contains the function call. If anything of the object is accessed,
+    it is created in-place and the accessed thing is returned."""
+    def lazy_(*args, **kwargs):
+        return HollowObject(fn, *args, **kwargs)
+    return lazy_
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+
+    # Example usage of an object with type hints
+    class FullObject:
+        def __init__(self, value: int):
+            self.value = value
+            print("initialized")
+
+        def __str__(self):
+            return f"Value is {self.value}"
+
+    hollow = HollowObject(FullObject, value=42)
+    print(type(hollow))
+    # Linters will know that `hollow` behaves like `FullObject`.
+    #
+    # Only now does hollow get initialized.
+    print(hollow)
+    # The type of hollow is now FullObject, so no future calls will be made through the wrapper.
+
+    # Example usage of the lazy decorator.
+
+    print("\nstarting string tests")
+
+    @lazy
+    def lazy_greeting(name) -> str:
+        print("preparing to greet")
+        return "hello " + name
+
+    message = lazy_greeting("john")
+    print(type(message))
+    print([char for char in message])
+    # because message is a subclass of str, we can't change the class's type.
+    # this means that all future calls on it, will be through the wrapper
+    # and message stays an HollowObject type.
+
diff --git a/src/store.py b/src/store.py
index 30064a2..15f028c 100644
--- a/src/store.py
+++ b/src/store.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pickle
 from typing import Tuple
 
+from .hollow import HollowObject
+
 
 def with_filtered_args(fn):
     """
@@ -58,13 +60,14 @@ class load_or_create:
         hash_len=8,
         save_args=False,
         save_json=False,
-        plain_text=False
+        plain_text=False,
+        path=None,
     ):
         self.load=with_filtered_args(load)[0]
         self.load_arg_names = {p.name for p in inspect.signature(load).parameters.values()}
         self.save=with_filtered_args(save)[0]
         self.save_arg_names = {p.name for p in inspect.signature(save).parameters.values()}
-        self.path_fn=path_fn
+        self.path_fn=path if path is not None else path_fn
         self.hash_len=hash_len
         self.save_args=save_args
         self.save_json=save_json
@@ -78,7 +81,6 @@ class load_or_create:
     def __call__(self, fn):
         return Loc(self, fn)
 
-
     def args_to_kwargs(self, args, kwargs, **extra):
         return extra | kwargs | {self.arg_names[i]: a for i, a in enumerate(args)}
 
@@ -206,8 +208,11 @@ class load_or_create:
         return self.obj_to_args[hash]
 
     def path_from_obj(self, obj, *args, **kwargs):
-        if isinstance(obj, LoadOrCreateCFG):
-            return self.path(*obj.args, **obj.kwargs)
+        # If the object passed is a HollowObject, we can infer the args without
+        # calling it.
+        if hasattr(obj, "_get_call"):
+            _, args, kwargs = obj._get_call()
+            return self.path(*args, **kwargs)
         return self.args_from_obj(obj, *args, **kwargs)["path"]
 
     def dir_from_obj(self, obj, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -219,8 +224,8 @@ class load_or_create:
         to get it's path, you can pass a LoadOrCreateCFG instead, saving you
         from loading or creating that object..
         """
-        return LoadOrCreateCFG(*args, **kwargs)
-        
+        return HollowObject(lambda x: x, *args, **kwargs)
+
 
 class Loc(load_or_create):
     def __init__(self, parent, fn):
@@ -247,3 +252,4 @@ class Loc(load_or_create):
 
         return obj
 
+