You might try to export a generic 'search' method, assuming you don't have to create a new database handle for each object .. possibly have the search method retrieve a list which can then be passed to a 'load' method which would instantiate SomeObject for each item so loaded? When your code tries to do two distinct things (dealing with your objects and dealing with moving those objects in/out of secondary storage), that is the place to design a dividing line, or use/author another module altogether.