If you're that worried about 5 bytes perhaps YAML (and/or Perl) aren't really what you should be using. 

$ wc
key1: val1
key2:
  - elem1
  - 2
  - 3
       5       9      39
$ wc
{key1: val1, key2: (elem1, 2, 3)}
       1       6      34

[download]

(Granted your inlined form isn't valid YAML and the non-inline sequence will eat up a couple extra characters per additional item, but the point remains)

The cake is a lie.
The cake is a lie.
The cake is a lie.

In reply to Re: Dumping compact YAML by Fletch
in thread Dumping compact YAML by dgaramond2

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