Sims, Winter, and the Pace of Life

So, in order to avoid doing actual work lately, I've taken to playing the Sims. The Sims is like playing with dolls, except culturally acceptable for adults.You make a wee person (a Sim) , and, I quote, "make your Sim inspired by satisfying their needs!". Keeping them fed, watered, etc, is only the beginning. In a truly Maslow-esque sliding scale from use of a toilet to human affection, Sims allows you to find shadow fulfillment by achieving goals as simple as washing and as complex as getting a job and contributing to your simulated community. At the moment, I'm building a school for my Sims to work in, and the loading takes a full hour (unless I want to spend life points, which I don't), so I'm now killing time doing actual things in lieu of playing the Sims.

So, a  short word about hibernation.

It was, if only briefly, -44 this morning, and is still over -30 now. I decided (sensibly, in my opinion) to forgo the outdoors, and clean my home instead. When I saw the frost on the inside of my doorknob, my decision was reinforced. I am ensconced in fleece, the kettle is on, and I will email my assignment to school. It is days like this that I regret the world can't be expected to simply shut down, in order to resume business as usual at a later, warmer, date. Hang global interconnectedness. It's cold out! Stay home with your family; watch a movie; enjoy the fun in attempting to coax your pet outdoors. I know, I know- Emergency services, international trade, real life, the usual... Still, the thought of life at a more directly impacted by nature pace appeals to me greatly. Working in fits and starts, as time and light allows, works for me. Perhaps its the whole circadian effect coupled with northern climes, but if you get three feet of snow and a sub 30 snap, it's completely acceptable to me to put a closed sign up. We should all be able to understand. Over-regulation, like bureaucracy, is efficient in theory but tiresome and meddling in practice.

For the rest of my day, I will be cleaning, putting together a new bed, enjoying my slippers, tea, and books, and yes- playing house with my Sims. Two of them now have a "budding relationship", and I look forward to making them "be romantic" at each other until they start dating. It's practically selective breeding, and my need for absolute environmental control is nicely stroked.

Everyone in Northern Ontario- Enjoy your cold, cold day!