This post was created as part of

my activities with Nexon PEAK.

In real life, I am getting ready to move, and there are times when it leaves me a little worn out. There is quite a lot to think about, after all. Between work and everything else that needs my attention, sometimes even playing a game to unwind feels like an effort. Listening idly to the sounds of chopping wood or harvesting rice does help me relax, but lately my exhaustion runs a little deeper than that. Besides my main character, I am also building up five alts, and I find myself wondering whether I really have the time and energy to keep all these friends fed(?) and cared for. It is that sort of tiredness.

When I am worn out in real life, that weariness inevitably follows me into the game. At times like that, I often spend time in My Home. Moving house in real life means having so much to think about, so much to get up and do. But My Home is a space in Erinn that is legally my own. Having a home in the real world comes with all sorts of practical concerns, but My Home is different. I can make myself comfortable, surround myself with the things I want, and have almost nothing to worry about. In My Home, I do not have to worry about leaks or rental deposit scams. Or perhaps I do, considering they do not give you your money back when you move out.

In any case, when I want to take a break, I stop by My Home. It really brings together everything I have dreamed of in a home. There is a lovely bookcase, and sometimes I pass the time playing music in an ensemble. I display figures and other things, put them away when I tire of looking at them, and make them again when I want to see them. I like having plenty of space, so I make a point of not filling it all.

Sometimes I invite a friend over, bake a pizza, and have a drink while listening to music. My friend will be the one playing, of course. I will simply rest and listen. As we sit there, we talk quietly about this and that. We might talk about our lives, or a comic I have read. We might talk about a cute puppy I saw that day, or the dishes I had to wash. As we talk about these small, everyday things, I can feel my mind settling a little.

Sometimes I visit a friend's home, too. There is so much to play with there. I might leave a curse on a doll my friend often plays with before I go, or read the book they have left on the desk. As I watch those cute animations, I find my bad mood gently melting away. You know those times when you are so exhausted that you want to share your troubles with someone, but you have no energy, and it feels as though no one is around? When I come to my own space in Erinn and rest for a while like this, I find the strength to get moving again the next day.

I have also tried pretending to be a trapped zombie—a zombie that got trapped while trying to pounce on an adventurer playing the piano. These are all such silly little stories, really. But when I am taking a break, I enjoy every bit of it. This is the kind of place Erinn is to me.