My brain is so poisoned by video games, that while I was recently moving my furniture into my new apartment all I could think about was The Sims
My move, from one New York City apartment to another, was expensive and complicated ordeal. Iām so, so close to finally being finished with it. Iāve got my keys, a place to sleep, a couch in the living room and almost everything I need to cook. Unfortunately, I still have to figure out why we donāt have gas, Iām trying to get us Internet that isnāt the dreaded Spectrum, and we donāt have any pots and pans. Iāve started to put together and arrange my bedroom, though I need a dresser first to put away my clothes, and a bookshelf for all my books.
As I measure the remaining space in my room and continue to unpack, I canāt help but think of it as a game. Itās a little bit like Tetris, where I must fit blocks of furniture into a small apartment. Sometimes it feels like Dwarf Fortress, where Iām constantly juggling new tasks to accomplish in order to not lose my mind. Mostly, though, itās like The Sims
In The Sims 4, decor has an effect on Simsā moods. They get a boost to their mood if theyāre in a well decorated apartment. If they sleep on a cheap bed, they wake up sore. Having access to tea and coffee can change their mood or keep them awake. And as Iāve learned from watching Sims YouTubers, if thereās ever any empty space in an apartment, you should fill it with plants. Thatās why Iāve covered my windowsill with plants:
The Sims was also on my mind as I placed my furniture. Originally, I had my desk facing the wall, but then I realized that I wanted to be able to look out the window. In The Sims, thatād be a pathing nightmare, so I was leery of doing it and had the reflex to lay my apartment out like it was in the game. The allure of a window view was too strong, though, and Iām better at pathfinding than a Sim, so I turned my desk to face the window. I could make this work.
What The Sims mostly taught me was that thereās a real benefit in making your personal space pleasant. Your Sims donāt always need the most expensive thing, but a slightly more expensive couch and upgrading to a flatscreen TV can make it easier for them to relax. I used to think of the mood boost that Sims got in the game was just a mechanic to give you an impetus to continue to buy them more things. As I get older, I also discovered that Iām just happier in a place that looks nice and feels nice, that has my art on the walls and is arranged in a way that feels cozy.
I used to be a lot more utilitarian about my furniture than I am now. I had stuff that wasnāt fancy, but was functional. Back in Chicago, I had a couch, but it was missing its back cushion, so I threw a body pillow on there so itād be comfortable. I had a bed from Ikea that Iād been carting around from apartment to apartment for years. The rest of my apartment was furnished from Craigslist, and while everything was kinda sticky, it worked. I was also the most depressed I had been since my teenage years. I was surrounded by my own garbage because I felt like garbage and everything I owned was garbage.
Now when I look at my mint green desk, I feel happiness at the prospect of working at it. My bedāmade of solid wood and not particle boardāoffers a pleasant reprieve from the rest of the world. My side table is actually a vintage military war table, that was a gift from a friend. Not only is it a very cool thing to own, I think about my wonderful, generous friend every time I look at it (love you, Max!). Just being in this room surrounded by things I actually like and arenāt from a Swedish furniture company makes a real difference in my mood.
I know my Sims are just lines of code, but I wonder if thatās how they feel when I meticulous decorate their rooms, giving them high quality furniture and a mountain of plants. I hope it makes their brief lives a little easier, especially if theyāre unlucky enough to get caught in a save where Iām doing the 100 Baby Challenge
