T w e n t y S i d e d

The last time we checked in on the Smith family, Jimbo had taken over the family home despite it not belonging to him. He smoked, and had ill-kept cats, and allowed the place to be covered in tar, dust, mildew, and cat pee. Eventually, he began just leaving the back door open a crack so his animals could come and go as they pleased. This led to him getting more and more pets, as the smell of cat food drew in more felines; along with the occasional raccoon. The population boomed with the family home as the epicenter. To him, a lonely old man this meant he usually had someone to watch the news with in his old recliner. To the neighborhood, it meant bird populations plummeted and cat fights were constant. The local trap-neuter-return program couldn’t keep up and the area became known for its strays.

In 1990, where we left off, Jimbo was 70. We’re going to jump forward in decades now, rather than twenty years at a time, since things are going to pick up a bit for a while. Bringing us, finally, to the year 2000. Jimbo didn’t care much about Y2K, but he did pull his money out of the bank just in case. He’s 80 now, living in a house that isn’t his and mostly trying to slip under the radar with his family.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: Not with a Bang”

Bay Jubilee Oldest child of Shamus Young. They/Them

Last week, Jimbo, the youngest son of the Smith family, redid the entire house. He outfitted the place with cutting-edge designs like animal print carpets and wood panel walls. His reasoning was that it would ultimately up the property value, and give his mom an excellent place to spend her advancing years. Obviously, from his work, he ended up blinded by what turned out to be a vanity project along the way. His sister ended up taking up the housework he was supposed to do, and his mother ended up resenting his help more than appreciating it. It’s tricky, disliking something that someone is doing to help you. On the one hand, they’re putting in time and resources, on the other, she didn’t ask for it.

Jumping forward another 20 years, we’re in 1990. Mrs. Smith is gone. She was moved into hospice care in her nineties and expected not to last a month. Jimbo was left housesitting while Mom was in the home, and all the kids visited frequently knowing they didn’t have long with her. Much to their, and the nurses’ surprise, she lived another five years. She got to meet her first great-grandbaby, spite a doctor she really hated, and see New Coke fail before she died. She went happy, and a little glad she didn’t have to go in her newfangled decorated house.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: Legal Issues”

Bay Jubilee Oldest child of Shamus Young. They/Them

This week we skip another 20 years forward. In 1970, the year we’ve lept to, Mr. Smith has passed away and Mrs. Smith is in her 80’s. The house is too big for her, but she is vehemently against being put in a home, so her son has moved in to help manage the place. Let’s decide that the Smiths had three children. Their oldest, a son, has gone into the family business, he’s too busy to help out. Their middle child, a daughter, has children and a family of her own. The youngest Smith boy will be helping Mrs. Smith in her old age. He works under the oldest son at the family company and is very keen to prove he can do something his siblings can’t. He is easily in his 50s, but he’s got no family of his own and never strayed far from home. He isn’t a bad guy, he just lacks direction.  We’ll call him Jimbo to avoid any more ‘Mr. Smith” nonsense.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: The 70s”

Bay Jubilee Oldest child of Shamus Young. They/Them