strangetomato | Sims talk: Free Time

I've been pretty excited about this expansion pack since I first heard it mentioned as a possibility. I'm sure that you've noticed that I fully enjoy the leisure activities already available in the game, and these things are especially great for storytelling. More hobbies means more possibilities for creating unique character details.

These are the things that I'm really looking forward to:

- The sewing machine!
- More things to cook.
- The messy art supplies on the desk.
- An actual object where toddlers can interact.
- Some really nice clothing - sweater vest and cardigans.
- Don't Wake the Llama game.

Have you watched the teaser video on the TheSims2.com? There is a little Grunt brothers cameo appearance in it, about 3/4 of the way through. Well, not really, but there are three guys working on a car together, and they have the same hairstyles (in the same colours) that the Grunts do (well, the "Buck" has the hair that I put on him, but close enough). You can see it here.

The new arts and craft objects really excite me the most. My Buck Grunt really NEEDS a sewing machine, and you can bet your ass that he'll be getting one as soon as it's possible. He'll be sewing up some mighty fine curtains. The sports thing, while less exciting to me as a person, will make it possible for Johnny to be into sports a little more than just "in theory". And maybe we'll see him coaxing his less athletic friends into playing with him, despite their protests.

It's kind of funny that I'm already planning how I'll use this EP, since I haven't even installed Bon Voyage yet, even though I do own it. Why am I so reluctant about it? I just have a bad vibe from that EP. Is it just me? I do really want to have some of the details, but maybe not others. I want to get those massage tables really badly, and the sauna (sauna woohoo - awww, yeah!), but I don't want vacation obsession to infect the game, and I'll miss the honeymoon limo. Destination weddings, on the other hand, would be nice. I'll have a few weddings coming up (not exactly soon, but still). Why am I such a wuss about BV? I'll be eating up Free Time as soon as it hits the shelves.

How do you feel about Free Time? Do you have (or plan to get) Bon Voyage?