One thing that seemed absolutely impossible at the beginning of the pandemic was moving. That's why — in March of 2020 — when my wife said she'd been offered a dream job in another state, I started to spiral.
It seems pretty naive in today's bonkers housing market, but we didn't know if anyone would even be buying houses like our tiny starter home. How would showings work? What about needed updates, inspections, assessments...so many people to usher through the door. At a time that our home seemed like our one and only sanctum from the uncertainty and danger of a world consumed by coronavirus, the idea of having strangers over to poke and prod our home felt invasive.
We decided to table the idea — too many unknowns. But we agreed we would revisit the possibility again someday.
It was around this time that I picked up the latest Animal Crossing game ... a game in which you move to a new town, buy a new home, and begin decorating and remodeling it to your liking.
The irony was not lost on me.
The game was low stress, low stakes, and exactly what I — and many, many others — needed to feel a bit more in control in a chaotic time. It was a space I so preferred to the real world of 2020 that I produced an entire show about escaping into virtual worlds, which we re-aired this past weekend. I even took Anne on a virtual tour of my village.
Jumping ahead to 2021, and we finally decided to take the leap and move to a new state. And I need to admit — I left my Animal Crossing home behind. My past six months have been absolutely consumed by fixing up our old house, selling it, packing up our things, battling with other would-be home buyers for every remotely workable house, and, at last, moving into our new home — which also needs pretty extensive remodeling.
The idea of relaxing with a game that's about re-arranging furniture, landscaping and remodeling a new home? No thanks, not the game for right now. But maybe I'll still stop by for an occasional visit, just to sit by the beach.
—Mark