Alone

 I thrive on being alone.  I feel I physically need it a times.  I'm not depressed or lonely.  I'm de-stressing myself or just putting myself in a less busy space.  I find myself getting very anxious, short with communication, or just not wanting to be around anyone (including family) when I need this time.  I don't really do anything in my recharge time.  Maybe I'll listen to a song, draw, write, or even do a cozy game that requires very little thinking or involvement on my part.  Once I have my time - it could be hours, or it could be a day or so, I'm fine.

I've been like this for as long as I can remember.  I enjoy just being alone.  There are times when I just want zero interruptions and I can remember getting in trouble for kicking a sibling out or just trying to ignore my spouse or (adult) kids.  It's not that I don't want to help them.  I do.  It's not that I don't love them.  I do.  And I enjoy spending time with them and having them in my life.  I enjoy going to places, shopping, or visiting friends.  BUT there are just times when I want to be alone.

Now is one of those times.  I can't handle the over-stimulation of communication or chatter in my bubble when I'm trying to be alone.  Sadly my spouse is just the opposite.  So I think they quite don't understand.

It's kind of hard to explain.  But it really recharges the mental state of who I am.  It puts back a focus (which I strongly have anyway), and it clears my head of all the stuff weighing me down.  It refreshes my brain in a way a nap would or a good vacation.  Only this time it's just me.  No other distractions.  No other sounds.  No other thoughts or interactions.  Just me.

I don't have to do this all the time.  Not really even once a month.  But there are times when it comes to a point that I just need to do this.  And I wish people would just leave me alone.

Christmas is near.

Some new events are going on in games for the holidays.  And I find it hard not to want to just play everything!

Phasmophobia has a Christmas event.  You collect pieces of a snowball-nerf gun and launch snowballs at mini snowmen across the marked maps.  Each map lists how many snowmen are within each map and will update as each snowman is eliminated.  Once you eliminate the snowmen on the map, a very special Christmas-themed hunt occurs.  Complete this for each marked map and you get a 2023 Christmas trophy and a new badge with a corresponding sticker.  

World of Warcraft.  Each year around the holidays, the Christmas event comes, with presents to be opened on Christmas day!  Last year I finally looted the Yole Tide hearthstone (something I collect), which actually took me a few years to obtain.  I'm not 100% sure what new items, if any will be provided.  I've already completed the Traveler's Post for the Christmas-y items I'm currently interested in.

Diablo IV.  I do believe there is an event going on in this game, but I know very little about it.  I have finally completed season 2 but I will go in and see what entails for this event to get a better understanding of that.

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet.  The 2nd DLC - The Indigo Disk releases tomorrow!  I'm excited to finish this and complete the game.  

I'm sure there are others and there are games that have recently been released, like Avatar Frontiers of Pandora and others that I'm enjoying.

I found out today I don't get as much time off at work to enjoy gaming as previously thought.  They took away 2 days we normally have off and are asking for OT the Saturday before.  Now we don't have plans this year for Christmas and the extra money will be nice - but the idea of this being dropped on us as a bomb 2 weeks before Christmas is really shitty.  I will do what it is I have to do... but I don't have to like it.