Reminder: This is my very first Sims 4 family, which was originally posted starting in 2015. I’m in the process of moving these posts over from my Tumblr page. See more info here!
(Note: Some of the questions below come from Tumblr readers. Links will take you to Tumblr. Some Tumblr accounts may no longer exist.)
Ajay has decided to call Gretchen up and agree to the interview. But on one condition…that she comes alone with no camera crew. He’s up extra early getting his garden ready. He also does a quick workout and eats some fresh veggies for breakfast.
After it’s all done…he finds that he has time before Gretchen arrives, so he crawls back into his tent for a nap.
Ajay ends up sleeping longer than he planned. Gretchen Cheung arrives, but Ajay is still asleep in his tent. His puppy Cain begins to bark to alert him that someone is on his lot.
Adwin-Jamie: *coming out of the tent* Cain…what the – *sees Gretchen standing there* Oh…hi.
Gretchen’s eyes briefly land on Ajay’s bare chest before she averts them down his puppy Cain.
Gretchen: So…I take it that you forgot about our interview this morning – even though you agreed to it just a few hours ago.
Adwin-Jamie: No…I was up, but I had some extra time so I – *changes the subject* I’ll just go wash up and get dressed. I’m sorry…give me about five minutes. *looks down at Cain* Keep her company, okay.
Ajay hurries away, leaving Gretchen standing there waiting.
Ajay returns in less time than he asked for. He and Gretchen sit down near the firepit.
Gretchen: First off, thank you for agreeing to do this interview. Is it okay if I record this?
Ajay looks a bit nervous about it, but he nods his head in agreement. Gretchen presses a button on her recorder…then quickly hides it away in her jacket pocket to put Ajay at ease.
Gretchen: So should I call you Adwin-Jamie?
Adwin-Jamie: I go by Ajay.
Gretchen: Ajay…I guess we’ll get straight to the point. How did you end up living in a tent on this lot? Were you raised in a similar fashion?
Adwin-Jamie: Not at all. My father and stepmother live in a big house up the hill. That’s where I grew up. I ended up living here in my tent because I wanted to get away from that lifestyle.
Gretchen: But why…why this alternative lifestyle versus the one you were raised in?**
Adwin-Jamie: I was always happier outside and it’s the way I want to live. My dad worked hard while I was growing up. But he works so hard because living the way he does is expensive. I don’t want to be a slave to my lifestyle. I want to be free to do what I want to do.
(**Question from @wifemomsimmer)
Gretchen: But you’re not really free are you? Not with the complaints that have been filed against you.
Adwin-Jamie: *slight grunt*
Gretchen can tell that’s hit a nerve, so she attempts to turn her statement into a question.
Gretchen: Let’s help people understand your lifestyle. So…you basically live off the land, right?
Adwin-Jamie: Right
Gretchen: What’s the best thing about living off the land?**
Adwin-Jamie: The freedom…like I said. I’m not on a schedule. I wake up when I want to and I get to do things that make me feel good. I enjoy fishing, so I do that for food and money. My step-mom used to garden, so I started doing that too. That’s how I get a lot of my food and what I don’t eat, I sell. It’s doesn’t cost me anything but time…which I have plenty of. Eventually, when I make enough money…I’ll travel and explore. My lifestyle doesn’t cost much, so I’ll be able to do that as much as I want to.
Gretchen: Okay, but there have to be drawbacks. What’s the worst thing about living this way?**
Adwin-Jamie: The worst is the way people perceive how I live.
Gretchen: Not the weather?
Adwin-Jamie: *becoming agitated* I can deal with the weather! Rain doesn’t hurt me. It’s people that I can’t deal with.
Gretchen: Let’s get to that then. Do you get lonely sometimes here all by yourself?***
Adwin-Jamie: I’ve been lonely all my life. Being here is no different! At least I’m not being smothered surrounded by walls all the time. I can breathe here!
(**Question from @alittledaylight , ***question from @stsciurussimblr )
Gretchen can tell that she’s getting to something here. She tries to keep the momentum going…
Gretchen: Can you understand why some people may think that this whole lifestyle is crazy? …Some even think that you might be crazy.
Adwin-Jamie: People always ask me what’s wrong with me, but there’s nothing wrong with me. There’s something wrong with all of you!
Gretchen: How so?
Adwin-Jamie: You walk around like there’s some purpose to your life…but there’s no purpose. You’re here for the Observer’s amusement. You work whatever job the Observer wants you to work. She grooms you, she shaped you…she even decided your personality. You think you’ve made a choice and fallen in love? That’s the Observer too. You and me being here today…it’s all her doing!
Gretchen feels like she’s opened an unexpected can of worms. Now that it’s opened…she’s not sure she’ll be able to close it. Her training tells her to roll with it.
Gretchen: Her?
Adwin-Jamie: Yeah…I see her as like a mother.
Gretchen: So, she cares about us?
Adwin-Jamie: Absolutely! We’re just a figment of her imagination, but she loves us like we’re real.
Gretchen: Wait…so you’re saying that we’re not real?
Adwin-Jamie: Not in her world. In her world, we’re only…we’re only –
Gretchen: We’re only what?
Adwin-Jamie: We’re only pixels!
Gretchen exhales as if she’s been holding her breath the entire time. She’s not completely sure what to make of what she’s just heard. But there’s one thing she does know…if she hopes to help Ajay keep his lot – she can’t use any of it in her article.
Gretchen decides to put a pin in that topic and move back to something that she can use. She smiles to lighten the moment a bit…
Gretchen: So, are there any old “creature comforts” that you miss from time to time?**
Feeling a bit vulnerable from revealing a lot more than he planned…Ajay is glad to return to a lighter topic.
Adwin-Jamie: Not really. Everything I need is here…can I show you?
Gretchen: Yeah…sure!
Ajay gets up, with Gretchen right behind him, and leads her to his picnic area.
Adwin-Jamie: This is where I grill from time to time. I don’t do it often because it usually ends up being too much food and since I don’t have refrigeration…a lot of it goes to waste. I mostly eat raw veggies, grains, and yogurt.
Gretchen: Cool…I would actually benefit from eating more of those things.
Ajay turns to show her more, but Gretchen stops in her tracks.
Gretchen: Wait…are those bees?!
(**Question from @prinsii)
Adwin-Jamie: Yeah…I raise bees too…you know – for the honey. Don’t worry – they’re calm right now. They won’t bother you!
Gretchen cautiously follows Ajay past the beehive.
Adwin-Jamie: This is my garden and over there is where I do laundry using a wash bin. I learned that from my step-mom too. And there is where I workout. I try to either box or run every morning.
Gretchen: So you don’t use any electricity?
Adwin-Jamie: No…I’m almost completely off-the-grid. I do have running water though.
Gretchen: Do you have any advice for others trying to live off the grid? **
Ajay and Gretchen sit down on a wood log under the tree.
Adwin-Jamie: Other than just doing it? Not really, maybe buying plenty of lanterns and starting a garden right away.
Gretchen stares at the view for a while.
Gretchen: I can see why you chose this lot.
Adwin-Jamie: *follows Gretchen’s gaze* Yeah…I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.
Ajay begins to feel a bit uncomfortable sitting there so close to Gretchen, so he gets up and walks away under the guise of trying to get an unobstructed view of the ocean. Gretchen follows him.
(**Question from @spicedplumbob )
Gretchen has enough experience to know that the interview is pretty much over. She probably won’t be able to get much more out of Ajay…but she’s not quite done with him.
Gretchen: Ajay…I appreciate you agreeing to talk to me today. I’d like to interview you again soon…if that’s okay.
Adwin-Jamie: Why? …Didn’t you get enough for your article?
Gretchen: Yes…but I don’t want to interview you for the newspaper. I want to write a book about you. I want to know more about your lifestyle – you know, what you do every day. And even more about your beliefs.
Adwin-Jamie: Will it help me keep my lot?
Gretchen: Well…not really. This would be a long-term project. But I believe that it would help people…people who are lost and may be looking to live free – like you.
Adwin-Jamie: Let me think about it.
Gretchen: Okay…well, uh, thanks again. I hope to see you soon!
(Note: I appreciate all the questions that I received. I may not have used any of your questions during this first interview, but I will try to use at least one from everyone in future interviews…that is, if Ajay decides to allow Gretchen to return.)
Gretchen walks away towards her car. Ajay occupies himself with collecting honey from the beehive. In his head, he seriously considers Gretchen’s offer. It felt good being listened to…completely – without being judged. Now he feels lighter…like someone who has quickly shed a lot of weight. The only difference is…his extra weight has been emotional.
Ajay grabs Cain and heads to the docks hoping to get something to eat from one of the vendors. Seeing that the vendor booths haven’t opened yet, he decides to try fishing there instead.
After some time and a few missed catches, Ajay finally manages to catch a fairly sized goldfish. It doesn’t make him a lot of money, but it’s something. He tries the food vendor once again, but it’s still closed. Ajay tries to fill up on veggies and herbs from his garden.
Ajay heads back to his lot and crawls into his tent to catch up on some sleep. He’s barely had a chance to close his eyes before his father Adwin shows up on his lot looking for him.
Adwin: Dammit he’s not here!
Adwin kicks up Ajay’s trash can in frustration.
Startled by the fallen can, Ajay crawls out of the tent.
Adwin-Jamie: What’s going on?!
Adwin: Oh, there you are!
Ajay walks over to his dad and greets him with a hug.
Adwin-Jamie: You’re back from your trip?
Adwin: Yeah…and I need your help.
Adwin-Jamie: Why? What’s up?
Adwin: *hangs his head in shame* I messed up. I messed up bad with Mina and I think she’s still pissed at me.
Ajay doesn’t even bother asking for details.
Adwin-Jamie: What can I do about it?
Adwin: It’s Love Day today…and I want to take her somewhere nice, but I need you to watch Marvel and Opus for us.
Adwin-Jamie: I don’t know dad…they didn’t really have a good time with me last time.
Adwin: Ajay…I’m begging you! My marriage may be at stake.
Adwin-Jamie: Okay…I – maybe they’ll have more fun roasting marshmallows or something.
Adwin: *relieved* Thank you so much! We’ll send them over in about an hour.
Adwin follows Ajay’s eyes to the kicked over trash can.
Adwin: Sorry about that…I’ll clean that up.
Adwin-Jamie: Don’t worry…I’ve got it.
(Generation 7 Chapter Summaries)
