by Chris Vinton
So I've had a lot of time to not play 40k. Baby on the way, work taking more of my energy, a kid that now wants a buddy more than a person that just gives food and a pacifier, and a miserably pregnant have all really cut into my time. So what do I do to stay fresh and scratch that 40k itch I have?
Well...not much. At best I get to read the internet, and see what everyone else gets to do with their plastic toys while mine sit idle. It is nice though, because even thought I don't play I get to see the meta shift around and grown. I get to see a lot more than I used to while I was playing even.
My drive to play normally kept me off the internet in my free time, being that my game time was actually spent gaming. But now, with less time at the table side that time has shifted to non-business hours of freedom so at night I get to prowl the internet. And maybe like the belief that when someone looses one sense others make up for it, I get a better internet awareness at the loss of my time at the table side. And I'm fine with that. I almost feel as if I'm better for it. It breaks up the small group meta that happens and on that occasion when I do show up I can pull out some really amazing ideas to the group.
You might think that because I'm not playing as much I'm painting more. And quite the opposite is true. Part of painting for me I will admit is the showing off. I might be the first to say it, but when I paint a badass mini and really nail it, I don't put it in my display case in my basement where not even my family sees it. Hell no. I'm like a third grader at show and tell. Post it on the blog, show my wife, put it on facebook. Best part is when I take it to the shop and little crowds gather around to marvel at the detail. Its vain, and people might say I'm egotistical, but I bet not one person that paints well does it and just packs it away. And with that, loosing my table side play, I've also lost my drive to paint. Its hard to fix, but I'm working on it the best I can.
Lastly absence makes the heart grown fonder. My time away makes my time at the table side that much sweeter. I play games now with my whole heart into them. Laughing and joking. If I only get to delve in occasionally, I'm going to go in full force and just love every moment. It makes me really appreciate the time I have and no longer play games just to tweak and tool out lists. In the end I can't say that time away from the table should hinder someone or cause them to 'get rusty' but instead reframe what it is that happening. Adjust to life instead of fighting it and you'll be much happier. Having unrealistic expectations leads people to disappointment and therefor frustration. Refocus on what you can do with the situation you have and make the best of it.