The Greenmans - Week 1

Two brothers, Gabe and Jason O'Mackey, were taking a trip to the mountains of Riverblossom Hills. They had heard rumours of a strange but friendly people, different from all other Sims, living in a hidden green valley. Were they going to find those people, and what were they going to be like?

They did! A small community of PlantSims had developed over who knows how many years. They were similar to other Sims in many ways, speaking the same language, but had much in common with the plants around them, too: They did not need to eat or sleep, and never got dirty. But just like plants, they needed sunlight and water to survive, and love was just as essential to them. 

A beautiful PlantSim lady named Rose fell in love with Jason, who soon returned her feelings.

They were married in the presence of some of Rose's folks as well as Jason's brother Gabe, his wife Alexandra and their little dauther Jules. Jason took his wife's last name. 

Years later, Jules now being in her teens, we find the Greenmans living in Riverblossom Hills. Rose is the only PlantSim in town, but has quickly become acquainted with her all-human neighbours. Here, she shares a table at an outdoors café with her husband and Stella Roth. 

To complete their happiness, Rose grew a plantbaby. For Jason, little Daisy is totally his child, too, even though biologically he is not related to her. 

And now we have reached the end of the Maxis-made pictures for the Greenmans. It is from their family bio that I have made up their background story; it reads: "Jason gave up his name and changed his lifestyle for the love of his green-skinned goddess. Despite the love that they share will they be able to raise a happy, healthy child? Can Rose adjust to living in a town instead of the great outdoors?". 

They live at 110 Old Farm Road in a large green house that was built around a big old tree. 

On the ground floor, apart from the tree, we find an open plan lounge with settees, a computer desk and a piano. At the back of the lounge are Daisy's nursery, a kitchen and dining room. Outside are a swimming pool with slide, several fruit trees and vegetable beds, not yet planted.

Upstairs is Rose and Jason's bedroom, a bathroom and separate toilet as well as a generous landing that leads to a small balcony with a table and chairs. The Greenmans have just short of 2,500 Simoleons in cash.

Here are Daisy and Jason. As you can see, Daisy is a toddler. She already has all her toddler skills. Jason is a Knowledge Sim who dreams of being Prestidigitator. Right now, he works in the Adventure career, and uses the phone to quit his job straight away. 

About him, Maxis say: "Jason moved to Riverblossom Hills after hearing his brother spin wonderful tales of the beautiful countryside - and a beauty he did find! Will he and his new family prosper?"

Daisy's bio reads: "Will Daisy bloom into the lovely flower that her parents expect or will she be a thorn to Jason and Rose?" It seems a bit harsh to assume this lovely little girl could ever be a thorn to her parents!

Rose is a Family Sim who fittingly sees herself as Riverblossom's future Education Minister. According to Maxis, she "quickly became the center of attention after rooting herself in Riverblossom Hills. Will she thrive in the limelight, or back away to bask alone in the sun?" 

But before she starts to work in her desired career, she calls the Matchmaker. What for? She is happily married to Jason and certainly does not want a Blind Date. 

No, she has just bought an antidote to PlantSimism, and takes it on the spot.

There is of course nothing wrong with her being a PlantSim, but I just don't want to play her like that - she will never sleep, never want to share a meal with her husband or friends, and holding a job that keeps her away from water and sunlight for good part of the day will be much easier when she's fully human. 

And here she is - Rose as a fully human Sim! Still beautiful, isn't she. 

Rose's new life starts in earnest when she is picked up for work as a Teacher's Aide on Tuesday morning.

Jason, who has not yet found an opening in Entertainment, is the stay-at-home Dad for now. He takes care of household tasks, pays the bills, plays with little Daisy and then makes use of the fine spring day by pruning the fruit trees the way he has seen his wife doing it, all the while talking to the trees. "Hello, tree! I'll make sure you look all nice and stylish, then you can grow the most beautiful fruit," he says. 

Rose announces her coming home with a guest: "Darling! I'm home - and look who's come with me!" 

Jason is happy to see his brother. Gabe obviously works at the same school as Rose. They have a late lunch of healthy salad together. 

Uncle Gabe and his "niece" (not biologically) Daisy get along really well. 

Daisy and her Dad have become very close now that Rose has been out for work and Jason has been the one to look after the little flower girl.

With Rose being fully human now, husband and wife sit down for meals together, and today Rose pulls out the crystal and a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate her first promotion: She has been made Substitute Teacher. 

Later, mother and daughter make music together with little Daisy accompanying Rose's piano play on her xylophone. 

On Thursday, Rose takes care of the bills - her husband is out, having finally found a job as a Standup Comedian. Of course she notices the kicked-over bin, but she doesn't mind; she simply picks up the rubbish and puts it in the compost bin instead. 

Daisy grows up into an adult. The dice rolls Pleasure as her aspiration, and fittingly, her lifetime want is to become Professional Party Guest.

At least for tonight, I'll have her stay in PlantSim shape; not needing any sleep, she can do the gardening which none of her parents have had time for today.

Jason's first performance as a standup comedian remains his only one: He is promoted to Birthday Party Mascot right away (if that is considered a promotion, I don't know...).

Daisy's room gets a makeover on Friday. Her toddler toys, crib and changing table (none of which she ever needed as a PlantBaby) are put away for possible later use, but what does she need a bed for? 

Well, she didn't need one as a PlantSim, but just like with her mother, I have decided to play Daisy as a fully human Sim. She has a flask of the antidote to PlantSimism which her mother bought for her "just in case", and here she is, the "new" Daisy!

Later that morning, Jason starts to make toaster pastries but then gets so absorbed in playing the piano that he would have had burnt the house down, had it not been for the fire alarm. Phew! PlantSim or not, every Sim fears fire most of anything, and from other towns it has been reported as the main cause of death. (Those "other towns" must have been New Maximiliania and its suburbs...!) 

Eventually, Friday turns out to be a really good day for the Greenmans: First Rose is promoted to Elementary School Teacher...

...and then Jason returns home, never to don his clown outfit again. He, too, was promoted and is now a Mime. 

There is of course no school on the weekend, which means Rose has Saturday and Sunday off. Jason only needs to be at work in the afternoon, and so on Saturday morning, the three Greenmans take a taxi to Belle's Boutique. With autumn being here, the ladies will be cold in their leafy dresses; they definitely need something warmer.

Rose meets Jill Smith. "I like your hairstyle," she smiles. 

Daisy greets Alexandra O'Mackey. She knows that Alex is the estranged wife of her beloved Uncle Gabe, but she has no reason not to talk to her "auntie".

Back home, Jason has time for a tender slow dance with his wife before the car pool for work arrives.

Now that she knows a few more people, Daisy spends time on the phone to build up friendships. 

It is still dark on Sunday morning when Daisy is picked up for her first shift as a Golf Caddy. Who plays golf that early to need a caddy at 5:00 am, I wonder? 

By the time she's home, her parents have invited the Roths over. 

Rose and Stella enjoy a game of chess under the branches of the large old tree in the house. 

Rose decides to invite Jill Smith over, the lady she has met yesterday at the clothes shop. "You know, Jill, if we became best friends, you could move to Riverblossom Hills for good," she says. 

Rose is right, but I doubt it will be her to invite Jill to become a full resident: The week with the Greenmans is over. 

It was a good week, and I really liked playing this family, last but not least because Daisy was such an easy-going, low maintenance toddler :-) Once they grow up, I still prefer to play them as fully human Sims instead of PlantSims; I just don't like the non-sleeping, non-eating part all that much.