Play?

[pegkerr]

kijjohnson and I had an excellent talk last night, ranging over a wide variety of topics, but one thing we talked about that I have been thinking about ever since was that I remarked that I don't have much in my life right now that is there simply so that I can play.

I loved the Shakespeare playreading group that I was in with pameladean, carbonel and others for a number of years. I loved it. We don't do that anymore.

I loved playing Neville in nocturne_alley. That game is over.

I can't think of anything I do in my life right now simply for play. This is not good or healthy, I think. Edited to add: Well, there's LiveJournal, of course. LiveJournal's fun for me.

What about you? What do you have in your life that is simply for fun, simply to play?

Comments

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

Live Journal may be interesting, fun, absorbing, and all the rest, but as we mostly use it -- therapy and connection and distraction -- it's not play as such, any more than sitting in a coffeeshop talking to your best friend is play.

Going to a zoo or a museum is play. Going skiing, especially when you don't know anything, is play. Trying to talk along the tops of fences is play. Anything where you end up covered with mud or water or snow on purpose is play. Sneaking into places is play. Learning a new sport is play, as long as you don't turn it into labor. Anything you would have done when you were ten is play -- unless it's enthrallment, which TV and books are: good for some things, but not play. Anything you come back skipping from. Or smile every time you remember. Slumber parties. Biking. Poker night.

You an play alone for a while and it's fun, but sooner or later you need to find a playmate, too.