On Friday I posted that I was answering questions about my choice to NOT raid in Northrend. I’d gotten a couple random ones after mentioning it, and didn’t realize at the time, it would make a good post. So I put the call out for more. Let’s start however, with the ones I remember being asked.
WHY??
I kind of went over this on November 20. But I’ll add a few things I’ve had come to mind over the last couple weeks.
First of all, there is the time conflict. We have no static dinner time, with Hubby’s job. I can no more ask 24 other people to hang tight mid raid while I cook, eat and clean up than I can ask my family to eat alone or grab something cold that I precooked so I could make the raid time I’d signed up for.
Also, there is the time commitment involved. At least 3-4 hours. As I mention in the previous post, our time together is limited. We get maybe 4 hours a day together during the week. I’d rather be able to jump AFK for an hour, or turn away from the screen for a few minutes as needed, than to be constantly telling my kids ‘wait til I’m done or I’m busy!. I’ve found myself doing this too often in raid situations. I don’t like the looks on my kids faces when I do. It won’t be long before Hubby is sent away for a year, put in harm’s way this time we have left is precious. And I need to be able to say See ya I’m off to watch a movie/tv/etc. Yes, he does play, but when he isn’t, I don’t want to be locked in.
Thirdly, and most important is that separation I spoke of. 12 months, in a not so good place, with limited communication. This means contact once a week if we are lucky. The last time it was daily, and the guys had net in their little makeshift rooms. But this time, we can�t expect that. I don�t normally discuss what he does. But he’s Infantry, in the Army. This means he’s out on patrol, missions, breaking down doors, clearing vehicles and buildings. Chasing bad guys. When he gets the chance to get in touch, and let me know he’s OK, everything stops. I cannot, and will not risk missing the sound of the IM because the raid noise drowned it out, or vent did.
Some may say it’s crazy to base my entire being during this time on getting that message, but it’s acceptable to me. It’s hard to understand if you haven’t been through it except to state the morbid truth of it. You never want to miss even ONE, because as much as you try to put the thought out of your head, it’s there what if it’s the last. Sounds dramatic, I know. But it’s fact. I was asked how it was any different if I missed it because I was in the bathroom (lol), simply put, even though Hubby plays too, he’d understand if I was out of the room, or the house (of course last time I slept with a laptop by the bed, and had a cell phone with me EVERYWHERE lol). However he would NOT be as forgiving if I missed his chance to talk to Home because I was too busy playing a game to hear it. It’s an understandable question though, and one I really didn’t mind answering.
Onto the reader questions, both from J at Casual WoW
Do you think not raiding is going to be a good change, or do you think you’ll miss it?
Yes, I think it will be a good change, and yes I’ll miss it a bit too. As I mentioned, I didn’t like my attitude towards the family when I was raiding, nor the guilt of fudging dinner around to make time for it. I’ve always preached RL > WoW but when it came down to it, I didn’t practice it well. I also found myself getting halfway through a raid wishing it was over. Usually 
after saying when I’m done to one of the girls, or hubby, or shooing the dog away for the hundredth time. Even with that though, I’ll still miss some of the excitement of seeing new content and Ohhhing and Ahhhing over the scenery, bosses, and drops. I’d say I’d miss the group dynamic, but I’ll still have 5 mans for that. I AM hoping to get my toes in some of the 10′s, when time and conditions permit.
What part of not raiding are you looking forward to most?
Not having to farm!! I can focus on the silly, and the alts, and the dailies! I always felt like all I got done was farming mats and gold for consumables and repairs for that night’s raid. At the time, I was sick to death of doing the dailies. Especially as a healer pre-spellpower change. It was a chore. Now I can just work on emptying my quest log on my now 80 druid, and leveling my first Lady in Waiting, my hunter. The current dailies are easy, and fun, and quick so I’ll be doing them as often as possible. I’m also looking forward to spending the time I’d normally spend farming, to get some achievements done. My druid NEEDS that Guardian of Cenarius title. And this, also answers the question You hit 80, Then What??
This post turned out ALOT longer than I expected. Sorry about that!
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