Finding the Right Fit

I hate shopping for clothes. I especially hate shopping for swim suits, jeans, and other things that fit my body tightly. Partially, this is because when you are short with a big bust, nothing fits right. Also, even if the only other person around you is a mirror, it can be embarrassing. Now if you are a chick and you bring other women, it gets worse! Even when they are nice and helpful, you can still want to die because they saw you try on the swimsuit that somehow managed to give you four boobs where there should only be two. By the way, that really happened, but luckily I got better when I took the swimsuit off. On the other hand, I know women who love nothing better than clothes shopping. Trying on each new thing is an adventure to them and they love it. Me, I like my black t-shirts and black yoga pants. I can dress it up or down, and they are a comfortable fit.

Like shopping for clothes, I now have found that I only really love one game system, Warhammer Fantasy 3^rd edition. The more I grimace and try to squeeze my booty into other systems and games, I usually end up feeling uncomfortable and slightly used. If you don’t believe me, read the blog entry about D&D 5^th edition. Warhammer is my perfect black t-shirt. I can dress it up or down for any occasion. I can use any accessories I like, and best of all it makes me look good. I love things that are both comfortable and flattering. My life is too busy and complex for anything else.

On the other hand, I have friends that love nothing more than trying out new systems and new games. They love learning and reading the new books. They love character creation and walking through new worlds. They live for the harsh lighting of the dressing room while they twist to see exactly how everything is fitting, and does this new character make my booty look big?

Of course, most of the time, playing an RPG is not like swim suit shopping because there is no option for doing it alone. There are a few things like board games, card games, and choose your own adventure books that let you roam alone through fantastical lands, but a true RPG takes at least two, and usually four or more. If you bomb that night, or the system gives you four boobs everyone will know, whether you wanted that effect or not. It can be embarrassing.

There is no right or wrong on this issue, there is just trust. I trust my friends to laugh at me sometimes, but love me through anything. With that sort of acceptance, I’ll wiggle into another swimsuit, so we can all shop together. After all, if I don’t go, how will I laugh at them?