Back on the island

According to my passport, I first arrived on my island on April 26, 2021.

I hadn’t looked at that date in a long time.

When I opened the game again recently, I didn’t expect that tiny detail to hit me the way it did. But here it was — almost five years ago. A completely different season of life. A different routine. A different version of me.

And somehow… the island was still there.

The long pause

I didn’t stop playing because I stopped loving the game.

I think I just drifted.

At some point, I’d terraformed enough cliffs. Moved enough buildings. Reshaped waters into rivers and streams. I had chased dreamies, obsessed over yards, and rearranged paths more times than I can count. The island started to feel less like a place and more like a second job. The game was no longer fun!

So I let it rest.

The Switch went back in its dock. The villagers carried on without me. Seasons changed. Snow fell. Fireworks probably went off without an audience.

Opening the gates again

Coming back felt… surprisingly gentle.

The music was the first thing I noticed. That hourly theme I hadn’t heard in years just settled right back into my brain like it had never left. The way villagers tilt their heads. The soft wind sounds. The little footsteps.

Agnes was still there. One of my original starters. It felt oddly reassuring to see her wandering around like no time had passed at all.

There’s something comforting about digital spaces that wait patiently.

No guilt. No pressure. Just, “Oh hey. You’re back. We missed you and are happy you’re here.”

Doing it differently this time

I’m not trying to perfect anything.

I’m not chasing the optimal layout. I’m not rushing to complete some checklist. Although, I do have a lot of small checklists. I’m trying to take inspiration from the many folks I see on Reddit, Instagram, and Youtube. I’m often saddened that I’m not as creative as others. But when I can re-create something, even with my own spin, I feel a sense of content.

While I am updating the layout of my island, I’ve found myself doing something very on-brand for me: tracking.

I started by revisiting my old spreadsheet of villagers — who moved in, who moved out, how long they stayed. What started as a simple tracker has quietly turned into a database. Which turned into an administrative interface. Which turned into an internal API.

Because apparently I can’t just play a cozy game — I have to build infrastructure around it, too.

But the funny thing is… it feels cozy to me.

There’s something deeply satisfying about looking at the timeline of my island and seeing the story in the data. Who stayed the longest. Who came and went quickly. Which personalities I gravitate toward. The founders who arrived on that first day.

The Founders

When I checked the dates, I realized something I’d forgotten.

Agnes and I share the same move-in date: April 26, 2021.

That detail feels strangely important now. It’s not just a date in a table. It’s the beginning of something that’s quietly lasted almost five years.

This time around, I added myself properly to the island’s records. Not as an afterthought, but as a resident. Founder. Permanent fixture.

There’s something satisfying about seeing:

• Current 🏠
• Days on island: 1,763

It makes the island feel less like a save file and more like a place that’s grown with me.

Slower, Softer

If there’s a theme to this return, it’s this:

I’m not trying to “finish” the island.

I’m just trying to live on it again.

I’m noticing the small things — the museum at night, the way villagers talk about their passions, the sound of the ocean waves crashing onto the beach. I’m letting areas stay imperfect. I’m not rearranging everything the moment it feels slightly off.

The island doesn’t need to be optimized. It just needs to feel like somewhere I want to be.

Five years later

It’s funny how games like this become little time capsules.

The island remembers when you started, even if you forgot. It remembers who arrived first. It quietly tracks the passage of time whether you log in daily or not at all.

Coming back after a long hiatus hasn’t felt like restarting.

It’s felt like reopening the gates.

And this time, I’m not here to build the perfect island.

I’m just here to be on it again. 🌿🏝️