James Pretends To Retire

James stares at the telephone and takes a deep breath before making a phone call announcing his retirement from politics. After a family conference a way was devised for him to continue dominating Smithville politics. His daughter, Ashlee, has just been elected the new Mayor of Smithville! At the same time Ashlee will be able to continue her climb upwards in the culinary field seeing how she is mayor in name only. JS has found a way to not really retire.

Ashlee Becomes An Adult

Ashlee required some therapy in order to adjust to the sudden onset of adulthood.

James and Topaz Become Grandparents

Topaz and James are thrilled when Stephen adopts a son, Avril.

James Smith Resists Forced Retirement

Nearing retirement age James considers not running for even another term as mayor. In his younger years he benefitted from the requirement that all Smithville citizens must retire upon reaching elderhood. He now understands why so many talented, intelligent elders well skilled in thier career field have packed up and moved rather accept forced retirement. James is in not at all willing to give up his career in politics. Should he and Topaz leave Smithville?

Ashlee Keeps Her Ties To OldTown

Ashlee is relieved when her parents change thier minds about sending her to private boarding school allowing her to maintain ties to OldTown. And then they further surprise her by withdrawing thier insistance that she attend college. She is even permitted to take on a part time job first as a dishwasher and then as a drive through clerk. Ashlee is glad to grab an early foothold in the culinary career track. Her awareness that her parents reasons are political does not concern Ashlee. After highschool graduation Ashlee will attend the newly opened Smithville Community College which is open to all adults of any age.

This photo on the front page of the Smithville Daily News showing Mayor J. Smith and his family moving into the Mayor's Mansion convinced Topaz that they all need a complete wardrobe make over. AND..the yellow striped wallpaper dominating the mansion's interior MUST GO!!

Ashlee Smith suffers mixed emotions. She loves the idea of perhaps living in the posh Mayor's Mansion and hates the idea of being seperated from her friends by attending a private high school.

This photo of Topaz appeared in the Smithville Daily News paper in a favorable article about the possibility of James Smith being elected mayor.

James tracks election results on his computer.....

James assures regulars at the Community Cafeteria that a vote for him is a vote for better times in Smithville.

James visits the Community Cafeteria, a place where Sims in need can always find a free meal.

A burglary at the Smith home brings home to James that crime is becoming more of a problem in this part of Smithville and fuels his and Topaz's determination to move to the new, posh part of town. However, to do so is more than just a matter of finances. This house needs to be kept occupied by Smiths. There is a good reason for this. It's just good politics.

James makes a point of being out front of the Smith home which happens to be where the school bus stop is. He needs to meet and greet as many OldTown Sims as possible. This is the most densely populated section of Smithville and JS (as he is affectionately called) needs all the votes he can muster up. It also helps to be seen as a devoted parent (which he is). Ashlee, now a teen, finds this all a bit on the embarassing side.

While James campaigns for mayor of Smithville the Smith home is open to nieghbors needing to air concerns and hopes for the now rapidly growing community.

James Smith, backed by wealthy investors in the town, is running for mayor. He begins to visit community places, such as the Arts & Crafts Center to shake hands, kiss babies and generally let everyone see what a nice guy he is. Here he listens attentively to complaints about air polution from the coal power plant located smack dab in the middle of OldTown. James assures the man that when (not IF) he becomes may this will be at the top of his list of "things to look into." But, will he do more than just "look into" things?

Grocery Shopping In Smithville

Topaz Smith at the check out counter in the Super Duper Super Market. She prefers it to the older, small Country Store.

Super Duper Super Market

The Super Duper Super Market is located in Old Town next to Smithville Lofts and is one of the community lots I created for my shopping towns.

Posh Area Of Smithville

The posh (High Wealth) section of Smithville was set up ahead of the shopping district and has not yet been populated. The homes offered for sale her look out on a lovely wooded area. A nearby "dead end" lane has also been set aside for posh homes or apartments. Medium wealth homes are going up nearby. The residential areas are kept as seperate as possible from the commercial area - except for the low income area where a few commercial lots are found.

Smithville Shopping District

The center of Smithville known as the shopping district. (well, this shows most of the shopping district!)

Low Income Area Of Smithville

This is an over view of the area of Smithville known as "the old town" or Old Town - being where the town started out and grew from. Old Town is and will remain the "lower income" or "less affluent' part of town. However, the original founding family home must continue in the Smith Family. In addition to the small country grocery store. community cafeteria and small set of shops; Old Town now has a Super Duper Market and a lovely public park. The electronics/computer lab (which provides some adult job training) is nearby not far from the power plant. My low income or no income Sims can not afford to own cars and appreciate having these within easy walking distance. The current mayor (ME!!) has added bus stops and is planning to provide train transport as well for Sims who must commute to work. This will also bring more in more customers to the new shops and businesses growing up in the center of Smithville. This town has begun to flourish!

UPDATE POST ABOUT THE GROWING OF SMITHVILLE

Start Up Expenses For The Smith Family

James and Topaz arrived in Smithville with $31.000 to invest.

They Spent:

$14,846 (Bonny Bungalow a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath modest home)
Leaving $16.154

Spent:
$90.00 (Vegetable Garden)
$1,200 (Apple Tree)
?? (Fishing Pond)
Leaving $14,859

Spent:
$950 (Zenu Meditation Double Bed)
$450 (Caress of Teak Single Bed)
$450(Caress of Teak Single Bed)
$660 (EKTORP Sofa)
$80.00 (RETRATECH Economy Desk)
$80.00(RETRATECH Economy Desk)
$55 (Jules Visitors Chair)
$55 (Jules Visitors Chair)
$180 (Bruled Dart Board)
$250 (Craftmaster Book Nook)
SOLD: Ready Prep. Range for $400.00
$900 (Elegant ChefFlameBay Gas Range)
$50 (Fire Alarm)
$160 (Vika/Grevsta Table)
$100 each (4 Tea Party Teak Chairs)
$400 (Lady Bug Loft)
$150 (Compost Bin)
$130 (10 Day lilies)
$275 (EastSideBay Shade Tree)
$29 (KRABB Mirror)
$65 (Light Effects Ceiling Lamp)
$65 (Light Effects Ceiling Lamp)
$25 (Basically Bare Bulb)
$350 (Independent Expressions Easel)
$350 (Independent Expressions Easel)
$375 (Foriegn Flavor Dresser)
Leaving: $7,725 Funds Remaining

Topaz with adopted daughter, Ashlee.

The Original Smith Family Home

The Smith Founding Family home set up according to the guidlines. The home must always be occupied by at least two founding family members or descendents. Smiths may move out "lock, stock and barrell" taking thier bank account with them to reinvest in a more costly property, however, it must be immediately re-occupied. I will leave you to guess at the reason for this.

Meet the Smith Family; James, Topaz, daughter Cassandra and son Stephen; the founding family of Smithville.

Birds Eye View of Early Smithville

This is a "birds eye view" of Smithville as it currently exists. The house in the lower left area (with a fishing pond) is the founding family's home (Bonny Bungalow); occupied by James, Topaz and daughter Ashlee. Across the street sit the two small homes (Cozy Co-Op) belonging to Cassandra and Stephen. The white, rectangular house with the blue roof is the Nickle & Dimed Lot which I downloaded from the Sims2 Exchange to be able to also play that challenge in Smithville. The N&D challenge is played according to the rules set forth in the game challenge forum for this particular challenge. At the same time, the rest of Smithville is played according to the Founding Family guidelines.

While the founding family may either build or purchase a pre-made home; all other homes must be chosen form those supplied by the game. (I have all but one of the add ons).

These first homes need to cost under $20,000. And the pre-made apartment chosen ( if you have Apartment Life) needs to offer low rents.

The homes I selected are:
Cozy Co-Op ($13,410)
Small Home ($15,730)
Tiny House ($14,922)
Just Right ($13,575)
(It is a real help when the home happens to be at least partly furnished)

City Center Lofts (rental rates are $904 - $1,900)
Main Street Mobile Homes ($842 - $1,376)

The Founding Of Smithville

Smithville is a very small, fledgling community and is a sub-neighborhood of Desiderata (the community that comes with Free Time). Because the Smith family are the first to establish a home here the new town is named in their honor.

James and Topaz Smith arrived with a teen-aged son and daughter; and with $31,000 to invest. After purchasing a Bonny Bungalow, modestly landscaping and furnishing it the Smiths were left with $7,725 . Although there was as yet no financial pressure to do so James straight-away accepted a job in local politics. Jennifer was content to be a homemaker. Their children, Cassandra and Stephen, helped with household chores, studied and kept up with homework while still finding time to simply have fun. Their favorite activity being painting; which they preferred to playing darts.

Cassandra and Stephen competed with one another and were quite proud when they both earned college scholarships.

Meanwhile their father was quickly moving upwards towards his goal of becoming mayor of Smithville and their mother became an accomplished cook.

James and Topaz knew how important a good education can be when it comes to finding a job and advancing in any career field. The day that their young adult children left to attend Sim State University was one of the most important in their lives. Therefor, the parents were greatly disappointed when their shy son and daughter suffered such severe home sickness that they packed up and returned home.

James and Topaz had, in the meantime, refilled their empty nest with the adoption of a little girl.

Cassandra and Stephen returned home to find their room had been made over for Ashlee causing them to feel "shoved out of the nest" into homes of their own. They chose to remain in Smithville believing that their father's standing in the small community will be of help to them.

Cassandra and Stephen moved each moved into a small home of their own just "a stone's throw" from their parents and little sister.

Just after Stephen and Cassandra settled into their modest homes one other family, a single father with two young children, arrived giving the community a small population boost.

GUIDELINES FOR A FOUNDING FAMILY TOWN