Hobby lot

A hobby lot is a secret lot in The Sims 2: FreeTime expansion that specializes in one of the hobbies. Increasing a Sim's enthusiasm in the hobby to level 5 will reward them with access to a special secret lot. An instructor, also known as iconic hobbyist, is present on each of the secret lots. He or she is an NPC with maximum enthusiasm in the lot's designated hobby and can be asked to instruct Sims in it.

Membership pass to the hobby lot is awarded by the instructor who owns it. The pass will show up in the Sim's memories. Townies may be created with level 5 enthusiasm in a hobby. If they are made playable, they will have access to that hobby's secret lot, but may not get a memory about receiving it. Also, children who reach level 5 enthusiasm in a hobby may gain access to that hobby's secret lot when they become teens, but do not always receive it. In the first version of FreeTime, the instructor would arrive and award membership even to toddlers, the instructor would walk into the house, and immediately leave, unable to greet the toddler.

While Sims cannot gain skill points and talent badges on normal community lots, they can gain them on hobby lots. Therefore, they make more effective gyms, libraries, studios, etc. than normal community lots. In addition to hobby-related items and activities, hobby lots will have bathrooms with toilet stalls, showers, and either dressers or changing booths (which can be used as dressers). They will also have dining areas with a grill. This enables Sims to replenish all of their motives on a hobby lot, except for Energy. Some hobby lots also contain items only normally available as career rewards.

Sims can also bring other people with them to secret hobby lots, even if they are not members there. A phone is available on every hobby lot to call a taxi or invite another Sim over. Hobby lots are also places where Dormies, Downtownies, and random selectable NPCs can visit outside their native areas. In the first FreeTime release, many kinds of people, which are normally not allowed to autonomously visit, could be encountered on hobby lots, such as Stylists, Nannies, and members of the current family. This resulted in erratic behavior.

The hobby instructor is randomly chosen from a predefined pool and will remain the same for a given neighborhood. Instructors are not encountered on other lot types, except if they are invited by the player or deliver a membership card for their lot. They have maximum enthusiasm in their chosen hobby and a plaque signifying excellence in the field. Becoming friends with an instructor will help to gain promotions in its associated careers.

Science: Aspirational Laboratories
The Aspirational Laboratories lets scientific Sims interact with other scientific Sims and gives access to a telescope, TraumaTime "Incision Precision" Surgical Training Station, a SimSanto Inc. Biotech Station, and ant farms.

Film and Literature: Desirable Discourse
The Desirable Discourse lets media minded Sims interact with other media minded Sims and gives access to a mini theatre for group movie viewing, computers for writing books, and bookcases for having book clubs.

Sports: Dreamy Fields
Dreamy Fields lets athletic Sims interact with other athletic Sims and gives access to soccer nets, basketball hoops, Execuputters, and Exerto punching bags.

Note: The changing booths in the bathrooms appear to be placed in a way that does not allow Sims to use them to change clothes, though the Plan Outfit interaction can still be used.

Games: Games of Glory
Games of Glory lets gamer Sims interact with other gamers, and gives access to pinball, pool, computers, video games, and chess for their gaming pleasure.

The patio in back of the lot has a dining area and a swimming pool.

Music and Dance: My Muse
My Muse lets musical Sims interact with other musical Sims and gives access to a variety of instruments, as well a DJ booth for dancing or mixing. The second floor is a ballet studio.

Note: In very rare cases, non-playable Sims visiting this lot will appear on the flat portion of the roof, where they will be trapped until you leave the lot.

Arts and Crafts: My Muse II
My Muse II lets artistic Sims interact with other artistic Sims and gives access to pottery wheels, easels, SIM series Drafting Tables, and sewing machines. The room with the drafting tables also has a Teeny Tykes Activity Table.

Note: The "Coloratura" corner shower in the men's restroom is placed in a way that makes it inaccessible. If told to use it, Sims will complain that the route is blocked.

Nature: Peerless Park
Peerless Park lets naturalistic Sims interact with other naturalistic Sims and gives access to a fishing pond, AquaGreen Hydroponic Gardens, a Carefree Koi Pond, and a beautiful park to catch bugs in.

There is a small ridge near the barbecue grills and outdoor dining tables. If the instructor or a visitor is initialized in just the wrong spot on that ridge, he or she can become both stuck and unreachable.

Fitness: Platinum Gym
Platinum Gym lets health-minded Sims interact with other health-minded Sims and gives access to a pool, exercise machines, and an Exerto Selfflog Obstacle Course.

Cuisine: Sue's Secret Kitchen
Sue's (Secret) Kitchen lets cuisine loving Sims interact with other cuisine loving Sims and gives access to a variety of kitchen utensils, a Schokolade 890 Chocolate Manufacturing Facility, and a cooking judge for cooking contests.

Tinkering: Will's Garage
Will's Garage lets mechanical Sim interact with other mechanical Sims and gives access to a variety of electronics to tinker with and a train set to play with.