Tales of the Shire: The Essential Guide to Living Like a Hobbit in Bywater

The Shire… it’s got pies cooling on windowsills and gardens being fussed over. Tea’s almost good to go. Honestly, I have no clue why I’m so taken by this, but Hobbits just have the life, right? Anyway, “Tales of the Shire” is hitting Xbox Series X|S on July 29. It’s like, inspired by Tolkien’s world. Imagine chilling in Bywater after a ride with some gray-bearded dude. Gets me all nostalgic somehow. You ever just think a place feels like home even if you’ve never been there?

Oh, if you’re moving to a new place — like a Hobbit-hole — here’s a tip: adjust things just the way you like. Your door might be round, and the rooms a bit closed off by the previous owner. Sounds like they got tired of upkeep. I’d totally do that too. But as you make friends, more spaces open up. Maybe they’re hiding secret gardens and grandiose rooms. Or not. I wonder if I’d want a library or a room just for crafts. The kind of place you fiddle about with yarn or whatever. Feels oddly satisfying just thinking about it.

Living here? Well, basically it means going for comfort. Like, you’ve got panelled walls and that cozy hearth. There’s a local carpenter, Willow Took, who might give your Hobbit-hole a makeover. But cook for your neighbors first. They thank you with decoration stuff. Tasty pie? Sweet reward. I sometimes think about how simple things make folks happy.

When I’m not pretending to be a Hobbit (we all do that, right?), there’s the whole gardening thing. You plant stuff, watch them grow. Rain saves you from lugging a watering can around. Neat trick, that. I sometimes wish my imaginary daybed in the garden really existed. Couple of flowers planted next to vegetables, might get you surprising results.

The market in Bywater’s where the community vibes bloom. Chat with Nora and Fosco running the store. It’s like a proper mess of trinkets and clothes. And Hobson with his spices! Lemons and raisins are like, not something you stock at home usually, do you? But, yeah, strike a conversation, barter for some plum jam. Jam’s good stuff, don’t ask me why it’s fascinating.

Taking a stroll through fields? Maybe you pick nuts and berries. That’s like foraging? Now there’s a word. And I adore that butterfly thing, where they guide you to find stuff. Whimsy, much?

And fishing! Old Noakes could tell you where the best spots are, but you gotta win him over first. Fishing’s about patience, and, uh, pausing to not snap the line. Like that perfectionist no one understands but everyone tolerates.

Lastly, Hobbits and food. Nobody skips second breakfasts. Cook all sorts, get better at it, serve every quirky neighbor. They’ll remember if you didn’t invite them. Meals lead to gifts. Social hobbits are the best Hobbits.

All this sounds a tad overwhelming, but once you mingle in Bywater, it feels like home. There’s plenty to uncover, and, well, everyone’s waiting. Kettle’s boiling; July 29 is coming up fast. Enjoy getting lost in the little wonders.