There are a few things about winter I really enjoy: There’s no excuse not to make soup, spend dozy days inside binging a TV series, or dive into a long movie or book. What I like most about winter is the camaraderie we get from just how crappy it can be. Early morning shoveling among neighbors you rarely talk to, sharing disdain for something out of our control that bonds us together with “spiteglue” (patent pending).

This year, I’ve been diving into a video game that has grabbed my neck and continued to ring it out to dry: Rocket League. Explaining the game is very simple: It’s soccer, except the players are cars that have boost so they can fly and reach angles on the ball unheard of for a mortal man. Think Pong, but infinitely more complex and three-dimensional. Maybe it’s the fact that it gives me a chance to listen to music for an hour, or that I play with a group of good buddies while we unravel our days and lives in a safe space. It could also be the infinite skill ceiling the game provides that rewards talent and creativity. Before we know it the snow will be thawing, and we will return to the sun. Until then, I AM LOCKED IN the drivers seat waiting for my next game to begin.