I took a hiatus for 6 years and just rejoined the Neopets community about 2 months ago. The biggest change I find is that the trades and auctions are very quiet. Like...tumbleweed rolling away quiet, especially after 9pm NST. I remember when I played back in the early 2000's, I would procrastinate going to bed just to browse the trade lots, which is always very active! I had a life during that 6-year hiatus, but as soon as I started playing again, NST becomes my natural biological clock, hahaha
I check neopets atleast once every two days for about 2 hours, I don't spend my life around it. It has and will make me money in the future so why not. But I also have a girlfriend, job, social life and many other hobbies besides being on the computer.
When the game was in its peak, I was playing in all of my free time. I would legit sync my bathroom breaks for improbable times for restocks lol. Each time I find myself coming back to the game, I see myself caring less and less, but still enjoy some of the mindless escape. Nearly all of the people that I played with no longer play--my generation are entering our 30s and while there is nothing wrong with still playing at that age, most have moved on. These days, my life pretty much revolves around my job as a teacher--I teach in a low-income area, so I tend to spend a lot of free time with my kids outside of school and taking them on trips/hanging with them. When I am home, I have my cat and husband--my life has become increasingly more low-key. I am a naturally antisocial person by nature, so I try to keep an eye on it and get myself to do shit if I end up becoming too much of a recluse.
I'm only just starting to get back in, otherwise I spend more time on other sites and games and occasionally my job pfft.
A lotta time spent on discord calls and watching stuff with my friends too.
Was really into back in the day, but lost my account (maybe it got deleted or i forgot the user/pass), so i made a new one a few years ago. Currently just checking in once a day,