How Much Planning Goes Into Your Gameplay?

With a new game, I spend a few days setting up all my neighborhoods and families, careers etc., remodeling lots, remaking Sims etc. And then I just play on rotation however I feel. I'm always imagining new stories as I play, remodeling homes, etc. I get totally lost in the gameplay. I definitely find I love my game more after spending time to set everything up. Even just visiting other Sims houses that are decorated is more fun then if they only have the auto-placed decorations. I add more activities to commercial lots etc. And I get to know everyone in my game since I spent time customizing them. I make sure I have Sims in each career track, families of different sizes, some single Sims, some with pets, etc. I build a lot of variety so I always have lots of choice. I have some favorite families, but I love all the Sims so don't really miss them if I switch to play someone different. I have fun with lots of variety and choice and just go with whatever I feel like playing in that moment.