I like to have one retail and one restaurant in every world (once I get EL the new community lots will probably also be a standard in each of my worlds). A community lot appropriate for every career (bank for business sims, criminal hangout for criminals, city hall for politicians, school for children and teens) and then use clubs to populate these lots with sims in those careers. I like to use lot traits more as neighbourhood/world traits, I have one lot trait used for every lot in the world, then another lot trait for every neighbourhood in the world, and then a final lot trait for each individual house/lot (once I get EL I will probably use the NAP's as an extention of this concept). I set up my calendar to have a much more elaborate set of Holidays (Summer Break, First day of School, Simnation Day, Spring Cleaning, Spooky Festival, etc.) I make sure all sims have a reputation and appropriate fame levels, and I give diplomas to sims where I feel is appropriate. I also have a standard set of items I like to have at each house, thermostat, umbrella rack, roomba vacuum, laundry, family board, decoration box, bike, game console, etc.