First, sorry to see you go
But if it is time to move on, then enjoy the next page in the book of your life! After a long break and other MMOs get boring, or RL gets less hectic, UO might look tempting again.
Since you ARE packing up ahead of time, I would also like to suggest using EJ to your advantage. This post is long, sorry, but it seems like there might be a few people packing up so I want to be thorough so that it is easier for them to return, even just to visit.
EJ is nice for a stroll down memory lane or just to check in and see if the game has something new to get you interested again, or for a short vacation from other MMOs - or just life in general. It is a way to visit UO whenever the whim strikes to see old friends, explore changes to UO, or go on a killing spree. A fully loaded account that converts to EJ would not be able to use the overflowing bank properly, or do much while weighed down with your items. Your main char would be kind of stuck unless you subscribed, and less able to explore. Also, there is always the risk of logging into a global or EM invasion, no matter how safe you think your logout area was.
You can always create an EJ later just to explore, but there are better options since you are actually planning your hibernation. You can create an army of EJ to store your items one backpack inventory and 20-count bank vault at a time. Or, you can subscribe a new account just for a month to load it up instead of your main. The Devs have said they are making a way to remove items from subbed bank boxes that become overflowing because they were downgraded to EJ, so in theory you would not need to resub that account to access those items later. Probably. Either rout would allow you to be able to casually dabble in UO as EJ on your main char, with all the account upgrades, skills, SS, stats, pets, etc. In both cases, you must wait 120 days before you can access either account without subscribing. Another option is to load up your main account that has full (and probably upgraded) bank storage, and set up a new EJ char with supplies from your main to be the one you play to check in on UO now and then. You can always take these back on your main if you subscribe again some day, but in the meantime you will have a playable character to enjoy once you level the skills.
Either way, here's some info on EJ limitations:
* EJ chars cannot own a house or use most locked down/secured house items (including containers) even if they are set to anyone, so
store blessed items that will function in your pack that you actually USE - dye tubs, seed box, ethy, runebooks, snowpile, etc. Give it your gold, your best blessed event spellbooks, blessed clothing, etc. (Things you can store in your pack without fear of theft or death.) Limit the bank to 20 of your non-blessed items that you USE - like a luck statue, etc. EJ can only add or remove ENTIRE stacks of items from the bank directly to and from their pack, so this means stacks of resources are limited in weight to what you can actually hold. They cannot withdraw only a portion of a stack.
* EJ cannot use com deeds or BOD books, so do not bother storing these things unless you are prepared to have a subscribed friend help you with them. Since PS, alacrtiy, etc books and jewelry box do not function in pack or bank, do not bother to store that either.
* EJ cannot place a ship, but they can use one if a subscriber puts it in the water an gives them access. If you are setting up your main account as EJ, you can place a ship before the account closes and keep it refreshed with an EJ (needs High Seas to board it if you place a galleon), or have a friend maintain it. If you or they later forget and it decays, well you are no worse off than if you hadn't tried (except some gold).
* EJ can use pack animals, but like everyone else, the animal will NOT log out with them if is loaded. EJ can NOT mount a loaded pack beetle (though they can use it to carry things, and mount it once it is empty again.) If your subscribed account goes human/elf and loads up a beetle, stay on it if you visit later as EJ! You will not be able to re-mount.
* EJ with the correct account upgrade can use the NM stalls to buy/sell resources, or just store them. They cannot use com deeds, but that just means they need to make a friend. I do not know for sure what happens to a paid up NM stall when a subscribed account goes dormant, but I think it remains. Confirm that first somewhere if you can, but it might be an option. Make sure your auto renew bid amount is REALLY high.
For me, the limits of EJ create a game lifestyle where you are not addicted to consumption and possessions, and truly love and use every single one of the items that you DO have. This is great concept IRL also imo. /soapbox. Whatever you do, I wish you the best of luck wherever life takes you now.
