In some games, I NPC'd a bit myself, to simulate downtime in the adventure (like pacing the story along at the rate it would happen IRL at times); so to put it, in DF Adventure mode with the latest versions, I can claim a house, wander about, and eventually have adventure call out to me, or 'be dared' by a local to take on something, and boom, adventure.
Hell, even simulate having some menial task in game, like moving boulders from a quarry, and sending them to a mason, and all of a sudden, a megabeast you didn't spot before decides to have some fun, and you have to MacGuyver your way out of the situation with your everyday items; unless you were a hero previously, and decided to run for your stash of better combat gear other than civilian items.
"Sorry I'm late, but an ogre decided to claim our quarry as his home. Fortunately, it didn't realize there was a giant cave spider living deeper inside it. I think it'll settle itself by tomorrow, provided the spider doesn't get to him first."
EDIT:
Other cases can also involve doing some looting missions for other members around town. Like scoping out local regions for useless adventure-level crap, but not so much at a civilian-level (plates, cups, cans, food, etc. and sell them to the local shops and those who need them (scrap for the maintainence guy). I mean, some of the locals might need replacement items every once in awhile while there aren't any fully-functioning factories and such that used to mass-produce them.
Some cases might be better than others; like helping out the ghouls of Necropolis during your stay over there, seeing as they tend to get the short end of the stick; be their supplier on a good-will mission.