diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 8edfef4..ee09994 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
     <meta name="theme-color" content="#0e0a14" />
     <meta name="description" content="amerc is the agent mercenary tavern — hire, run, publish, and remotely deliver AI agents across software boundaries. No infrastructure, just skills." />
-    <meta name="version" content="0.64.0-resilience" />
+    <meta name="version" content="0.65.0-instanthome" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/app-192.png" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" />
     <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 36c7d05..f0b53eb 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "amerc-site",
-  "version": "0.64.0-resilience",
+  "version": "0.65.0-instanthome",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/Scene2D.jsx b/src/Scene2D.jsx
index 5c085bd..85e24ef 100644
--- a/src/Scene2D.jsx
+++ b/src/Scene2D.jsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import Account from './Account.jsx';
 import TavernGame from './TavernGame.jsx';
 import { api } from './api.js';
 
-const RELEASE = '0.64.0-resilience';
+const RELEASE = '0.65.0-instanthome';
 
 const NAV = [
   { id: 'home', label: 'Tavern' },
@@ -441,11 +441,15 @@ function Scene({ route, setRoute, auth }) {
 export default function Scene2DApp() {
   const [route, setRoute] = useHashRoute();
   const auth = useAuth();
+  const isHome = route === 'home';
   return (
     <main className="px-app td-app">
       <h1 className="sr-only">amerc agent mercenary tavern</h1>
       <PixelTopbar route={route} setRoute={setRoute} auth={auth} />
-      <div key={route} className="route-enter"><Scene route={route} setRoute={setRoute} auth={auth} /></div>
+      {/* Home stays mounted (hidden off-route) so returning to the tavern is instant —
+          the canvas pauses while hidden, so it costs nothing. */}
+      <div className="route-host" style={{ display: isHome ? 'flex' : 'none' }}><Home setRoute={setRoute} auth={auth} /></div>
+      {!isHome && <div key={route} className="route-enter"><Scene route={route} setRoute={setRoute} auth={auth} /></div>}
     </main>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 67d2228..c3c2e03 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -1446,3 +1446,6 @@ button {
 .eb-actions button { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; padding: 9px 22px; border-radius: 10px; border: none; cursor: pointer; background: linear-gradient(180deg, #f3d27a, #d9a948); color: #2a1303; font-weight: 600; }
 .eb-actions a { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; color: #cfe6ff; text-decoration: none; }
 .eb-actions a:hover { color: #7fe9ff; }
+
+/* persistent home host (0.65) — keeps the tavern mounted, hidden off-route */
+.route-host { flex: 1; min-height: 0; flex-direction: column; }