Want to see if this game is right for me to start

I'm about to have another baby and I'm looking for something cozy, but also where I can hop on and contribute towards the group. I just want to hop on, do some farming, or fishing, or mining, or whatever, toss it to my guild, then log off.

While the steam description of the game sounds like this game could work for me, a friend warned me that there are several materials required, even for those non-battle professions in PVP only zones and if I die, I lose everything on me. Is there a way to avoid the PvP in this game or is it mandatory?