Where does time go when we are not watching it...

A zillion things have happen to me as I continue to explore the world of Second Life Can't believe it has been so long since last I posted here... but perhaps over the next while we will get into a rythm. Where to begin.. perhaps best to post bits and pieces of the last many happenings as separate posts.. yes that's a good idea. Was a challenge to dredge up my login to even access the blog it has been so long. Still laughing over that one...

Time Races On

So much time has passed. With so much activity in SL and RL and no record of it. This last 6 months has seen a transition of Alaric Bellman in many ways. The sale of my home in Marthas Vineyard (SL) resulted in a very nice profit and a fairly large bank account in SL. For some time I had felt the "community" unity, cohesiveness, continuity, and robustness had been flagging. With so many changes in ownership, neighbours, events, et al, it felt like the right time to move on. Had held off for a while to see if the Sim Development might change once again in a stronger positive way. But never came to fruit. So became a homeless wanderer.

Discovered the "Elven Sims" in my travels, and saw a community that was "home" for me. Truly capturing the qualities, activities, and people that I would like to associate with. You can read about the Elven Sims in the September 18 issue of the Metaverse Messenger [truly a remarkable development by remarkable people.. but more on that another time]. Rented a cottage by the ocean in The Faery Crossing, joined the Elf Circle, started meeting builders in ElvenMoor sandbox, and was inspired by Xinfinitum, a regular there to begin the builders journey. Enjoyed many days of dancing, drumming, and meeting the community in the Drum circle at ElvenGlen. Explored the area thoroughly.

At that time went through a metamorphis from human to "Big Cat"... bought a luxwood furry avi, wings, clothes, and began to explore myself in SL. Slowly a transition occurred. As I came to know more people in the Elven Realms and saw where I would like to live, I waited patiently knowing that eventually an opportunity would afford itself. And it did. By this time I had transitioned to Elf completely (more human than elf I admit.. but all the trappings of elfdom). I discovered Mystical Mastery and the incredible "Sages" that provide building lessons there. Delved deeper into the theories behind bending prims till they break. Made many choice friends, and enjoyed continued long lasting friendships with others.

Had an awakening moment when I finally decided I would spend some of my bank account to buy new shape, skin, hair, clothes, etc.. and explore that side of SL. Wasn't important to me before, still not that important. Believe what's inside is more important than outside.. but had the money to do it. Was an adventure in its own right. Finally found all that came together to make me as I appear today in SL.

I downsized the Rockit Room.. sold of two lots that I didn't need. And considered closing the Gallery. However, through the encouragement of forever friends, Tinah Ahn, Judy Quaggy, and Hadainalga, we moved the entire Gallery to a new location in Judy and Hada's new Sim. What a rebirth and rejuvenation that was. Truly a beautiful location, and great synergy among us all.

Today, I live in Wildefleur Meade in The Faery Crossing. Stop by sometime to the Wildefleur Meade Manor House and visit. Visitors are always welcome. I bend prims in my workroom above the meadow, and enjoy amazing friends, neighbours, colleagues, partners, and forever friends as I now work on new builds, creations, designs. At the Gallery's old location in Cairnlow, I now display and sell my crafts. Slowly but surely, networks are growing, partnerships develop, and marketing opportunities for my works increase. Never enough time in SL to do all I want.. but slow growth is understood, and continued growth is exciting.

Certainly SL is a series of transitions: personally, professionally, economically. So much time passed, time races on....

Musings on Second Life

It is slowly coming to my attention that Second Life is just that a second life. One can approach SL as a diversionary pass time much life golf or sports or any activity that provides recreation and fun to break from the pressures and stresses of daily real world life. However, Second Life has the capacity to draw one in, to experience a "second persona", an immersion into the metaverse: activities, creativities, business, friends, even relationships. And all of these take time.

But how does one allot the fixed time one has. One cannot devote attention to two lives with only 24 hours for life, and Second Life has the capacity to draw one inside a second life that requires time to maintain.

Now some would argue that Second Life is not a second life, it is merely a place to explore... learn a few things... do a few things.. etc.... but I have experienced first hand the sense of community that develops within an area, be it at my beach house in Marthas Vineyard and the New England themed East End Properties, or at my dance club Laughter's and its surrounding neighbourhood.

You visit with neighbours over the fence, party with them, travel with them, buy with them, help each other, share thoughts, ideas, common interests... hmmmm sounds like life doesn't it. Second Life provides social fantasy, roll playing, simulation, social interaction, all in a fairly highly accurate visual form.

I think many digital immigrants would not understand this. Digital natives, for whom social interactions are integrated with technologoy understand what I'm talking about though.

But back to my main thought... how does one apportion one's time to two lives? Is it possible that what is at one time an "interesting phenomena" to explore can suddenly become an integrated part of one's complete life? I think Second Life is a fantastic place for research into many of these questions. Then again I ponder the possibility that like all "pastimes" Second Life has the capacity to become a dominant experience in life. Like the person who plays golf constantly. Or the sports enthusiast that travels to sports venues to enjoy their pastime.

One thing I have noted is that Second Life has the capacity for interaction on a level never before seen in any digital medium. Would love to hear what other people think about this. Share your thoughts on how you view Second Life and how it integrates into your life experience.

Now I have to run.. after all... I have two lives to live... and very little time... wink.

Speaking of Firstland

Noted today that Second Life will no longer be making Firstland available. All land will now be at the whim of the market. I'm a firm believer that a plot of land 512 sq meters should be automatically given to every Premium account. But that is not what will be for the next while... we will see land prices increase more I think as speculators and sharks continue their buying frenzies.

What does that mean for the rest of us... higher land prices, more renters and for a longer period of time as people wait to see what is happening with land prices, which will translate into more private sims developed with more rental units.

Laughter's Dance Club

So what do SL'ers do when they have explored, experienced, nested, built, scripted, and generally tried a lot of fun things "to do". Well, how about the creation of a business or fun location for other SL'ers.

As part of the experience of SL, I bought some firstland, in the firstland "gold rush". "Firstland" is 512 $L for 512 sq meters of land... a very simple start but a lot of fun. Bought some firstland for the experience and what an experience that was. Expanded that first land to 1024 sq meters and built a log home on it.. added a skyhome... (looking for a sky home.. check out Blue Sky Rentals.. they sell them)... always something fun to do in SL.

The long and the short of it... was a decision to put together a small cozy dance club... so was born Laughter's Dance Club. Alaric Bellman is proud to be the owner of this fun place to hang out, dance, and get to know others. I'll have to share more insightful info on the process and experience of this undertaking. But that's for another time.

East End Properties - New England in Second Life

Almost 5 months ago I bought property in Marthas Vineyard. It was an uncertainty at the time as I was extremely new to SL at the time, and had no idea how to buy property at all... what was the process, how do you ensure the money transacts and the property transfers etc etc. (A landless newbie I was back then). I had met Carmelita (she's a hostess at PHAT's Jazz lounge now). What a wonderful person. She shared her location with me... showed me some of the sights around the developing sims at that time, and introduced me to her good friend and neighbour Lehuna. It was in the quiet conversation on Lehuna's dock under the gazebo, that I realized how incredible an area I was visiting. Good people, good developments, good ambience, good everything. If anyone has done things right in developing a fantastic area in SL it is Barb Carson and Montecore Babcock of East End Properties.

They created with a vision an incredible immersive experience within a New England theme... sand, beach, beautiful homes, wonderful landscapes, open ocean areas, and sailing, surfing, boating, hot air ballooning. By developing with strong covenants, ensuring open space and water, a collage of activities, and developing a strong sense of community, these two people have created a "I want to live there" location in SL.

Not only did they create the experience, but the town site, the marina, the shops and boutiques, open air concert theatre, and casino are a true community experience for everyone. Accolades and hats off to two great visionaries who saw what SL could be.

Photo Shoot

Spent some time with Judy Quaggy working on a photoshoot today. Interesting challenges in SL.

1. Fine Camera control from the angle a person wants is a challenge to master. Having the means does not translate into speed of viewing movement. Certainly a fun challenge and will only become easier and easier as time progresses.
2. Lighting presents a challenge. But can be corrected for as well.
3. Composition of RL integrated with SL and SL integrated with RL is a lot of fun. Certainly leads one to consider where does RL and SL end and begin.. or do they blend in ways we don't understand yet.

Judy is a delight to work with. Extremely patient and very instructable.

Mainland vs Private Sims (estate land)

It is interesting that both of these types of land provide such a diverse experience.

Mainland
No covenants. You can do as you please. Of course that means that neighbours can do things that send you through the roof. But in a good area, neighbours will look out for each other quite well. It's nice to have the ability to do whatever you want though. Build however. I think mainland can be had inexpensively even beyond "firstland". But too much mainland is priced beyond reality. Everyone figures they get a land.. jack the price to the heaven's and wait for their sucker to come along.

I've noticed that some people put up the ugliest builds you could imagine, to drive others out, or to drive the value of their neighbours land down. I've also noticed that over time that all settles out. I've watched 3 different mainland regions as they have transitioned from first buyers, crazy building spree, building wars, sell offs and sell outs, amalgamations of land, and slowly settling down into the people who have a vision for what they want to do, or accomplish.

Mainland is eclectic... nothing in theme... totally a metaverse exploding and wonderful and fun to explore.


Private Sims (Estate Land)
Now here is where the world of haves and havenots demarkates. On this side is mainland. But over here is beauty, controls, themes, consistentcy. Not that all estate owners obey their own covenants. But good estate owners require property owners to adhere to the covenants they have created. For a real look at how incredible private sims can be, visit Nantucket and the 27 sims connected together in that area of the grid. You will be overwelmed by the incredible conistency, beauty, activities, strong sense of community. There are many more private developments like this. And more will develop over time.


Rent a sky box in the mean time, or a nice cabin... take your time... look around .. get a sense of what SL is for you.. and then take advantage of both mainland and private sims for the various purposes you undertake.

Second Life Real Estate

I've been tracking the realestate market for some time now in SL, and finding that there is a lot of fluctuation in it. The greatest observation I've made is that if people don't know the market they could be taken for so much money.

I purchased some "firstland" for the experience.. and what an experience. A crazy whirlwind of rushing around, people offering you exhorberant amounts of cash for what you just paid a few dollars for, that excitement and uncertainty.. should I buy this one or that one... and then the building craze as people go crazy building various objects, some very nice, some goofy, some plain ugly. Suddenly you find yourself next to someone who is building a rocket ship and you're building a cottage. Everyone is on top of everyone. 512 square meters is a very small plot of land you discover quickly. Sufficient.. but not when the neighbour is building a 30 meter high penis. There is little privacy. Slowly over time the area changes. Completely. More people buy other lots next to theirs, business develop (hope you don't have a house of ill repute go up next door.. if you are lucky you have a sharp business person who develops with neighbours in mind. Some people easy to get along with other not so.

Then there are the absent owners... people who can, saw, bought, and are never seen again.

And then the get rich quick people... those who prey upon the lack of knowledge of others in the realestate market. Like my neighbour who is selling a mainland property 512 sq meters for 24,000 $L. Totally laughable conisdering I bought some of the best private estate property for 18,000 $L and got 2500 sq meters. Or the one I saw today in a "dog patch" area for $100,000 L and only 2500 square meters. One of the nicest properties in the New England private estate went for $100,000 for 4400 square meters. Absolutley no comparison... if I had a word of advice to anyone in SL, it would be to rent for your first few months of life there... until you get a sense of what the realestate market is all about.

The growth of SL has had a serious impact on pricing. Linden has no time for developing mainland land... there have been no "firstland" sales for a long time (they are made available very very cheap), because Linden Labs cannot keep up to the growth demand for private estate sims. There is a two week waiting period at the present time. Word is that mainland land through firstland sales or auction will be available soon which will drive prices down again into a more reasonable level. Hold on to your large land holdings at your own risk I say at this time. I've seen lots of land for sale in the $8/sqmeter, and certainly $10-$14/sqmeter is not unusual.. what is crazy is the neighbour selling a lot with no potential for $45/sqmeter... watch out buyers.. the sharks are loose in SL.

Passage of Time

It has now been over 4 months since I was born in Second Life. Can that much time have passed. So many adventures not recorded. So many places visited. So many acquaintances. So many good friends made. Certainly it is time to begin to record some of these adventures and experience. Such as today, skydiving with Judy Quaggy at the log home in Cairnlow. Base jumping from the skyhome above at 300 meters. First for her, 1000th for me.

Or perhaps the concert in Nantucket that was a celebration of life for DJ one of my neighbours who passed away in RL. A wonderful gentleman, loved by all. His fun nature will be missed in the New England sims. On the eve of his passing, a wonderful concert organized by Carmelita Carillon (hostess at PHAT's and my next door neighbour) and pianist Heath Elvejhem (Heath Vercher). Two hours of fantastic music by Heath and Louis Valore ( Louis Landon), brought many a tear to the crowd in attendance. The concert was dedicated to DJ and was a benefit for a cherished SL resident and neighbour, Lehua Lamington, raising enough money to purchase a Mobility Scooter for her in RL. The New England sims have a wonderful community of caring people. Generosity and support in abundance.

Second Life Awakening

Born September 24, 2006 in Second Life. The result of an exploration of Second Life through the eyes of an educator.. seeking the educational capacity of Second Life... as part of the MDE663 course "emerging technologies in distance education", in the Masters of Distance Education program at Athabasca University.

I came, I saw, I liked, I stayed.... you just have to find the right area with the right people... hang in there.. there are some great locations to settle in Second Life.