Another Era

Times change, the wheel turns, and sometimes we end up back where we started.  About 10 months ago, I decided I needed a break from all things virtual.  There were three factors that drove that choice.  I have some real life health concerns that needed my attention; There's a family and home I needed to give some focus.  And there was a need to show myself that I could still do in the solid world, the one with air to breathe and water that's wet, at least some of what I had started to do exclusively in the virtual sphere.  I needed to know that I've still got it.  I spent those 10 months healthifying (as much as I could be healthified), strengthening connections in my community, attending live concerts, visiting museums, getting my home more tidy than it's been in a while.  I also joined a church choir and am about to join the church.  I started singing solos for church services and have begun the search for other musical opportunities in my community.

Nine months after I started my long break, I missed my friends and activities inworld.  I missed singing concerts I might never get to do in real life again.  I missed chatting with some cherished friends.  I missed going to events I cannot attend daily in the solid world.  I missed dancing and writing and reading with friends.  Mostly, I missed the creative outlet that VWs offer.  That acknowledged, I also had to acknowledge that I have, from time to time, forgotten the cardinal rule of virtual worlds:  FIRST LIFE COMES FIRST. 

I really want to go back and make good use of the resources available to me in virtual worlds, but I also have to be vigilant about prioritizing first life.  In some ways, our real bodies and the people (and pets)  in our first lives make sure we do that, but it's all too easy to have so much fun inworld that we forget how to do it offline.  During my time out of virtual worlds, I was able to reconsider the way I use them.  Bottom line, I do get a lot out of the time, energy, creativity, and money I spend in Second Life and other virtual places.  I need the things I get from my virtual lives, so I am going back with a plan. 

For better or worse, I will be spending almost all of the time I have for virtuality in Second Life to the exclusion of other worlds.  I believe in the Opensim philosophy.  I'm a socialist after all, so of course I do.  But I also deal in the reality that OS just hasn't come far enough fast enough.  I've given it years of my virtual existence but it has never become what it would need to become for me to consider it again as a virtual home base.  Maybe, in a future essay, I'll talk about what I see as OS' shortcomings SL's strengths, but, really, I think we all already know what I would say. 

I am back in Second Life as the chatelaine of Belle Demeure, a center for the arts and literature, currently under construction.  Thus far, the manse, stables, and main garden are built, furnished and open to the public.  The manse includes a theater for The JezeBelles dancers (under the direction of my alt, Jezebel Magic), a recital hall where I will be giving occasional concerts and poetry readings, the writers' resource center, a back patio cafe for less formal performances, and La Galerie Du Salon, in which virtual sculptor is displayed.  Still under construction are the Shakespeare Circle, Poesy Gallery, and the Frostbite-Thane Gallery. 

Once the build is done (which will take as long as it takes), I'll be approaching activities in SL somewhat differently than I have in the past.  Yes, I'll be doing most of the things I always have, but I will try hard not to spread myself so thin that it all becomes a burden.  Virtual worlds should be fun and activities in them should help to relieve first life stress.  I plan to make sure that works for me. 

As I mentioned above, I'll be performing some in SL. vocal recitals, spoken word events, variety shows with the Belles.  Right now, the only things I have scheduled are a recital of winter songs in December and participation, this Saturday, in The Empire of Sparta's Open-Microphone poetry writing Contest on the topic of "Ancient Greek History and Mythology".

I also plan to attend at least a couple of events inworld each week.  There are some wonderful classical music, nightclub, and literary events I enjoy. I'll make those a priority in my VW schedule. 

I hope you'll come to see me in SL or drop me a note here.  You can also find me on FB.  Join in the virtual fun with me!