Do You Wander in Second Life?

To wander is to be alive.

Roman Payne   

As my three loyal readers know, I’m an explorer and wanderer in Second Life (SL).

In other words, I’m a wanderer.

To quote one of my favorite writers, J. R. R. Tolkien, “Not all those who wander are lost.” 

(Significant Other looks doubtful.)

I wander inworld because my meanderings in Real Life (RL) were curtailed a while back. 

(Significant Other smiles appreciatively.  Occasionally, I come through!)

But, what about you?

Do you wander in SL?

(I’m talking about meaningful wandering not simply getting lost inworld.)

Or, do you tend to stay in one place?

Not that there’s anything wrong with that!  (Another future story here!)

If you do wander then why?

Are you like me looking for new places, new friends, and new experiences inworld? 

Where do you wander?

Anyplace that happens to come along or is there a method to your journey?

How do you wander?

Alone, with friends, engaging with the locals, or just lurking in the shadows?

Is there a purpose to your journey, or are you like Jack Kerouac in On the Road, just answering the call of the open road? 

Will your journey ever end?

Are you looking for something, someplace, or someone?

Will you simply leave SL never to be seen again?

Will you leave a trail of friends with memories of you behind?

Me, I enjoy wandering across the Grid!

I enjoy blogging about my journeys there. 

Yet, while still a wanderer at heart, I find myself with friends and places that I return to from time to time. 

I’m not too predictable and RL adds its own dynamic.  

So, what about you?

Please send me your thoughts and I’ll either write about them or maybe join you on part of your journey! 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life  please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

What’s a Good Time in Second Life?

Good times are a reminder and a reward for dealing with the difficult and challenging times we all go through. The trick is to celebrate the good times in advance of the difficult times. Always remember, good times await you after the difficult times pass….

 James A. Murphy

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my life in Second Life (SL).

I’ve wondered about its purpose, about being lost inworld, and thought about the good inworld among other things. 

Some of these thoughts were a little heavy (Significant Other says, “A little?”) which got me thinking about how I enjoy myself inworld.  (Come to think of it, even L’il Sis said recently that I’ve been thinking some deep thoughts lately.  I think she was actually surprised.)

All this led to the premise of this story, “What’s a good time in SL?”

Of course, the answer varies depending on whom you ask.

(As you’ve probably guessed, I took philosophy for my electives at university.)

What constitutes a good time inworld is just as varied as our purposes.

Some enjoy social or recreational activities.  Others educational or crafts.  While others are here to make a profit.  (Haven’t met too many of them.)  Some seek competition.  And, of course, no list of good times in SL without romance and sex.  (My BDSM friends fall into this category.) The list is countless.

Probably just about the only good time activity that can’t do inworld but can in Real Life (RL) is drink.  (I’m sure someone is now going to correct me on this one.)

You’re probably asking yourselves now, what do I call a good time in SL?

(Yes, I do have them.)

For me, good times inworld are all about new places, new friends, and new experiences.

I’m a nomad inworld.  (Puts a whole new twist on the idea of a digital nomad, eh?)   

The thrill of the open road and what’s around the next bend is my idea of a good time

in SL.  (Significant Other hums Born to be Wild in the background.)

We all come inworld for different reasons. 

Yes, we all have different purposes inworld.  But, somewhere along the way, we having a good time.

What’s your idea of a good time?

(Sorry L’il Sis, torturing me doesn’t count!)

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

Are You Lost in Second Life?

Not all those who wander are lost. 

J. R. R. Tolkien

Sometimes, I have time on my hands. 

(Significant Other thinks this can be dangerous, very dangerous.)

Sometimes, I use this time to think Big Thoughts about Second Life (SL).

(Significant Other says at least this keeps me off the streets in Real Life (RL).)

Lately, one of these has been bothering me.

The Big Thought that’s been bothering me is whether or not you can be lost in SL?

Being lost, whether in SL or RL, can have different meanings for different people.

Maybe you can’t figure out where you are or how you got there.

Maybe you can’t figure out how to do anything at all.

Or, perhaps, you can’t even figure out why you’re even there at all!

Let’s talk a little more about being lost inworld.

What might the symptoms be? 

There’s feeling overwhelmed, not being sure what to do next, or just a feeling of total helplessness. 

(Significant Other says being lost in a car with me in RL can induce all of these feelings simultaneously.)

How can this happen in a virtual world like SL?

Is SL just a rabbit hole that one falls through?

Is being lost just a consequence of switching realities from RL to SL?

Or, perhaps, my favorite here, just inadequate user documentation to help guide the hordes of newcomers to SL, many of whom leave shortly in frustration. 

Can anything be done about these feelings of being lost in SL?

Maybe a few things…

Like just sticking it out or…

Soliciting help from others who have managed to make the cut…

Or, simply quitting.  (I personally don’t like this option.)

Sometimes, I wonder if being lost inworld is simply part of the maturity process for those brave to enter SL. 

Maybe it’s just Darwinian selection.  (Although, that might be more appropriate for World of Warcraft.) 

Or, just possibly, like anything that’s worthwhile doing, it’s just a matter of staying the

course and coming out on the other side!

What are your thoughts about being lost in SL?

I’d be happy to hear and I if I get enough I’ll write a follow-piece!

Look forward to hearing from you! 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!