Six in SL

Dulcie's with her 6th rez day cake at Rainbow Gardens

On March 6, I celebrated my 6th rez day in Second Life.  That's a long time to be a resident of a virtual world.  I started as a reporter for the Metaverse Messenger Newspaper and then began writing articles about the librarian's activities in SL.  I was also Associate Publisher and then Publisher of Rezlibris, an online magazine for librarians. Unfortunately, that publication is no longer being produced.  I also volunteered at Mystery Manor for a short time.  I created and opened the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center after my real life cat passed away.  The memorial center will be celebrating its 5th anniversary this April.

Dulcie as Metaverse Messenger Writer

Dulcie at Rainbow Gardens opening, April 2008

I've lived on Renaissance Island, Info Island, Seahorse Isle, and Friends Island.  I've had a multitude of homes and a few skyboxes.  Currently, I spend less time in SL but am still active with my work at Rainbow Gardens.  I've seen a lot of changes, some good and some bad.  The loss of the education discount saw the exodus of many educators and librarians. 
The Community Virtual Library had to give up several islands including its first, Info Island.  They are now relocating to Imagination Island and hoping to scale things back but still retain the educational exhibits and fun events within their community by sharing space. 
Different viewers were introduced as alternatives to the SL viewer which many people find challenging.  Clothing, skin, and other avatar appearance options as well as environmental affects to make the virtual world even more graphically appealing are now available.  Although many sims close, new ones open all the time.  The Destination Guide and SL events calendar are always full of places to go and things to do.  There have been several attempts to make newcomers adjust to the learning curve inworld, although Linden Labs continues its history of minimal support while creating new projects beyond SL.

Dulcie with staff members of RezLibris Magazine

Dulcie with SING friends on Seahorse Isle

So I celebrate 6 years, the good and the bad.  I look forward to the changes that are always a part of SL, as it is of RL.  Will I stay another 6 years?  Will SL still be around?  No one knows.  Life is short and virtual worlds come and go.  We need to enjoy them while they last, although, most importantly, we need to focus on the reasons we are there in the first place - to meet people.  After all, a virtual world is nothing without real people.  If I stay another year or six, it's because of all the great members of my Rainbow Gardens group, the volunteers and the performers, who have been so supportive since we opened five years ago and continue to contribute toward the continuation of the memorial center.  It is also because of the friends I've met in SL -- the SING group and other "virtual" librarians.   

Cheers to my rez day, and thanks to everyone who wished me a happy one.