Seeking Paradise

Wanderlust Lagoon

I've gone through a few houses since I last posted and in the process, I learned a few things about myself. The most prevalent lesson is: Sometimes you don't know what you want until you've tried everything else.

I loved my little white cottage, but after fiddling around with different island sizes (I now have a lifetime supply in my inventory,) waves and ginormous cliffs (to block the neighbor's day glow border marker,) I realized I wanted more water, less land. For that, I'd need a smaller house. I bought a boat house and a boat, but it was still just too big. I spend most of my time outside anyway. I didn't need that much house and the thoughts of buying furniture to fill it up made my stomach churn.

I hate buying furniture. That's an entire post in itself.

The bed I'd bought for the cottage wouldn't fit in the tiny attic of the boathouse, and after about a day, the constant use of the same basic texture for EVERY surface started to get on my nerves.

The Boathouse

I set out to find a nice little house, with few rooms. I don't have roommates or a partner. To be honest, I really don't even need a bedroom.

For now.

I wanted something on stilts or a treehouse that wouldn't take up much room.

Just because a builder says a house will fit on a 1024m doesn't mean it will, nor does it mean it's a good fit for what you're trying to do.

Lesson learned.

I found that I kept going back to Tiki huts and little tropical houses. There are three major builders that fit that description. The first I went to, I'd bought my little Gypsy wagon from and knew the animations were screwed up. I went back there, hoping that after time they'd fixed their problems, but nope. I ended up sitting on my head.

The next one had beautiful furnished houses, but their house rezzing area was a clusterfuck. It looked like someone had rezzed every house, some were turned upside down and on their side. Due to past experience, I wasn't buying another furnished house if I couldn't test the animations first. I went back a few times, hoping I'd find it cleared, but to no avail.

The third Tiki house builder had three areas for looking at houses. The first one had a big clump of bushes in the middle of the rez area, so you couldn't really tell what the hell you were looking at. In retrospect, I suppose the smart thing to do would have been to derender the bushes, but by then I was so annoyed, I guess I wasn't thinking straight.

But then? I noticed that the sign in front of the third clearing said "Islands." Some were houses on islands, houses built into caverns. I wouldn't have to keep fiddle farting around with island prims and landscaping. It was all included. I found a small house with a living room and a bedroom, fully furnished, on it's own island AND landscaped.

I was sold.

When I got it set up, I found a bonus cave hidden in one of the rocks on the foundation. The perfect space for my altar. Also, there were little butterflies already flying around the flowers on the rocks.

Setting up a new house meant I'd have to rearrange the landscape a bit. I've discovered that while I DESPISE big, flat privacy screens, I do enjoy my solitude. I didn't want to create an eyesore for my neighbors, yet I wanted a clearly defined border and somewhere to put a few plants.

I started with a cheap pack of rocks that I recolored to match the pitted lava rocks at my house's foundation, but that turned out to be... tacky.

While out looking at different parcels for sale, I happened upon some natural looking cliff faces that weren't too huge. I sought out the designer's store (they weren't on MP) and ended up buying those as well as some more natural looking waterfalls.

I may add more plants or some underwater landscaping, but as you can see by the first picture above, my perfect little 1024m lagoon is complete. There's plenty of outside room, privacy and lots of places for visitors to sit and chat by the fire. I think I'm happy now.

And the cave. I love the cave.

Feel free to drop me an IM for more information on the houses and landscaping in the photos. This isn't a sponsored post, nor do I want to upset anyone by posting negative opinions about their products.

~*~

Looking for your own little island paradise? I currently have a nice little 1024m water parcel for sale. 

The Bramant Island parcel is a quiet, 1024m square water lot. To the east and west are tasteful builds. To the south is a large vacant parcel, with a smaller one to the north. Just beyond the northeastern border is a protected waterway, perfect for boating. This serene, low-lag island is just L$4700. L$3900

See it inworld here:

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bramant/77/192/21/

When Neighbors Harsh Your Mellow

When I logged off the other night, I stopped and gazed around my parcel, feeling satisfied. I was content. I had everything just so and I was feeling a little proud of myself. After my early struggles with my new mesh avatar (so many HUDs, seriously) I was no longer paranoid that my head was out of proportion to my body, that I was too thin, too muscular and too short. 

Virtual nirvana. 

I signed on the following day and as everything slowly came in to focus, I noticed a glow, yellow like a highlighter. 

Is the sun brighter than usual? Aliens landed? Minion infestation? I glanced toward the window and found the source. My neighbor, who's ginormous 4592m parcel dwarfs my little 1024, had put some crime scene looking monstrosity around her plot, right butt up against the line. If I'd put something like that up, I'd at least add a floating corpse. I mean, if you're going to be that tacky, you may as well own it.

Nirvana crushed.

I know people can do whatever they want with their own parcel, but why would you want to make it ugly for everyone else? 

I de-rendered the line closest to me, but that wasn't going to help if I had guests over. I'm still debating hosting discussions. I thought about it for a bit. I despise big ass screens blocking everyone's view but I didn't know what else to do. I went in search for something with a natural look. I settled on some rock cliffs, which cut into my splashy rock's spinny prim, so I had to take it up. So no more sea lion (for now.) I changed the islands from three to two, creating more usable land space and I added a waterfall. I'm not done tinkering with it, the construction is using more prims that I'd like. I might play with the size some or add more waterfalls. 

I've only seen the neighbor in question maybe three times. I don't know what the border marker fuss is about, I looked and I couldn't find where anyone was over the line.

Speaking of neighbors, I've made attempts to meet a few of mine. I talked to two who were super friendly and one that seemed woefully uninterested.

I guess two out of three isn't bad.

How do you deal with parcel boundaries and unfriendly neighbors? Let me know in the comments below!

Feeling Homey... and Tired

A bitch is tired. Can you tell?

I may not move from this spot for a while. Shopping is exhausting, for me anyways. Not fun shopping, but for plants, furniture and crap. I *think* my beach house is finally done, for the most part. I snuck in a bit of hair too, just to keep things interesting.

To celebrate, I swung by Cay's at Woodland Lake for some Southern rock and to try out my new dance moves. I met some folks, made a few friends. It was nice to cut loose a little after moving furniture all day.

I managed to lose a chair. I was afraid I'd sent it to a neighbor's parcel, but it hasn't been returned, so I must have deleted it. Thank goodness for Copy.

It's not the first time I've lost furniture. It probably won't be the last.

It's coming together nicely and definitely starting to feel homey.

I hope ya'll are making the best of your Second life. See you soon!

Bento Heads

I spent the better part of the last two days trying on Bento mesh heads. I'm not someone who changes body elements like hair or heck.. even clothes.. very often. I guess I don't like change, which means I was able to see my purchase as an investment. 

At least that's what I told myself. 

Regardless, it was time to let go of the old me, both figuratively and literally. Try something new. 

I read forum posts and reviews and finally decided on Catwa. I think I tried about 5 different styles before settling on the Lilo. I wanted to stay as close to my original look as possible. I'd worked hard on it over the years, after all. The main elements I looked for in a design were the size of the lips (the pouty model look, while beautiful just isn't "me") and the chin/jawline. 

The teeth still sort of freak me out, but I'm getting used to them.

The best advice I can offer to anyone searching is, apply the skin before fiddling too much with the shape. You wouldn't think it would make that much of a difference, but it totally does. Also, looking at review videos will save you a lot of time trying on demos.

Do you have any advice to add? Share it in the comments below. 

If you have a Second Life blog, drop me a link in the comments!

See ya'll next time.

P.S. I've got some ocean side property, just reduced to L$4495. Raise the land for awesome views or lower it for your own corner water spot. See sidebar for details.

Making Friends for Anti-Social People

I went shopping for a splashy rock and found a new friend! He needs a name. Suggestions are welcome.

I'm so obsessive when I'm shopping. I think I looked at every rock out there. Some were too big, some were too dry, some looked like a tsunami rolling in. I was concerned none of these would fit, but I think it works.

Plus.. bonus sea lion.

Now when I'm sitting on the beach, talking to myself, I can at least pretend I'm talking to my new bud.

I'm planning to go back for a crow and/or a seagull.

Maybe.

Splashy Rocks and Settling Down

I packed up my little floaty island in the sky and bit the bullet. While out looking for land, I came across an ocean parcel that was quite reasonably priced and decided it was a keeper. I went through three houses and 8 islands before I settled on a design. I couldn't let that view get away. Admittedly, it wasn't perfect. There was a 1024 m dock/dance floor between me and the sunrise. I had a three story monstrosity here at first, over looking the dock, but it was just too much room.

It's just me, ya know?

Also? I bought it furnished and the animations were all screwed up. If I sat in a chair atop the pretty roof deck, the table sliced my head in half.

Not a good look.

So, with a little creative derendering, I have a beautiful sunrise view without having to climb two fecking spiral staircases. I suppose if an event is ever held there again, I can sit on the dock and watch people levitate while they dance.

The furnishings are a little sparse at the moment, but decorating is half the fun, right? I'm still hoping I'll have room to hold the occasional discussion. I was worried the SLag would be too strong for much socializing, but it's actually better than I thought it would be. 

I know the "little house on the water" is a bit cliche' in SL, but it makes me happy. Well, other than those ginourmous screens in the background. I just try not to look that way. I had a hard time finding mesh islands that would:

• Fit a 1024
• Were reasonably flat
• Had a realistic sand texture
• And that I could afford

I was excited to find a set of 8 islands with waves and palm trees for under $L200. The trees aren't great but everything else is perfect.

I don't know if there's a secret to building on water when you have to worry about property lines, but I ended up going to a sandbox, rezzing a 32x32 prim and using it to lay out the islands before dropping them on my land. It worked like a charm.

I think.

We'll find out if the neighbors complain. I think I've seen ONE other av in the few days I've been here.

Anywho, I'm off to shop. I think I want one of those splashy, sea spray rocks.

How's your second life? Drop a comment below and let me know!

The Effects of Gravity and Breathtaking Views

The Lake Tahoe property sold, after I lowered the price a bit. It was my first toe-dip into the land selling business and I had to figure some things out, but I still made decent $L. Fun was had by all when all my objects were returned faster than I could grab them. When my little floaty island disappeared, I was dropped at the feet of the new owner. I think I frightened her.

Occupational hazard I guess.

I have a bid in on a new parcel, details to come!

In other news...

Following the advice of Moz Loordes at A Man for all Seasons, I joined a couple of blogger groups. The chat in one has left me on the edge of my seat as a member tries to snag one of the new Bellisara houseboats. I haven't seen the new abodes yet, other than in the promotional videos. All I know is, I can't wait to check in every so often to see if he's scored one.

I've also been hitting the forums, which was horribly bad timing in light of Linden Labs recent pricing announcement. I'm a little miffed at possibly losing the opportunity to pay quarterly, but it's not that big of a deal. I've been around for a while and premium fees have barely changed.

Just take a deep breath. It'll be okay.

In the meantime, I'm trying to breathe life back into my SL Twitter account. It looks like most of the folks I follow have gone more RL with politics, etc. If you have Twitter and use it exclusively (or almost exclusively) for your Second Life, I'd love to hear from you. You can find me here: @MahalaRoviana

It seems that Facebook is all the rage, but I'm not a big fan. I think I had an account ages ago, I'm not sure.

Look at that view!

More updates on my adventures later. I want to hear about yours,  I look forward to reading your posts and comments.