Having a Family In Second Life: The Clinics

May 14, 2012 by Leave a comment

rocka byes_004 If you want to have the full realistic experience of pregnancy in Second Life, you’ll want to find yourself a good maternity clinic, because just like in real life you’ll want the best place to start (or have ) your family. There are several clinics in SL, most of which are a part of a role play family based community for example the Family Clinic of Gaines Estates. Others are stand alone clinics such as Mother Goose, Precious Gift of Love, Breath of Life, Natures Harmony and (sadly) Baby Kisses.

Instead of going into the different types of clinics there are I’m going to show you one clinic which follows the basic formula (no pun intended) that all clinics in Second Life seems to work with and what makes that clinic stick out from the rest.

You can choose the length of your pregnancy, from the shortest of 4 weeks to the full 9 months and while you’re going through this are places the make your pregnancy very enjoyable.

rocka byes_001Rock a Bye babies opened 5 years ago by Robinnurse Rowlands,a registered nurse in her real life from some where in the USA. RABB is a Maternity Clinic that is possibly one of the best clinics in Second Life (in my opinion). They bring the realism of Pregnancy In the Virtual World and does it in such a way that at times you forget that you’re in a virtual society having a baby. Right, going to say this once and only once SL experiences just like real life experience vary from person to person, I understand that there are many other clinics in Second Life and fit other people but from my experience in this world Rock A Bye is the one that would fit perfectly for someone who wants the real experience of pregnancy. I have been to several places some where good for what they were, and others seemed to be confused with what they wanted (Baby Kisses) but Rock A Bye has maintained a  level of realism and professionalism that is something that needs to be praised.

Robinnurse started Rock A Bye as a way to bring beauty of pregnancy into Second Life, dragging from her own experiences of having children in real life, she wanted to show everyone that having a baby, although at times a painful experience, not only depended on your doctor but also your surrounds.Basically, you might have the greatest doctor in the world but overall what you’ll remember is the overall experience of the place you stayed in for how ever long. While some Maternity clinic merely role play their positions, Rock A Bye only hire those who are qualified medical professionals  in their real lives. They bring their expertise into Second Life, so you’re not just roleplaying having children, you are roleplaying having a child with real doctors! They offer weekly prenatal exams, sonograms, Lamaze classes, a variety of delivery options and birth certificates.

It’s not all peachy and perfect at Rock A Bye’s because not all pregnancies are perfect, keeping this in mind, they have accounted for it by having high risk options. Okay not HIGH risk but low-key high risks like high blood pressure and diabetes in pregnancy it isn’t crazy but keeps RABB from turning into an unrealistic clinic where every pregnancy is 100% perfect and without  complications. rocka byes_003

Roro Underwood, the clinic administrator of RABB comments, “ I was dragged into Rock A Bye’s by Robin 5 years also and I’m glad she did because we are all a family now.”

Tinman Merlin, a Physician of RABB and one in a long line of men (there aren’t a lot of men there and it seems that when one guy leaves another one takes his place, it’s probably just the shifts) comments “ Well I was the first employee to be hired at RABB and I whole heartedly believe in this clinic. If I didn’t believe in it I wouldn’t be here for close to 4 1/2 years.  All of the staff are truly professionals and we all have a medical background.  We also have quite a lot of repeat patients as well,we are like a real family and take care of each other.”

The Big thing about Rock A Bye is the price, they aren’t cheap but for what they offer, it is worth it, not only are they giving you a great place to have your baby, they give you the full experience that is truly priceless. If you would like more information of their maternity packages, just drop in to Rock A Byes and ask.

Oh, before I forget. one more thing I love about Rock A Bye, the fact that all of the doctors, (a part from the men of course) are always pregnant, it creates a feeling of your pregnant for the first time in Second Life which can be scary at first, but they are going through it all too so it’s fine and you’re in good hands.

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Having A Family in Second Life

May 7, 2012 by Leave a comment

With everyday I spend in this Virtual World, I am constantly amazed by its growing society. We have talked about Relationships that are formed in Second Life which leads to marriage both in world and out.  Now we are going to take a look at the next step, the various ways you can have a family in Second Life.

Yes, you can get pregnant in SL and it is truly an amazing experience. There are several ways you can get pregnant in this virtual world. the most popular is the realistic approach, (other ways include just saying ‘I’m pregnant’ and increase the size of your avatar’s stomach for how ever long you want.), which means going through everything you would in Real Life, actively trying the old fashion way, picking out clinics, doctors appointments, shopping for clothes, and labour. It’s an experience, a very expensive experience.

Things you’ll need for a ‘real’ experience

The Total Woman HUDA Pregnancy HUD: The way the Pregnancy HUDs work varies depending on the brand, but they all have the same propose, to make your avatar ( or your partner’s avatar) pregnant. They are normally found on the marketplace, which is where I found the Total Woman Tantra HUD but they are also available for purchase from the family planning Clinics across the Grid. The Total Woman Tantra HUD, created by Resident Tex Evans, is a HUD that is worn on the avatar and allows that avatar to experience her menstrual cycle, making the process of getting pregnant in Second Life a lot more realistic.

How can this be realistic? Well, the Total Woman Tantra HUD tries to work as it would in real life, with realistic odds, risks and the potential for birth control as well as the experience you would have if you were trying to get pregnant in the real world. The way it works is simple there are different stages which are Tantra HUD.represented by different colours.Check out the Tantra Website to Find out what each colour means.

The Total Woman Tantra HUD costs L$ 700.

Tummy Talker: A tummy talker is an attachment that tell you what is going on through out your Second Life pregnancy. Through emotes it tells you what your avatar is ‘feeling’.Just like the Pregnancy HUD, Tummy Talkers differ depending on the brand. A normal tummy talker will just tell you normal things such as, ‘your feet hurt,’ ‘your baby is going healthy’ and so on. Others will let you know when you are hungry and will even give you what you ‘carve’

Some Tummy Talkers cost around L$600 –L$750 but they can also be found in clinics and some will even give you a talker as part of their packages.

Clinics: If you want a real experience you will want to go to a clinic. Second Life Maternity Clinics do their best to make your experiences as realistic as possible, going as far as to have weekly check ups and real life medicinally trained staff. These Clinics can be quite expensive but if they are good you do get full use of your money. Some clinics even have Lamaze classes that are very helpful as a way of looking into what Pregnancy is like in Second life and in real life.

Over the new week I will be taking you through the stages of Having a Family in Second Life, from looking at one of Second Life’s Maternity Clinics, Clothing Stores, to looking at Baby stores, Adoption and  the experience through the eyes of an SL mother. Stay with us to learn more about Having a Family in Second Life.

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Relationships in Second Life: Snowball and Angel Stryker’s Story

March 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

The final love story is from a couple who met on a dating site and continued their relationship in Second Life. Told by Snowball Stryker, he talks about how Second Life has played a huge part in bringing him and his beloved Angel closer together.

“Isn’t it amazing that love can pop its head up in some of the most strangest places? I’ve seen it come and go and in some of the most  strangest places. It’s quite a ride, you just hold on and pray you land safely. It’s a minefield for sure. To understand that ride I have to take you back 12 years… well not that far. But you have to understand where I come from and who I am.

I’m a dying breed, the type of guy who never tries to score on the first date. Just not my MO, you know. When you get tangled up with girls who aren’t serious it can be frustrating. I had a couple devastating breakups, but they were normal type ones. It wouldn’t be until January 2012 that I would finally have love wake me up and make me see what was going on.

Many meet during Second Life and go on to have happy lives together. I didn’t. SL did play a part but we haven’t gotten to it yet. I am a furry and I have no shame in admitting that. It was through a furry dating site I got tangled up with my ex. She seemed sweet and that was the danger. She was, to quote Alice Cooper, "Venomous Poison." A Spider. She spun this web of lies and deceit and then when things don’t work out, she turns herself into the innocent victim. She manipulated me into doing things I wasn’t okay with…. starting wars with her ex b/fs (one of who is currently one of my best friends now), yelling at me for not saying "I love you" on her guestbook over and over.
Things fell out between us when I joined SL. She didn’t want me on second life because she was using me and didn’t want me to find out. When I joined SL she made up excuses to drop me like a rock. I didn’t realize what she was doing and wanted her back, she said yes, but then told me to compete with the guy she was seeing behind my back. Then I made mistake two. I told her I had met my Angel. She then pulled the "I want to be friends but you can’t see anyone," Card.

Why go into this detail? What does this have to do with Angel? Everything. You see part of me woke up but I didn’t realize it. I had met this girl and Angel at the same time on the aforementioned dating site. I told Angel how little confidence I had and how I wasn’t sure if I could be serious with her like i wanted to. Angel told me to follow my heart. I followed my heart alright, but it wasn’t after the right girl. Well I contacted Angel shortly after my first day of disaster on Second Life and opened up to her. I said "I’m sorry I didn’t listen you. You told me to follow my heart, take a chance and not sell myself short. I really do like you and I hope you’ll let me get a chance to get to know you again." Confidence I didn’t have before, made it’s appearance. I spent the next 48 hours, tormented, hurting, in pain. I got a message from Angel and things began to move forewords. She had to reinstall Second Life to get a hold of me.
We spent 72 hours on Skype together, getting to know each other. She walked in to The Shelter where I was to tell me and everyone, she wanted to date me, she saw through me and saw that I wasn’t a failure, I was just trapped in a nightmare and needed someone to pull me out. And then she showed how serious she was. i wasn’t honest with my ex about Angel and Angel went and told her to back off. Took a knife that had my name on it.
I have to admit I was very angry she did that, I didn’t want her to get hurt, but I understand now that she’s as willing to go to bat for me as I am her. She’s everything I’ve been looking for over 12 years. The right girl, the one whose meant to be. I believe that Love is a journey that takes you to find your mate. It can be cruel to those who don’t appreciate what they have, and kind to those who wait and hang on.

As I write this, it’s 6 days out from when Angel will be coming up to be with me. The feelings of Anxiety and Excitement fill the room. It’s been quite a journey.

I helped Angel heal from heartbreak on Second Life. I always say I duct taped up my broken heart and gave it to her to replace her shattered one. She’s my Angel. I’m her Hero. She saved me from eternal dread and torment, and I owe her my heart, my love, my soul and my life for it. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her.

So where did Second Life come into play? Right now. You see long distance relationships can be hard, even when it’s as short as 500 miles. Second Life helps us to take things slow so we don’t destroy it. Second life is letting us have a life together until we can physically be together. It’s a great tool to help nurture a relationship that is begging to survive. I used to hate SL back in the day, never understood it, now I do.

Love is a journey, an adventure. Second Life is the same, and when coupled together, despite the bad, good things can happen. Call it a game or don’t. Second life to me has become a lifesaver that drew me closer to my soul mate.
So close in fact that during her spring break she came up here to spend time with me, sort of a ‘are we compatible beyond internet/long distance dating?’ Well we knew we were but you never know. The week was magical. I’m a loose cannon, always full of rage and gets angry very easily. Not once when she was here did I lose my cool or my temper. It’s amazing what a soul can do when they love you back. So how close did we connect?
Drury University is one of the top colleges in the country, they take everyone unlike others. I’m enrolling in Fall Semester this year, and in June of this year, I’ll be giving up life in Chicago to move to the boonies with my girl. I’m giving up everything in the name of a girl who I love dearly. To start my life finally, and with the girl who I know is worth everything to me. Is her family crazy? Yeah. But so is mine. I can deal with that. Middle of nowhere? Well okay not, about 45 minutes outside of Springfield, Missouri. The thing is, we love each other, and we’re going to get married and have kids at one point. But for now, we’re just settling in nicely with our relationship.

Call Second Life what you want, I call it a lifesaver, because I was drowning in depression, hatred of myself, not caring about anything, and it brought her to me, and now, my outlook was turned around for the better.”

                                                             SnapshotSnowballAlpha_001

Not all Second Life relationships work like the ones you’ve read on this site. Like real life, it hurts when you give your heart to someone and they break it. Once you find someone you can truly trust, Second Life can be an amazing thing. Although being a couple is not required in to have fun in Second Life,  It is just an added bonus. Remember that behind every avatar is a living person, so treat each other with respect.

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March Military Expo

March 25, 2012 by Leave a comment

March 25th marked the beginning of the Military Expo, a 5 day convention that celebrates Military Life in Second Life.MElogo

Event Manager Jessii Warhol states: “ I saw that there were a lot of Military  vehicle creators in Second Life, many of which aren’t known the residents who are outside of the Military community. I wanted to draw attention to them, as well as the World War II Memorial sims. ”

The World War II Memorial sims are home to the Flying Tigers, a military/ roleplay aviation group that is based on the real life Flying Tigers, the  American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air force. It is also home to a scale replica of the World War ll Memorial in Washington D.C. USA.

DecedentflyingPilot Decedent Chemistry joined the Flying Tigers in 2011: “ Well I have always enjoyed flying around in SL for as long as I can remember. I had even attempted to get into the field in real life but wasn’t approved. At the time I joined I was looking for a new place to fly that had engaging staff and members that got along well with each other. I gave it a shot and I’m still here a year later. “

Jessii comments: “ We are a newcomer friendly sim, any one who is interested in military aviation, weaponry or vehicles are welcome to join us.”

Check out the blog for more info on the  Fly Tigers and the World War ll Memorial Park and don’t forget to check out the Military Expo.

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Types of Nekos

February 29, 2012 by Leave a comment

Types of Nekos

The lifestyle of being a neko is not an easy one, in fact being a neko is just like being a cat in the Real World. Keep in mind that because neko’s are so popular it has become very difficult to make a person stand out from the crowd because like cats in RL there are so many different ones out there to choose from and even then it also means that showing off unique you are is even more difficult. Below you will find a small list of some of the types of nekos there are out there.

First off there are the Steam Punk type nekos, who are much like the more modern version of the Victorian style clothing and have a bit more rustic look. It can sometimes be looked at as a as a modern cowboy/cowgirl style. It is simple to find things to wear in the online marketplace you can search for steam punk, Victorian, or even neko steam punk. These are just examples of ways to find great outfits.

The next great version of the neko is the fantastic post- apocalyptic type neko, who runs around with a mask on their faces because they cannot breathe the air. These type are often seen with grudge style clothing and will have tattoos and blood on them. Often they are wearing clothing that is torn, blood stained, and looking dirty. The best way to find these kinds of neko outfits is to look at the marketplace online and search just simply neko; this will give you the biggest variety that you can find on the marketplace.

The last one well discuss for this article is the cutesy type neko, these are typically children and can come a variety of different look from the dark and scary to the lovable little kittens many peoples see in Second Life. These little guys come in all kinds of shapes and designs with a number of different colors. The reason these are most often children is because they are often shown as much smaller than most other nekos and are often mistaken as a child av as well.  The best way to find these cute little guys on the Marketplace is to search under child neko, tiny neko, or just neko and weed them out for yourself.

These are the three most popular one that I have personally found and hope you enjoyed the little introduction on the styles. This article will have one more follow up for all those out there that have questions and need them answered please feel free to comment on this post or drop me a notecard or IM and I will post responses in my next article. I am planning on creating a few more articles for this series of articles on nekos but I need all my readers to take the time to let me know what you want to hear about. Thanks everyone, KittySmiles Soulstar, I hope you have enjoyed the articles so far.

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The March Military Expo

February 29, 2012 by Leave a comment

Another part of Second Life Culture is honouring the heroes who fought for us during the wars. An article was written for the Torch SLG which showcased  the SL US Military Veterans group. Now we are proud to say, for immediate release  the World War 2 Memorial Park will be hosting the March Military Expo:

MARCH MILITARY EXPO

DATES:  March 25-March 30, 2012

LOCATION:  WW2 Memorial Park

PURPOSE:  The March Military Expo will feature a Merchants fair, where we are inviting all military, weapons, aviation, and similar merchants of SL to set up a small merchant tent in the WW2 Memorial park area for 5 days.  You will be able to bring your creations and services to a wide variety of people in SL!.  This event is in SL Destinations as a featured SL Destinations event!  To bring even larger crowds, we will hold all of Amelia’s events that week near the military expo.  So guests will have contests, music, live DJs, as well as other contests.  We will promote the event as much as possible, giving you and your business free advertising.

*There will be limited space available for military affiliated groups who wish to exhibit**

Cost:  This expo is free of charge to all approved creators and merchants.

If you are a merchant who is interested in taking part in the Expo, get in touch with Jessii Warhol2009 in world and she still provide you with a signup notecard.

In the mean time why not pop over to the WW2 Park and have a look around.

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Roleplaying in Second Life: Crack Den

February 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

Crack Den is the name of an urban role-play community, set in the fictional city of Hathian in present day NewCrack Den_003 Orleans. Hathian is filled with crime, back alley bar fights, strip clubs and dirty dealings. This community gives residents a realistic experience embedded in different aspects such as a college named Columtreal University, a newspaper called Hathian Observer and the ability to “call” the police as well as another emergency services.  The  portrayal of a real broken down society is what makes Crack Den an amazing spot to role-play in Second Life.

Crack Den is a part of Alterscape, a network of communities in Second Life, that focuses on urban and realistic role-plays. 

Crack Den_005

Not only does Alterscape cater to Second Life adults but also to Second Life kids and teens, with their university and elementary school.

Crack Den_006Crack Den_007

Crack Den gives step by step introductions on how to join the Hathian community as well as how to become different roles such as Victim, Deviant, Citizen and more important roles such as Police, Medical Staff and Fire fighters.

Crack Den_002

One of the many establishments in Hathian that offer role-play jobs to its residents. The information on how to apply for job roles are located on the Hathian Observer website but you will need to be accepted to be a Citizen. Once you are  you can also walk into any store or bar and click the ‘Help Wanted’ signs.

 

If I were to review this place, I would say that there is little to nothing wrong with Crack Den. Everyone is always willing to role-play, even if it is just about going to the local pub to get a couple of drinks. There are always people  there, it is very rare that you find the place empty. OK, there is one thing that might be wrong with Crack Den, and that is the lag, but that isn’t really their fault. Please note that Crack Den does have quite a bit of adult oriented role-plays going on there so if you are easily offended by seeing things such as, stripping, foul language, sex, drugs and everything else, don’t visit. If you aren’t offended by it, then have fun.

To Learn more about Crack Den or Alterscape and its different communities head over to their website.

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Introduction to Kidz Korner: Kimka Fralto

February 24, 2012 by Leave a comment

family photo_001My name is KimKa.  I play a five (almost six!) year old on Second Life.  I have been a child for about a year now.
I chose to be a child in Second Life for a few reasons.  One reason was my desire for a family.  In RL (real life) I have been an orphan for a long time.  I don’t have much family that is alive.  I missed the bond that can only be explained as family.  I especially missed having parents.  Also, I am disabled.  Due to my disability, I function better as a child.
There are many ups and downs to being a child  in Second Life.  I will give a brief overview of some of these for you now, and more to come in a later article! 
I’ll start with a few of the negatives.  I have had to deal with rude people who, as an example, feel anyone playing  the game as a child is a freak.  There have been griefers (people who actually try to make you miserable enough to quit).  There have been failed families, inworld financial difficulties, moves, sibling rivalry and jealousy, abuse and neglect.  Life is not always fair or easy in either Real Life or Second Life.  These are things you may have to deal with if you choose to play as a child in Second Life.
There are some amazing positives, though.  There are parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.  There are hugs, kisses, playtime, being read to and tucked in at night.  There is the feeling of knowing someone cares about you and will be there for you.  There are fun places to go.  There are even schools to attend. Wait, shouldn’t that be a negative?  There are homes, hobbies and pets.  The list just keeps going on … trust me. 
Life as a child in Second Life is not always easy or perfect.  It can have some amazing rewards, though.  If you choose to be a child in Second Life, please do so with your eyes open.  It won’t always be sunshine and roses.  I ask you this, though, how do you truly appreciate the good if you don’t also experience a little bit of bad?

I hope that this has helped you in your decision making process.  It is a difficult and serious decision to make.  I wish you the best of luck in Second Life, whether you choose to be a kid, an adult, or a robot (or something else entirely!)

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Relationships In Second Life: William & Kristi Hawksby

February 13, 2012 by Leave a comment

The next stop on this series is that of the relationship of our next couple William and Kristi Hawksby, who have been together for 3 years. This is the story of their relationships told from their point of view:

William “I’d been dancing with a girl and she popped out then Kristi asked me to dance, I was bit wary of Kristi at

William & Kristi

first, because I wasn’t often asked to dance. It is an unfortunate norm in Second Life that beautiful women you talk to in Second Life are not always beautiful WOMEN in real life. Kristi, how ever seemed to be the real thing after we talked foa while. We met at a place called Heavenly Rose Garden which we went to often before it closed down.’

Kristi: “ I was dancing with my dancer partner but he had to leave, I simply wanted to keep dancing. There were other people there but William was the closes person I could see.”

William “ It look a long time before we even knew that it was love or even a relationship we were just friendly for a while. I was still dating other people at the time. It didn’t seem like cheating and Kristi didn’t think of it as that either, then one day I just ended everything with the others and it was just Kristi.”

Kristi: “ How long have been together? 2 years 7 months, give or take a day. Two years go I changed my name to Hawksby but we were really close before then. Changing my name was a sign of real commitment because back then it was just screen names. I had to make a whole new avatar and wait to get the name up on the list. We didn’t really partner before then.

William: “We have a lot of obstacles in our way for example for the last six or eight months we’ve been three hours apart because I moved in real life. It takes a bit of getting use to. We’ve had a disagreements but nothing that serious. Although she has a better memory than I do, then again there are two ways I know that I’m in trouble. She’ll say “William..” or “ But you said….” and presses enter and let me stew in my own juices for a few.”

Kristi: “ We don’t really have our Second Life relationship in real life. We email but that’s it. I’m a very private person and William accepts and respects that. We get along in Second Life and that’s all that matters. We are Soul mate, we have similar tastes in music, movies, cultural things like art etc. We have a lot of opportunties here in SL to go places together. “

William “ Many places and many things, we are both the same age both from California originally. It’s as if we were destined to meet. Of course we couldn’t have known that when we first met . Kristi is quite a spiritual person and we share that too, in fact more so than anyone I’ve met here in SL.”

William: “ I sent more time here than she does, and because of the time difference we only get to spend about four hours a day together. Usually I spend my time chasing outlaws at the Shelter, a newcomer Haven where I am a volunteer. There are three or four other places where we hang out. Amongst other things we did own an Art Gallery together for a while. ”

Kristi: ‘William is an excellent artist according to him I’m better, but I don’t think so. After the art gallery we did think about various things to do but we ultimately decided that we didn’t want a business to cut into our SL time together. I would like to have a gallery again, but it seems llike our time together is getting more and more limited.’

William: “Meeting in real life if we thought about it, then thought would be a broad term, we havent made any plans to but if circumstances made it possible to meet then – maybe, but it is still unlikely. As for the future we both expect to be in Second Life and we expect to have more time together here soon.”

It might not be a relationship that is in or will every venture into the real world, but it is a relationship that has in depth meeting none the less. This couple are two people who have a lot against them but nevertheless are happy and grateful for what they have or what ever they receive.

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Second Life Relationships: Rachy and Dark Folsom’s Story

February 3, 2012 by 2 Comments

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, this is the perfect time to talk about Second Life relationships. Like all chat rooms, social sites and other virtual worlds where people come together, a few are bound to pair together. Second Life is no different, but it seems that having a relationship in this virtual world has a little extra kick that makes it stand out from the traditional chat rooms and  dating sites. Over the next few weeks we will be telling the stories of three different couples who have met in Second Life and are now in a relationship. These are all long-term relationships. 

Dark and Rachy Folsom in Second Life

“ We first met in a club and Dark was standing in my way, I couldn’t hit the teleport button so I asked him to move. He was a big avatar, back then I guess we all were, it was SL’s Amazon Era. Anyway the way I asked him to move wasn’t very nice so once when I got into the club, I sent him an instant message and apologized for being rude. We started talking in IM for a few minutes and he complimented me on my dance moves. I was a little confused about this and asked him how he knew my moves were good. He was in club too and had been watching me this whole time, he then asked if I wanted to dance and I accepted. We danced together and just talked the night away.

The next day when I logged in he IM-ed me and asked me what I was doing that night, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything from him and I didn’t think that it would turn into anything. Nevertheless we went out dancing that night and I think its safe to stay that it all went from there. It just became a relationship without either of us ever saying it was. We just fell into naturally.

We have had arguments, every relationship does and at one point we did split up because he didn’t feel he could carry on with the relationship. The biggest thing was time difference, I lived in the UK at the time and he was in the USA so the time difference was by 5 hours. We did talk about it and I think the reason for the split was he didn’t  feel that he wanted just an online relationship and didn’t feel he could ask for it be any thing other than that.

We did bring some of the relationship into real life. We talked through Skype and phone calls. We often talked about real life and how we would like to meet each other and then about 3 months after meeting and talking I did fly over to see him and met face to face. I was

Meet Rachy and Dark in the flesh

there for 2 weeks. Our first meeting was a bit weird, because it wasn’t like I was meeting someone I met online, it was like meeting an old friend. We felt like we had known each other for years and that allowed us to take our relationship to whole other level. During my two weeks he asked me to marry him in Second Life. When I flew we did just that, then after eight weeks of being in the UK, I couldn’t take it any more. I packed my bags and flew back to the states for a three month visit. About three weeks before the three months were up, we started talking about what it was going to be like with me not being there, what it would be like back in the UK and to be honest it was too much to bare. We did a quick check with immigration to see what would happen if I stayed and about two weeks before my visa was up we got married in real life. We got the correct papers and everything and here I am in the states four years later, still very much in love and still playing Second Life.

August will be our 5th year of marriage in Second Life and Real life. Meeting in Second Life was a big advantage because if we hadn’t met in SL we would have never been together now because there is simply no way, no chance of meeting your soul mate who lives half way across the world.

I believe the reason why relationships in Second Life work out is because of communication, our relationship was based on communication because we didn’t have anything else, no TV, no Movies, no nights out just SL. When you’re in world what else can you? Yeah you can dress up but mainly it’s talking and back then it was all keyboard talk so you really get to know that person. Dark and I, are very like-minded and added to the fact that I really liked him in real life makes it even better. I got the best of both worlds, I got a man I could talk to, a man I found very attractive and a man who is my best friend. Of course everyone’s experience is different, I was just lucky, I guess. “

Now they have a family. Awwwwww!!!!

All Second Life relationships are different, not everyone will find their soul mate in this virtual world, but it seems that a lot of people are falling in love and sometimes relationships form but never go into Real Life.

Don’t miss the next Second Life Relationships, when another long-term SL couple will tell their story. 

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