Hanging out at Otium - Serena Long Cay

Hanging out at Otium - Serena Long Cay

by Dave

Like most newcomers, my first few days on SL were a mixture of bewilderment, wonder, and fascination.  Somehow I wound up at Otium - perhaps because it was listed among the “newcomer friendly” sims. The picture on the teleport icon looked nice.

The island beaches, the sounds of surf, and the chatter of seagulls were a welcome experience to someone who didn't really know which way was up.  So I hung out for awhile - learning how to navigate, playing on the swings, and  watching the pretty women pass.  I even managed to get up to the hilltop bar – on the third try.  First time I sailed off a cliff and landed in the bushes.  Second time I somehow got stuck under the stairs and couldn't get out - until someone came along and suggested I teleport back to the original landing pad and start all over.  Brilliant idea, that.  Better than my next idea, which was flying up.  I finally managed to land in a heap on the roof of the bar.   I picked myself up, gratefully noting that my avatar was not so easily damaged.  Feeling braver at this point, I simply walked off the roof and tumbled onto the front porch.  Not my most graceful entrance, but I figured it was a start.

I began exploring the nearly endless variety of the other sims, scrounging for information and advice along the way and trying to learn how to keep from running into objects - and other avatars, most of whom didn't seem to want to talk to me.

Strolling across the sands of Otium one day I ran into something new:  A large, colorful button on the ground that said “Free Chute”.  Figuring I had nothing to lose, I clicked on it.  Next thing I knew I was high above the sim, perched precariously on a small grey rock.  I turned around and saw a black runway with green arrows pointing off the rock. Thankfully, I also saw a glowing white triangle announcing, “Left click me for a free parachute!”.  Now, my RL self had always wanted to try skydiving, or at least hang-gliding.  Unfortunately, I also have an abject fear of heights.  I figured this was my big chance, so I suited up and followed the green arrows.  Suddenly I was spreadeagled in free fall, the z-axis meter on my location ticking away madly . . .

Finally a blue sky came into view.  I wheeled around in free fall and saw the islands coming up at me, somewhat faster than I would have liked.  Just then my chute popped open.  I steered back in toward the “Free Chute” button on the ground and managed to land pretty close to the spot where I’d left.  My first skydiving experience!  Of course, I had to do it again . . .

Photos by Ellie Rogue