One of my favorite little fantasies is imagining what I would take with me on a deserted island. Ella Rose is, of course, a given - so there's that.
But what of other things and items? What if I were stranded for an indefinite period of time on a small island? What would I want to insure that my life there would be comfortable, relaxing, even very pleasing?
It begins with a tree. My whole life I have had love affairs with trees. We moved alot when I was a kid. And the first thing I would do, no matter where we lived, was to find a tree and make it my own. Sometimes I would name the tree. And always, that spot where the tree lived became among my favorite places, the land where I would retreat to for daydreaming my future into existence, for solace when my feelings were hurt, for escape when necessary.
A book. Not just any book, but a really good book. Something like Dante's Divine Comedy, a book I will never comprehend but will always enjoy wondering about and wandering through. Preferably the one with the Dore illustrations!
Food and drink. Apples, I think. Which always remind me of Mom and her apple pies. Which she made the best apple pies in all the world. We kids used to fight over who would get the last one of the season. And an endless supply of cool, clear fresh water.
A sitting rock. You've heard me speak of this before. I love rocks nearly as much as I do trees. Nothing like the intricate beauty of a solid piece of the earth against me, reminding me to be stead and grounded.
A log. From the time I was very young I have had an affinity for logs. I love to sit on them. I love to touch them. I love to smell them. I love just about everything about logs.
Fire. For warmth. And the ambient flames and crackling sound. Nature's hearth, a way to feel connected to all that is even if I am physically removed from any other living soul.
A ball. Preferably a red rubber ball. I admit it. In this regard I am a purist. I believe that balls are the universal toy, and red rubber ones are my favorites. Any size is good.
A box or two, with treasures that only I could possibly appreciate. Like the old cigar boxes that houses my most special toys when I was a child, its contents shared only by those few people I most trusted. Treasures locked away, treasures fragile. Treasures protected at all cost - not for their innate value, but for their importance to me.
A dolphin close by. I love dolphins. I think they are a higher life form than people. I think many things about dolphins. But you'll think I really AM nuts if I share all of what I think about dolphins with you.
A flute. Or two. Maybe three. Oh, heck. Fifty or so if possible!
Natural music. The sound of crickets and frogs, and various birds. The gentle ocean's surf. Rain and thunder. The songs of the earth.
And my dog. Preferably Sadie. Nearly a year after her death, I miss her so.
And so. In Second Life it was only a matter of time before I produced an island with these exact specifications. You don't see the flute here but I do have an inworld flute that I normally play with a HUD, especially if my avi is predisposed with another animation - as she is on this Wingsong Island Boat.
You don't hear, from where you're sitting, the sounds embedded. Wonderful sounds! A great boat horn when I touch the trunk of the palm tree, and an old Viking style cow horn when I touch the old locked box. A running brook when I touch the earthen jug. Intermittent loons and ducks which can be turned off and on when I touch the sand. A chorus of frogs when I touch the basket of apples. The rhythm of the tide plays automatically when I board my island boat. The rain when I toggle on the shower by touching the red rubber ball. Crickets when I touch Dante's Divine Comedy (yes - with Dore illustrations!). The dog's random barking, whining, growling, howling - which can be toggled on and off (were that I could do THAT in real life!).
A dolphin swims up front of the island and leaps in and out of the water.
My friends, one at a time, can come relax with me - when they board my island their avi's relax in an animation very similar to the one I am in. Except they are leaning with their backs against the rock. Which probably isn't quite as comfortable as the tree. But hey. It's MY island.
Besides, I've given most of my friends their own island!
The log breaks into a nice little fire when I touch it.
And the dog? I made Sherman the first few months I was inworld, not long after Sadie passed away. I deliberately made him about as different from Sadie as I could. He reminds me of Sadie, and I smile when I see him. But he isn't Sadie. She waits for me, with her gentle soul and penetrating eyes, on the other side of the sea.
Oh. And when I made Sherman, I made him with his tail wagging and his tongue panting. Just because I wanted to. And just because I could!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
And because, in my fantasy, I might enjoy a little change of scenery, deserted island or not, I made my private little island with a boat engine. It clips along at one meter per second - about a third as fast as if I were walking. Fast enough to move a little. Slow enough to see the sights of the world as I travel about. And to stop myself before pounding headlong into giant rocks and racing sailboats!
Yep. My fantasy island. Just my speed!
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patricia kenet
M. C. S.
V.Corso
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I Love Life
chemistrycourtney
Salon.com
Comments
Rocks are easier to avoid than sailboats
rated with love
Tinkerboy - Ain't that just the very truth!?!
Margaret - You make a fun point. I wonder, if I ever found myself ctually on that island, how quickly I'd be crying for my mommy!!