The last time I posted anything in this blog was in May, and since then I have discovered surfing in Second Life. It started as seeing something come up about golf and being bored at the time, I searched for various activities in SL that didn't involve nightclubs, shopping, or sex. Believe it or not, there are such activities. I found a surf sim, I pulled a newbie surfboard out of inventory (one that doesn't do very much), but from the moment I tried it I found an instantaneous love for it. Since then, I have acquired several surfboards, visit the waves almost daily, and have started competing (yes, there are surfing competitions in SL, too). And the funny thing is, in RL I am landlocked. I live in Atlanta and the largest bodies of water nearby are Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona. The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are several hours away at best, and unless there's a hurricane nearby, they're not prime surfing destinations.
From this new hobby I have discovered a whole new set of friends on top of the ones I already had. I don't think they'd tell you this, as they are the laid-back sort, but most of them are a true representation of the very best things Second Life has to offer. They have a spirit of adventure within them, the community has an openness towards those who are curious, and actively encourages those who want to stick around. And those who own the surf sims and create the waves to surf are among the most creative builders in the entire Grid. There is also a personal mantra among them to pass along and pay forward--allowing new surfers to try their boards, going with them to buy their first board, or in some cases, to actually purchase boards for them as gifts. There's an almost parental pride among them when a surfer they've brought in goes to buy that first board, or convinces a new surfer who has shown promise to enter a competition. And competitions, while taken seriously, are always more of an excuse to gather together, learn from each other, and party. The medals and trophies are gravy.
Among the group I think I've become known as a Zen surfer. I think I tend to take a Zen approach to the whole thing, and it seems to fit. When things are right, the board feels right underneath you. You are at one with the board and the wave. You paddle along, your free hand runs along the wave wall, you watch the curl arc over you, you ride out to the edge of the wave and explode up to the sky, then you come back down and let the wave enclose you, all the time the wave telling you what to do and when. And I am at total peace when it happens.
I've never met a RL surfer, but I can imagine it must feel the same for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment