In my over 15 years online, I have seen both the best and the worst. Wonderful people and friends. Some less wonderful. Friends who helped me to start and friends that I have helped after that.
It all began as a small Second Life parcel. A box as a home, and a few trees. Learning the hard way.
All was new.
Soon, music was playing. A wonderful club world opened. We danced on the pole. Got our first tips. And friends.
I was privileged when I could add land to Caribou.
Suddenly we were neigbours with Sammy’s. The famous girl avatars club in SL. Sammy’s became my second home. I danced and chatted with my first gf littlesubje.
Sammy’s parcel owner Diane became a good friend. Then she got ill and had to leave Second Life forever.
I agreed to take over the property in Egill. Sammy’s became a part of Caribou. Our friend Zarah was the new club owner and Sammy’s became Angels.
When we tragically lost Zarah her sister Angelic came in. Now she owns and manages Angels. We formed a friendship which is strong and close ever since then.
Then we migrated together. Caríbou and Angels in our luggage, we went to Inworlds.
Soon we had four large islands and a lot of friends and life.
Then Inworldz was hit by an earthquake. The users’ community tried to save it but it collapsed financially. We lost all we had. So we packed Caribou and Angels with us, Angelic and me, and headed to Digiworldz.
Once again we built it all up. Life was good again until server lag suffocated us. We asked for help, in vain. Maybe the Caribou success was hard to accept.
So we had to take the road again.
Kitely was our choice. A new world of creators and professionals welcomed Caribou and Angels. Relations with grid owners and other residents were good. We were happy again.
Every day we invited to events. One after another we helped newcomers learn the art of party hosting. Soon they set up their own clubs. The OS world loved people trained in Caribou.
In Kitely, regions were offline until someone wanted to go there. The huge rented cloud servers took their time. We were standing in drab lifts for minutes. This did not work for us.
I then met my friend Mathilda or Mattie at one of the lively Stark clubs. Also Niki was there. Both Starks had often been in Caribou in earlier times.
Mattie and me often ended up in IM talks. A new and bold idea was born. We would create a new kind of world together. Both Stark and Caribou would be more lively and attractive.
Angelic was not too convinced but agreed that we move when she saw that I needed a change. For me, this was real and solid friendship.
So we moved to Zetaworlds.
We built a new Caribou next to Stark.
I was motivated and worked hard on the project. Mattie and her Stark family with Manda and Niki were wonderful to me. I became a family member, partner and Mama and loved it.
But we were too fast. Some family relations got strained. Finally I had to leave.
I also found myself closed out of the whole community. Alone in an empty Caribou region I was listening to music and doing region updates.
But I had other friends in Zetaworlds. They supported me and became important during these difficult times. I will never forget you and love you all, always.
Caribou had always been a leading events site both in SL and OS. But now the prime times in Zetaworlds were already occupied by Stark.
There were also dwindling numbers of avatars online at these times. To start from nothing would not have worked for us in this situation.
We did not want a conclict with our friends at Stark who signalled that clashing time schedules would affect our relations.
We moved to another place further away in the Zetaworlds grid.
Angelic and I finally made a difficult decision. The region left Zetaworlds. Caribou was travelling again.
Unadecal Masala and his Masala Estates were old friends. They gave us a new home in OSgrid.
From region host, Una became a dear friend. He went out of his way to help make Caribou a success, and still does.
Then we created our own Caribou grid. Our old baby needed her independence. This we now have. We have our website with terms of reference and we have a legal grid owner with a real personality and contact address. And we love to stay part of the Masala grid and region management.
Now we work on many new ideas. Caribou remains welcoming, adult and safe. We build up our events. We offer free islands and homes for residents and frequent visitors. We develop an environment which is both beautiful and interesting. We want adult avatars to come here and feel good and safe.
Angelic and I would love to have you as partners in our big adventure.
Privately I am happier today.
My two family members Christina and Yanny can begin living their own lives again. You can imagine that they love this also.
Yours Jeanne Lefavre