land and building

When I first started on SL I was, like most, a 'tourist'. I often thought about buying land, but I could never see the sense or justify the cost. Since I met Mael - all this has changed. I've bought a few bits of land already, and he's getting me into building on it too.

The first region I lived in was called Fairchang. This is a vast area which is broken down in to numerous sims, but all called Fairchang. Fairchang land consists of islands of different sizes, and I immediately fell in love becasue I was right by sea. I live in the middle of the country in RL so I don't get to see the sea very often. I started with a small island, and then moved up to a slightly larger one. I never really used the land part though. I spent most of my time 300m in the air in my skybox. As with most plots of land, once you start looking at houses and furniture, your prim allowance soon goes.

My first little plot of land in Fairchang

Mael also had an island at Fairchang, but we were looking for some mainland where we could set up home together. I didn't really understand buying land so I left it to him to find us somewhere. I logged on to my emails one day to find a message telling me he'd reserved some land in my name, and I couldn't wait to log on to see it. The first thing we did was buy a house, which was quickly adapted as it didn't quite fit how we wanted. The next thing we did was buy a garage, and it's amazing how quickly we filled this up with bits and pieces. Everything except cars.

Our first home

Of course, this land wasn't enough and we soon expanded it to the other side of the road. If you've read the earlier part of this blog, then you'll know I have a balloon for exploring SL. Well strange though it may seem, this didn't fit in the garage. So Mael set about building a house which could be used as a balloon store / landing pad, and also as an area to chill. Originally he put a pool in it, but it's since been altered so we have somewhere to sit and relax, and we have photographs of all the different places that we go.

The 'round house' as well call it - designed and built by Mael as a place to keep the balloon

Then of course we missed the sea. We'd been looking at some land by the sea, but the cost of this was extortionate. We found one bit of 1024 sq m, which was selling for over 100,000L! Then one day, Mael found a lovely little seaside plot, right by plenty of linden sea squares, and well within balloon distance of home. The price, although not cheap, was well under half the price of any other sea land that we'd seen, so we snapped it up. Mael then disappeared for a few more days to design and build the house we needed for here too. This is a chill / boat house and it has the most amazing view over the sea. (And a balloon landing pad on the top) We then added 7 seas fishing, and we now have a lovely little seaside retreat whenever we want it.

Our seaside retreat - before the house was cut down to 'prim' size

The house has altered a bit since this photo was taken. Yet again we ran short of prims, so the house shrunk to allow us to use our jetkis and other sea side toys.

I now have plans to rebuild the main house we originally bought, but as I simply cannot draw, this will take me some time. If it looks any good when I've finished it then I'll post it here.

I can understand why people don't want to start buying land, but for me it's so nice being able to have not one, but 2 places I can call home, and we like nothing more than simply going 'home' at the end of the day to discuss this, that and whatever else:)