Sub-Orbital Galaxy Still Floating Above Second Life After 14 Years, Still Inspiring Virtual & Real Communities

Photo credit: Susietea Resident via Inspire's Flickr Group

Twelve years ago, Bonny Greenwood was floating in outer space on an asteroid doing tai chi to trance music when she struck up a conversation with a friendly passerby. (As one does.)

Then again this is a common thing to happen in Inspire Space Park, a suborbital galaxy that’s been floating high above Second Life since at least 2007 -- created, as the founders told me back then, “to make the perfect ‘chill’ place in SL that wasn't about sex, or ads”. (Watch me twirl above the galaxy below.)

It’s still orbiting above the virtual world, I am happy to report, and has very recently expanded to include an earthbound fantasy forest and steampunk-themed park. Click here to visit yourself.

It was co-created by Earth Primbee, and as a testament to the community that’s developed around Inspire Space Park over its lifespan, he is still after all these years able to cover land tier costs from donations:

“It is the feeling one gets when the music and scene combines,” Primbee muses to me. “Maybe you are dancing, doing Tai Chi, meditating, or orbiting and find that moment where it all comes together. It is a peaceful feeling. People need that and the people have insured it stayed. Became a home of sorts. A place where many have met for the first time. A shared place for them after.”

Inspire’s original co-creators have since moved on, and Primbee himself has largely turned over operations to three women. Which brings us back to Bonny, among the triumvirate of the galaxy’s new managers:

“It is now run by myself and two other wonderful ladies who have all long been part of the Inspire family,” Bonny tells me. “[Co-manager] Delain and I were already part of the [Inspire] creator team so decided to let go of our islands and work together with our other friend to keep Inspire alive.” (Delain Canucci and Jamilah Rossini are her co-managers.)

As for that man she met on an asteroid, he’s still part of the Inspire family. And as it happens, also part of her family in the material world:

Looking at where her parents first met

“It's always funny to tell people in real life how I met him,” Bonny laughs now. “I moved to Australia to live with him and have had a child that I call my Inspire baby. She's 11 now so Inspire transformed my entire life.”

Photo of Ms. Greenwood's daughter courtesy her.

Comments

[Cindy Suminski]

I met my husband in SL as well and moved to be with him. We have been together for over 9 years and still in love.