After a year, I asked again: “surely there will be nothing here for me after a second year?”

Well, I’m in my third year, and things seem to become more fascinating, not less, so I can’t say where it will stop!… if it ever does.

I would currently categorize myself as one of the “Find a Friend” group. But many of my SL pals are in education in RL and will be in world much less when the school year starts. My own work takes place in my home studio, so I can be flexible with my SL time.

As the availability of my core group of SL friends changes with the winds of RL, I know I’ll need to find other things in SL to retain my interest: building, education, communities. It promises to be an interesting adventure.

Yes, a lot of folks who leave SL after “trying it” never get to experience the things they read about in the news media – and end up faced with endless mainland spinning “forsale” signs, badly designed empty party palaces, strip clubs and griefers. I faced it when first on, but I was *determined* to find something fun and eventually found 2-3 communities I tend to frequent. And I also find that once someone settles into that, the exploration tends to become more sporadic and more settled. With Linden Labs allowing “partners” to take on that – should help out quite a bit, though one could argue it becomes a series of different communities – but with an extended membership of millions – it is inevitable.

When I introduce someone to this place – it is usually because I found a community they would like – or at least I think they would. And they usually stay if I have chosen correctly. Help up front is one of the best things one can do – and this new feature in SL will improve retention, I think!

But that brings up a very good point you said – Priorities – and what sort of way does someone prefer to spend their leisure time? SL, TV, Exercise, Family something else? (I know of a few people whose time on SL generates resentment form a spouse that doesn’t like SL as much)

I find I haven’t watched any substantial TV for months – and my spouse likes SL as much (more than?) me. Haven’t really missed TV, actually, since I am finding this SL so much more interesting than the passive entertainment offered by the other stuff – though I am very reluctant to give up any sleep for SL as some of my European friends do!!

I suppose my real point, is that my own limited experience agrees with what your post says – and I agree broadly with your extrapolations as well.

Perhaps the situation is different for people who are able to balance their time. For example, when I am in school I simply do not have time for SL except on the weekends, and anyhow what I’m doing in-world is much the same as what I’m doing in school — architecture — so I don’t have as much need for a additional creative outlet.

You point out that the people who spend the most time in SL are those with the most time to spare. However, I think it’s easiest for those people to burn out and become “bored,” at least for the short term, because they have exhausted their creative ideas for the moment or have simply tired of sitting in front of a computer.

Recently someone even told me: “I live in the mainland, because I enjoy the drama there; SL is no fun without drama”. So at least some people “fight” boredom by being deliberately provocative — with their builds and their attitudes.

It’s a strange world.

I tried some education projects but to me a lot of them seem like individuals pet projects rather than genuinely useful and informative.

Then on a whim I spent some money on a cyborg AV for a joke to play on someone. A couple of people suggested I try some of the role playing sims as my new AV would fit in well there.

I have now washed up in Toxian City and love the role playing elements which add such a lot to the basic shopping and chatting which still goes on. And of course the shooting can be fun too.

I don’t thing you can create separate continents for shopping, roleplaying, education etc. All of these intertwine to some extent. Also not all shoppers, role players etc. have the same aims and ideals. Would you lump Luskwood and Toxian City together for instance? Would you want a vendor for BDSM equipment next to a “commercial clothes” store in a giant mall? Mixing up commmercial, education, role playing and other activities is more like the real world. No one wants a whole continent wide shopping mall surely?

The diversity of SL is its strong point. You can find new things to see and do. If you limit yourself to shopping and chatting your missing out on most of what SL has to offer.