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 As I wander through Nantucket and Mystic, I often pause to admire the beautiful landscaping that adds so much to the charm of the village. And although I’m still a new resident, I’ve been told the landscaping changes along with the seasons. In our SL world, this doesn’t happen because of a force of nature, but because of the force of Sommer. Sommer Shepherd that is! This remarkable woman has been described “as someone who should get a special award for being such a great friend, neighbor and resident of SLNE”. I recently had the opportunity to find out more about her.
How and when did you first hear about Second Life? I was introduced to Second Life by a friend in March 2007. Did it take you long to join after hearing about it? Oh no! I was hooked from the start. My friends teased me that I owned a tropical island before I even knew how to walk!
What brought you to the New England sims? I was searching for some open water sims and discovered New England. I was in love with the community at first sight. I've been here ever since and can't imagine living anywhere else. New England offers a sense of community that you rarely find elsewhere. Do you sail in RL and were the sailing opportunities in particular what you were looking for? I haven't sailed myself since I was a teenager. I do enjoy it, however. I liked the idea of being able to sail and boat in SL so I went searching. Once I saw New England and how carefully it was maintained I knew this would be a great community to be a part of. I wasn't wrong! I love the sense of community that is exhibited in SLNE. There are so many diverse and interesting people here. Have you had any bad experiences you might want to share? Bad experience? Not really. Everyone has run into the "mad griefer" on occasion! The landscaping you've done in Nantucket and Mystic really enhance the atmosphere there. Are you a landscaper in real life? No...but I do love to garden. This is a wonderful place to express some of that passion. The bonus is....the plants never die! How did you get involved in the landscaping project? I wanted to make my home as authentic as possible. It just somehow spilled over into Nantucket and Mystic where I did everything with the exception of the trees that Sudane has all over the Estate. I do enjoy changing it for the seasons and decorating the barn for special occasions and holidays. Your homes on the East End are very authentic. I understand they were custom made. Are they based on real life homes? Yes, they are. After doing some research on historical homes in New England I found some designs that we particularly liked. The house I live in with my wonderful hubby, Adonis Bonetto, is actually a replica of a house in Salem, MA -- The Robert M. Mahoney House. It dates back to the early 19th Century and was actually lost in the famous Salem Fire. It was rebuilt by the prominent attorney, Robert M. Mahoney and is currently listed in the National Historic Register. The Captain Ferris house is also listed in the National Historic Register and located on Cape Cod near the Nantucket Sound Beaches. It was built in 1845 by Captain Ferris. It is now a lovely eight bedroom Bed and Breakfast. I couldn't resist the charm of it and had Stephaine Slade build it here on the East End for us. She does an excellent job of replicating authentic New England builds. As a member of the SLNE Covenant Committee you must see quite a variety of home approval requests. What criteria do you look for when residents submit request for home approval and do you have any words of advice for prospective home owners? Some of the things we look for are authenticity of the New England theme and that the house meets the size criteria of the particular parcel it's being proposed for. We strive to keep New England as "real" as possible. I believe what the Covenant Committee is an integral part of what New England is all about and everyone works hard to maintain a community that is like no other in Second Life. My words of advice to prospective home owners....Read and understand the covenant before buying! ~smiling~. On a personal note, did you know your partner Adonis Bonetto before coming to SL? If not, how did you meet here? Adonis and I met on another video chat program a little over three years ago. As it turns out, we actually worked for the same company only on different Coasts....he's on the West Coast and I'm on the East Coast. Once we discovered Second Life, we never looked back. It's been an incredible adventure for both of us. Have you seen many changes to SLNE in the year you have been here? What changes would you like to see? There have been many changes....and all of them positive. New England is growing and will continue to do so which provides not only a lovely place to live, but an outstanding sailing community. Is there anything else you would like for us to know about you or would like to share with the community? My journey in Second Life has not only been fun, but a fabulous learning experience. The diversity it provides makes it very unique and enjoyable.
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We kinda miss that snce she got a better computer!