Well, late this month, my annual subscription fee to Second Life will come due. I’ve been thinking for several weeks now about whether or not to pay it and continue with a premium account. I think I will.

On one hand, the decision is easy. I’ve succeeded in my desire to make the account self-funding; a combination of occasional content sales, general frugality wrt purchases, and careful selling on the Linden Exchange means that I have more than enough money in my account to pay the yearly subscription fee ($72). Cool! But I could also spend that money on other things, and drop my SL account to the Basic level, which is free. Is Second Life worth it? Especially lately, with the huge registration increases, the accompanying stress on the Grid, seemingly incessant grey goo attacks, etc.?

I pondered it, and decided that it was. Absolutely. It’s one of the most exciting places on the Net, and provides an opportunity to be on the leading edge of experimentation in virtual commerce, digital content, and free expression. I have my Second Life phases; I’m in-game quite a bit for a few days or a week, and then don’t bother to login for some time. This coming year, I’m planning on spending more time in-game, and doing some SL social networking (along with scripting, machinima, etc.). Heck, I’m coming up on my 4 year anniversary, and I’ve probably got fewer contacts than most people who’ve been here a month! *grin* I should work on that.

So I’ll see ya on the Grid next year, definitely. My avatar is KZ Pasteur; feel free to drop in and say hi.