Home is more than just a gaming network. It was never “just a game.” That phrase alone makes me bristle. Home is a living, breathing virtual world, with real people and surprisingly interesting lives behind the avatars.

I guess my story is just the opposite of Norse’s: I was the popular pretty girl, the one ‘most likely to succeed’, the elected leader in the clubs, etc. Then -- the business world and a career that took off like the proverbial rocket. Incredible success and an almost fairytale existence. But in all of that, I never had any real friends. Oh, sure, in school, everyone wanted to be seen with me, but there was no real sharing of experiences. I was the angel on top of the tree -- beautiful and very alone. In the business world, thousands of business acquaintances, colleagues, clients -- everyone wanting something -- a promotion, a title, a better deal, an edge over their competition. But no one to really trust. No one to confide in. Having to maintain that facade. A wonderful husband and two children -- and I was never there. Always off on another ‘project’ half-way around the world. Then I retired -- early -- and stumbled into Home by accident.

Miracles: nobody recognized me. Nobody wanted anything from me. Nobody was trying to get something or to use me for anything. People actually took me at (avatar) face value -- I could be anything/anyone and it didn’t matter. For the first time in my life, I could be on a level playing field -- listening to someone without having to wonder what they wanted. Revealing inner thoughts I would never have told to a business colleague. Trusting people to just be themselves and to let me just be someone they liked to spend time with.

Then I got in a conversation (in the Singstar Disco) with this intelligent young man (Norse) who listened to some of my ideas about Home and suggested I talk to NJRamal and MsCooco about writing for the HomeStyles magazine. Then Norse edited, polished, and pruned my ideas into publishable form -- and I was ecstatic. To be able to write down those observations and share them -- and get feedback from others -- and to be treated just like everyone else! Next, a group of writers from HomeStyles spun off Home Station Magazine and invited me to come with them. The ability to add new ideas in text online in the magazine whenever I wake up at 3 am shrieking Eureka! and not have to wait months to see it in print was an overwhelming attraction.

So now, I spend about 8 hours a day in Home -- hanging out with YOU, my friends, in the Forum, writing for the magazine online, losing money rapidly in Midway, decorating each new personal space that grabs my fancy, doing fashion shoots for Joanna’s marvelous Fashion Runway, training and racing my dolphies, going to parties with the Homelings and Grey Gamers, moseying around on the beach, in CP, in the disco, and all the other great public spaces ‘people watching’ and looking for interesting conversations. Then another great 8 hours with my husband, family members, and neighbors ( I won’t bore you with all those activities because there are hundreds of them). And, finally, 8 hours of sleep -- where I should be right now. See ya!

P.S. you will also find my articles online at http://www.hsmagazine.net in my “investigative reporter” persona: DarthGranny

However, I take exception to the accusation. I have a life, and it is here. And yes, I have a real-world life too; but more often than not these days I entertain (or bore, or alarm) my real-world friends with tales of my virtual existence: the latest public spaces, my latest avatar-acquaintance, the endlessly-fascinating (or just plain endless) soap-opera politics of the Homelings. My more savvy friends are now taking the initiative, and asking “So what’s new with the Collective?” In many ways it feels like I am living two lives at once, and the virtual one is more interesting.

But there is a third life developing between the two: my ever-expanding involvement with user-created content, which can manifest on Home or in other venues. Joining the PlayStation.com Forums was the first step in that transition. On the Forums, I could step back from the virtual world and post micro-essays on my experience. This spilled back into Home, as total strangers approached me to compliment my latest post.

My move into the third life took a major step when I joined the Homelings. The Collective is nothing if not a major work of user-created content. Soon, I was organizing in-world art shows and poetry readings. These were reported in the web of user-created media that surrounds Home. And, once again, Home users approached me in-world to comment on these events. Some have become a permanent part of my friend list.

My most recent foray into the third life came when I joined the writing staff of HomeStation Magazine. I love what NorseGamer and the other staff are doing here — reporting on Home as the serious experiment it is, in a way that engages educated, thinking adults.

So, for me, Home is an expanding set of ripples — not only the application itself, but all the things that the Home users have made of it. I love the world that we are building together. And I’m so very delighted to be a part of it.