Up until this past Sunday evening, things were pretty good, I suppose.
I had a great job Managing at the Wharf, lots of friends.. I had just celebrated my 2nd Rezday on SL - Saturday.
Then the Wharf closed the next day, on this past Sunday. We were all a bit dumbstruck.
I was given ownership of the group, and all of a sudden - I'd gone from being the Manager to being something else. I was the guy that a lot of you turned to looking for what we needed to do.
I am a good planner - when I have most of the variables. I get a bit fuzzy when the way forward isn't that clear - who doesn't? But I felt this burning desire to push forward to get back what was lost. And that kept the motion forward going.
I could dwell on the sense of loss, hurt, anger, confusion that sort of hovered around like a cloud the first few hours. Hell, I took the whole thing rather calmly. I didn't know any more than anyone else did. But I think I had worked a few things out, so it wasn't quite a shock. And I truly understood WHY it happened. But I'm not going to dwell on that.
To be honest, we find ourselves in a situation that could not have been better than if we had left things the way they were.
Friendships have grown closer, and new ones are forming. With change comes opportunity. And this is a golden one.
People started to pull together Sunday night. And it kept building. The sense of support I have felt in the last 5 days has been humbling. It has nearly brought me to tears to be honest. It has shored up my determination to do everything I can to make this new "wharf" or clubhouse or whatever we want to call it - work.
This merry band of misfits that we are, and all the friends and party-goers that we have and will entertain, that's what I want to give us back - a place for us to gather, have fun, hang out, joke, and experience each other in that intimate way we have come to enjoy so much.
We needed a new home. We've got one. We're building the new club. It WILL be done soon. I won't give an exact date, but soon is certainly within the next week, if not this weekend.
In the meantime, we can party on our good friend's Vince and Darla's "Crypt Dwelling" Clutch Cargo, like we have the last few nights. Or if we want, we can play on someone's land, have a house party. A lot of those that have clubs or are involved have made offers to let us use their places. That's really cool.
The point is.. I've felt a strong bonding, a feeling of togetherness through out the last 5 days that has left me at a loss to express to everyone what it means to me.
I just hope I'm up to the task of giving you back a place that you want to hang out together.
With all of us pulling together, it is NOT just me. I'm more just a traffic cop standing here, watching friends both old and new pull together to create something better for us all.
You are all throwing your passion into building the new place. And its going to be awesome.
The biggest contribution everyone can make, truly, is to look forward - not behind. Look to the future of what the Wharf has become, and see that we've actually grown stronger and closer for it.
If you are reading this, keep your eyes on the notices. I'll let you know when the new place opens. And we'll have one hell of a fab party *grin*
Dehr
PS - Koen- thank you so much for your support, and giving us a home.
I am amazed at all the hurt and anger by people. If people wanted the wharf to survive I would have thought they would have supported it by more than just showing up. Everyone was content to let me spend hundreds of dollars and lindens every month.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I owed or owe anyone anything. Things especially in second life change and sometimes change very quickly. I had an opportunity to rid my self of a financial burden (the two mostly empty sims) and it had to be done quickly to avoid losing the deal.
I was accused of putting money before friendship and of betrayal without even knowing any reason why I did what I did. It turns out that some 'friendships' were based purely on my owning the wharf, paying salaries, and tipping. There was no appreciation for all the effort, time and money Chester and I put into the Wharf, just condemnation. Those people I guess are not my friends now and probably not my friends before.
I have no regrets about my choice to sell the sims and shut down the wharf. I did learn a lot about some people and that is of real value.
Hey Finn - in my case, I was not hurt, or angry, I was a bit shocked, but we already talked about that. I know this whole experience was not easy either way. And you made the right choice for you and Chester's interests. I didn't fault you. I was more commenting on the general feeling of how people react when something happens suddenly. Anyway. The new wharf build is moving along.. and I hope you'll drop by to see it when you're on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dehr and you Finn because you were losing quite a sum of money. I was sad to learn you didn't get enough support to maintain and keep it, with all the traffic we got.
ReplyDeleteNow I actually see it as a good change with lots of potential for where the club is located. Looking forward to things and many of us are excited...wanting to help make it the best we can. There's been alot of teamwork in building and ideas. It's a priviledge to have these friends.
Looking forward to more great times together and hoping Finn and Ches can find time to drop in. <3
I was actually talking of those who attacked Chester and I both in IM and also were badmouthing us to others. I really think you handled the bombshell quite well Dehr and took the news as an opportunity. And there were some people though very few who IM'd and thanked us for providing The Wharf for as long as we did.
ReplyDeleteIt was the self involved asses who showed no appreciation for what Chester and I did for so long but chose to attack and vilify us that I was commenting on.
Oh yeah, and Chester and I are thrilled that the Wharf Rats will continue to gather and party with out us. I think it is great how everyone is pulling together to find a new home and knitting into a tighter family.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's really great how everyone is pulling together to build a new place and get it put together. Hopefully we'll have the new place up and running soon and a big shout out to Vince and Darla for helping out in this time of need! Finn the old Wharfs were great, a pleasant departure from the usual club scene and a welcome relief from the atmosphere at the cove.
ReplyDeleteFinnegus...We'd prefer to gather and party WITH you, for the record.
ReplyDeleteAll you did in the past was greatly appreciated by many of us, even the peons such as myself who didn't donate much because we were scraping to get by. *hugs*