On Feeling Home

 While floating in the pool the other day, I was reflecting on how much I feel at home at Ku'Lani. I thought back to when, after a long absence from SL, I used an old landmark which brought me to an old landing spot: I splashed into a swamp. Lani immediately yelled welcomes, plucked me from the mud, and brought me to the pool. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and, wow, people were actually animatedly chatting in local, so rare in SL! It was warm and fuzzy, and memorable, so I never really left. But how did others come to call Ku'Lani home?

 I offered some of you a simple question: “What is the moment, or the circumstances, that made you decide that Ku'Lani was home, based on whatever the word home means to you?” I'm grateful to all of you who took the time to speak with me. Here is a selection of some of your responses (some have been abridged.)

 “The people are kind, witty, pleasant to be around, and I heard there's horseback riding (I still haven't found it though!). There's always something going on, and fun people hanging around!” (Sparkles)

 “The people and especially the staff were fun and down to earth. I felt a connection with the people and especially the staff that resonated with me. I loved the whole vibe of the place from the moment I came here.” (Cala)

 “It was in a hard moment of my RL where I got total support from my Ku'Lani family” (Acchiles)

 “It's been my home for many years already! As soon as the houses were set up I got one. The people were all so friendly, I started DJing there and I got hooked just being with everyone, and no one would judge anyone's sexuality.” (Guinness)

 “I stumbled into Ku'Lani about three years ago and I felt welcomed right away. I chatted with people, and made friends! One of my new friends shared pride outfit ideas with me, another invited us both over to his place after the party. The beauty of the sim, the relaxed atmosphere, and the welcoming people all made me want to stay, but it was that invitation to see a new friends home that made me want to make Ku'Lani home too.” (Snow)

 “When I first met Lani, I was a cat.  She's the most lovely accepting person and I just knew this would be a place I can come back to any time without worry.” (Carlton)

 “Home is not a single place, not a house or a patch of sand! Home can be a person, a feeling or a community where your heart is held, your spirit is set free and you are drawn back to time and time again because you are loved. Like a warm blanket, a cup of tea in my favorite mug, laughter and a tight hug from my best friend. From the moment I landed at KuLani it was home.” (Sal)

 “When deciding to host in full drag was not only supported by the staff but fully embraced by the Ku'Lani community, the fun back and forth really was very encouraging.” (Red)

“It really is the people I think -- everyone is so welcoming and friendly, and respectful. The promotion of real inclusiveness and freedom was refreshing considering how a lot of the grid can be sometimes. The sim being beautiful and having a lot of thought put into the build and details helps as well, but I'd definitely put that it actually feels like a community first.”  (Kami)

 

“It was a number of things, however one moment that made me realize I had found "Home" and "Family" made all the difference. I had left Ku'Lani for a brief period of time, and while I was wandering the grid hopelessly looking for some other place to call home, I was getting messages passed through a mutual friend that Lani was asking after me. That she was checking on me. It was then that I realized someone, one single human being on this grid noticed my absence. When every where else I went to, they barely said hello, barely took notice that I had tp'd into their sim. This one single beautiful human being was asking after me. ME! I took a deep breath and came back, that was 6 years ago. I've not left Ku'Lani since. This is my Home. And these people are my Family. They are Love & Light. That's what makes Ku'Lani My Forever Home.”  (Rhae)

 “The exact moment I decided Kulani was home when I landed. Everyone was so nice and the interaction I had with them was out of this world. It felt personal and something done with love unlike some sims I have been to.” (Myth)

 In closing, I'll share co-owner Morri's vision of what “home” in the Ku'Lani context means to her: “Home is where you can be your most authentic and unapologetic self. It's the place where you can be weird and vulnerable. Where you don't need filters or censorship. In SL, home is Ku'Lani. I don't know how many times I said it over the course of the anniversary weekend but at Ku'Lani, we don't care how you love or what you look like. We care about the human behind the avatar. And as long as you aren't a raging ass hat, we love you for you!”

 Next Time:  What's the most embarrassing or funny thing that's happened to you at Ku'Lani?   Share your shame!   Some of your stories may be used in an upcoming Ku'Lani blog post.  IM Tig (tigress.babii).