Delight...My Year in There

 

My name is Delight, and I was graciously asked to share my Life-In-There story and how this past year has been for me, including some of the ups and downs.

I first joined the game back in 2003 during the old beta days. At the time, it felt like one of the most innovative and magical experiences on the internet. Like many longtime players, I watched the game grow, change, close in 2010, and eventually reopen. When it returned, I happily came back and continued my journey.

Over the years, the population naturally declined, although there were moments when activity surged again. One of the biggest revivals came during the COVID quarantine period. With more people staying home, I became much more active in the game once again.

During that time, I discovered a talent I never knew I had: graphic design. I became heavily involved in creating avatar clothing, accessories, and other designs, and it opened up a creative side of myself that I truly enjoyed exploring.

As life became busier and the population decreased again, I gradually stepped away. Real-life responsibilities and personal circumstances took priority, and for a while I wasn’t very active.

Everything changed when the Globatron video got released in April of 2025. Interestingly, nobody had informed me that the game was experiencing a resurgence. I happened to come across the video on my YouTube feed about it, and that brought me back. I was amazed to see so many familiar faces returning alongside countless new members joining for the first time.

As a Phoenix Star, I spent a great deal of time on the walkways welcoming newcomers and helping them learn the game. I was so excited by the renewed energy that I used nearly all of my paid time off from work just to be there and participate.

I hosted numerous events and even created my own weekly event, Cozy Night‑In with my longtime friend Tutu, which takes place every Friday. I also co‑host Buggy Bash events every Saturday night with my partner‑in‑crime, Kiryahava.

One particularly memorable experience involved Globatron, the creator of the video. While recording his original video, he had hoped to collaborate with me near the end in a fashion‑show segment after hearing from others that I frequently used to host fashion events. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in‑world at the time, so it never happened.

Later, when we finally met and talked about it, I offered to host a fashion show myself. I was able to introduce him to the fashion side of things in There and give him the experience he originally wanted to capture. It was a fun and meaningful moment that came full circle. (You can actually see that event featuring me for a couple seconds on his sequel video: https://youtu.be/6XjRNNkAKRM?si=krY0lmDfYgFwrOqf&t=2112)

Since returning, I’ve remained very involved with the community, participating in weekly themes, events, and helping wherever I can. Overall, my life in There experience has improved tremendously since coming back. The renewed community spirit, the return of old friends, the arrival of new players, and the opportunity to contribute through events and creativity have all reminded me why I fell in love with this game in the first place.

Life in There has been more than just a game for me; it has been a place of creativity, friendship, and community for over two decades, and I’m grateful to still be part of its story.