Considering that boating, sailing, and diving are among the very few activities in Second Life that function reliably but also continue to attract an engaged, creative community, it’s honestly baffling that the Community Islands in the Blake Sea have been left untouched for — what is it now? — 17 years? Seventeen. That's not just a long time in virtual-world terms, it's practically a digital ice age. Meanwhile, the Blake Sea remains the central artery of Second Life — the core maritime network connecting the continents, and arguably one of the only places where the grid feels alive, immersive, and socially dynamic.

Yet the infrastructure looks like something out of 2007 — because, well, it is. With all the advancements in mesh, environment systems, and scripting tools, it’s not as if the technical limitations are insurmountable. In fact, a small, focused team could probably refresh the entire set of islands in a week or less. So it raises the question: Why hasn’t this been done? Is there a fear that improving one of the most consistently active areas of the grid might accidentally make the user experience too enjoyable? Or is it just easier to roll out shiny new products and ignore the parts of the platform that people actually use and love?

The Blake Sea isn’t just some peripheral backwater — it’s a living, breathing hub of user-driven content and activity. If anything deserves a little attention (and perhaps a modern texture or two), it’s this space. Or do we have to wait until Second Life’s silver jubilee for someone to dust off the prims?"