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Sep. 20th, 2005 07:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
growler_southOn my holiday I went to San Francisco. For months before I went I was excited about experiencing the gay centre of the universe, the bears at starbears, the crowded tight community of a small city with a big heart. But something changed in the last couple of months.
So when I arrived in San Francisco I wont say I was disappointed- it was everything I'd expected and more, eye candy as far as the eye could see, steep streets and tall buildings, history around every corner. But it just didnt work for me- I felt hemmed-in, the overwhelming gayness of the castro made me slightly uncomfortable, the city was tight and claustrophobic.
I made some wonderful friends while I was there though- lovely Jeff and Phil, all the naughty bears at starbears, the happy folk at the restaurants and bars.
So why am I saying I'll be back soon? Because I got out of the city and into the country. The beautiful, dry, huge open countryside. Days in Napa and Grass Valley put me at ease- the US is not all about charming people living in cramped cities, those same generous people also live in the sort of places I could happily call home.
And then there was Erich. My ejoyment of the holiday was definitely tainted by knowing I was using 2 weeks of my precious holiday time to be somewhere he wasnt... and when we finally met it was even more crushing to know that we only had a few days together. I want to spend more time with that man- weeks and years. He's suave and charming, but also loves the simple things- good food, wine, music... and the city made him as uncomfortable as it made me!
Which leads me to the final tale from SF...we dropped Erich off at the airport for his 5pm flight, I held it together long enough to wave goodbye and hop back in the car, and then it was all over. By the time I got back to the Lonestar I had cleaned up a bit but my eyes were hugely puffy and pink- thank god for dark glasses and beer. Lots of beer. I made my goodbyes to Boof and Andy (I saw Andy's willy too. In public. He's so naughty) and then it was time for me to go to the airport. Saying goodbye to Fish and Robbie set me off again- this time though I was in the airport where dark glasses would have been a litle strange and, frankly, I didnt care. As a result of my tears though I got a real nice seat on the plane and the cabin attendant plied me with gin and tonic- before service had officially started and for hours after. Alcohol, the universal therapy. I still get a bit teary when thinking about Erich though...
So when I arrived in San Francisco I wont say I was disappointed- it was everything I'd expected and more, eye candy as far as the eye could see, steep streets and tall buildings, history around every corner. But it just didnt work for me- I felt hemmed-in, the overwhelming gayness of the castro made me slightly uncomfortable, the city was tight and claustrophobic.
I made some wonderful friends while I was there though- lovely Jeff and Phil, all the naughty bears at starbears, the happy folk at the restaurants and bars.
So why am I saying I'll be back soon? Because I got out of the city and into the country. The beautiful, dry, huge open countryside. Days in Napa and Grass Valley put me at ease- the US is not all about charming people living in cramped cities, those same generous people also live in the sort of places I could happily call home.
And then there was Erich. My ejoyment of the holiday was definitely tainted by knowing I was using 2 weeks of my precious holiday time to be somewhere he wasnt... and when we finally met it was even more crushing to know that we only had a few days together. I want to spend more time with that man- weeks and years. He's suave and charming, but also loves the simple things- good food, wine, music... and the city made him as uncomfortable as it made me!
Which leads me to the final tale from SF...we dropped Erich off at the airport for his 5pm flight, I held it together long enough to wave goodbye and hop back in the car, and then it was all over. By the time I got back to the Lonestar I had cleaned up a bit but my eyes were hugely puffy and pink- thank god for dark glasses and beer. Lots of beer. I made my goodbyes to Boof and Andy (I saw Andy's willy too. In public. He's so naughty) and then it was time for me to go to the airport. Saying goodbye to Fish and Robbie set me off again- this time though I was in the airport where dark glasses would have been a litle strange and, frankly, I didnt care. As a result of my tears though I got a real nice seat on the plane and the cabin attendant plied me with gin and tonic- before service had officially started and for hours after. Alcohol, the universal therapy. I still get a bit teary when thinking about Erich though...
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Date: 2005-09-19 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 10:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 10:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 08:42 pm (UTC)::chin-scruff::
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Date: 2005-09-19 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 09:08 pm (UTC)*lick*
It was sad to see you go, dear Growler, but I know you'll be back. Or, you just might find a wanderin' Beast prowling your island sometime.
*purrr*
no subject
Date: 2005-09-19 10:40 pm (UTC)(What's the moderne equivalent of a "broken record"?)
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Date: 2005-09-19 11:50 pm (UTC)I gotta get down to SF to say hi to folks sometime in October. Won't be anything like your trip, of course.
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Date: 2005-09-20 01:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-20 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-20 04:19 am (UTC)Still, sounds like a memorable trip in so many way. I hope you've lots of memories to cherish.
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Date: 2005-09-20 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-20 07:38 am (UTC)Hopefully next time you're this way
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Date: 2005-09-20 11:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-25 05:51 pm (UTC)The City can be very intense even with, or maybe because of, all the hansom and friendly men. The country around the Bay Area is beautiful, I hope you come back and explore more of it.
May your time with Erich be ever more plentiful.