GNI Gathering

I just got back from this year's GNI Gathering and somehow it seems to get even better each year. This I returned for the full-week option as I did my first year. I have to say that I am majorly tired, but would trade a single minute. It was great seeing guys that I met from previous years as well as meeting new friends. Some people memories:

• First I have to mention the guys in my cabin as well as our sister cabin. We all know each other fairly well and most are pretty good friends whom had travelled together previously. As usual, they are just an awesome group of guys to be around and to have in my life.
• I saw T from Boston for the third year in a row. The BF and I also visited him an his partner in Boston and Vermont in June this year and at the time he was considering not returning. I posted about it before here and here. I'm glad he did decided to return and would like to believe that my encouragement had a little to do with it. We spent several nights dancing the night away and closing the dance club together. T and I have always just shared a special bond.
• Two really cool guys from NY whom I have become close to over the years. I was disappointed to hear that JN wasn't returning, but was told that A would be there. I was kinda disappointed when I arrived last Sunday and he wasn't there, but was simply elated he arrived mid-week.
• I met A from California on my first night there near the bonfire and we instantly became friends. He called me his "chocolaton", which I found very endearing. A just had a radiant personality such that you just couldn't help being drawn into him. He fit it quite well.
• I remember spending time speaking with R from Boston. It was his first year so I asked him what he thought of the place so far. I already knew the answer because he had an ear-to-ear grin that he just couldn't erase from his face for days. Nonetheless, his answer blew me away as he struggled for words to describe the experience for him.

Of course there were many, MANY others. Then there were the daily, themed cocktail parties, the dancing, the costumes and the shows. As for sex... of course there was plenty of that too. Not in common places as that is against the rules, but there are more than enough places to go for those who desire to do so. Then of course there was the annual 100-man J/O session.

I definitely want to post more photos, but I just returned and am trying to rest as well as I can before flying out to Burning Man in the morning.

Prayer for Burning Man

I read this on the Gay Burners website today that I thought felt very welcoming:

Dear Burgins, everyone had their first year. Everyone understands and most will help you along your way. May the wind be at your backs and your party be on. May you walk away changed and blessed and enlightened. Bless you all…

Marriage Equality

I was struck by this graphic that I came across today. Wow how things are a-changing! The geek in me can't help but notice how linear/straight the lines are. One thing I've never understood about the gay marriage debate is why doesn't the "full faith and credit" clause of the consistution require each state to recognize gay marriages performed in another state. I can understand how a state could legislate that it wouldn't issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples, but instituting a law the specifically and directly states that one state will not honor a marriage performed in another seems clearly unconsitutional. Then again... I'm not a lawyer so what do I know.

Tom Hardy

I came across this quote a couple of weeks ago from Tom Hardy, who played a prominent role in the movie Inception:

As a boy? Of course I have. I'm an actor for ****'s sake. I've played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I'm in my thirties, it doesn't do it for me. - Tom Hardy 

Typically it is the Kinsey 0s and 6s that first become comfortable with their sexuality. I wish that the many shades of gray could become as comfortable as Tom is.

100 Naked Gay Boys

I've had the opportunity twice recently to visit a friend who has a country/vacation home a good ways outside of Richmond. I've posted about this place before here and here.

The trip was actually a large event held through one of the local nudist groups. I don't know how many people actually showed up, but just over 100 RSVP'd. The hosts have quite a few beds since they have people over often, but to support a crowd of this size, there were also guys on air mattresses in the basement, in the other two structures on the property as well as numerous guys that brought tents. I really love these parties because the combination of nudity, sun and the stress-free environment promotes bonding with others on a level that is rare in the normal world. This trip was absolutely no different.

The food was way better than I would have expected and the bar was well-stocked. Saturday night there was a very interesting S&M demonstration near the fire pit. Just after the demo, it started to rain so I ducked into a nearby tent for a little while, which turned out to be a very fun diversion. I actually fell asleep in the tent as I waited for the rain to subside before eventually just giving up and returning to the house in the rain. The funny thing is that what sounded like a downpour hitting the tent was really just a light drizzle so I really waited for no reason at all. That was OK by me though as I wouldn't have changed one moment of it.

I didn't take any pics this time around, so I uploaded a pic I took about 2 years ago while at the same place.