Your gay lifestyle... what's it like?

[MrVisible]

It occurs to me, after a few of us made some remarks in another thread about how boring we are, that one of the things that stands between us and societal understanding is the fact that people just don't know what being gay is like. They talk about the gay lifestyle, but do they really know what that means?

Of course, everybody's lifestyle is different, but at least we can give an overview of sorts.

I'll start. Hmm... Nick and I have been together for almost five years. We live in a little house in a city in a desert, just the two of us and two dogs. One German Shepherd, who's getting on in years, and one pit bull, who's the cuddliest pit bull in the world.

Nick recently gave me the opportunity to return to school. He brings in enough at his job at a foster care agency to almost support us, seeing as our house is tiny and our expenses low. I go to school full-time and work part-time as a dispatcher.

This summer, I was supposed to be taking summer classes, but that didn't work out as planned, so I have the summer off. I'm using it to learn to paint, and to write a novel. I hope.

For fun, we tend to, well, um... shop. We wander through Sam's Club and Target and the malls, buying very little but laughing quite a bit. We both share a fascination with office supplies, so we tend towards those sections of the stores. Oh, and we're gadget freaks.

My mother lives here in town, so we visit with her quite a bit. She's brilliant, and funny, and loves Nick a lot, so we have a great time when we get together. Recently we repainted her living room for her as a birthday present.

On Saturday nights, we get together with a couple of friends and play board games. Except recently, the group has convinced me to start up another Dungeons and Dragons campaign, so we're doing that.

And that's life right now. It's comfortable, challenging, and happy.

And I love Nick more than I ever thought I'd ever love anyone. More than I ever knew people could love each other. And for some reason, he loves me too.

So what's your lifestyle like?

[Viki]

It occurs to me, after a few of us made some remarks in another thread about how boring we are, that one of the things that stands between us and societal understanding is the fact that people just don't know what being gay is like. They talk about the gay lifestyle, but do they really know what that means?

Of course, everybody's lifestyle is different, but at least we can give an overview of sorts.

I'll start. Hmm... Nick and I have been together for almost five years. We live in a little house in a city in a desert, just the two of us and two dogs. One German Shepherd, who's getting on in years, and one pit bull, who's the cuddliest pit bull in the world.

Nick recently gave me the opportunity to return to school. He brings in enough at his job at a foster care agency to almost support us, seeing as our house is tiny and our expenses low. I go to school full-time and work part-time as a dispatcher.

This summer, I was supposed to be taking summer classes, but that didn't work out as planned, so I have the summer off. I'm using it to learn to paint, and to write a novel. I hope.

For fun, we tend to, well, um... shop. We wander through Sam's Club and Target and the malls, buying very little but laughing quite a bit. We both share a fascination with office supplies, so we tend towards those sections of the stores. Oh, and we're gadget freaks.

My mother lives here in town, so we visit with her quite a bit. She's brilliant, and funny, and loves Nick a lot, so we have a great time when we get together. Recently we repainted her living room for her as a birthday present.

On Saturday nights, we get together with a couple of friends and play board games. Except recently, the group has convinced me to start up another Dungeons and Dragons campaign, so we're doing that.

And that's life right now. It's comfortable, challenging, and happy.

And I love Nick more than I ever thought I'd ever love anyone. More than I ever knew people could love each other. And for some reason, he loves me too.

So what's your lifestyle like?

Oh, amen! Gwen and I have been together 20 years this month and we've raised two developmentally challenged African-American children that no one else, including many, many respectable heterosexuals, wanted to give a chance. Guess what? In the home we've made they've thrived. A doctor stood by our daughter's bedside when she was 5 months old and unable to wake and prounouced her a vegetable. Gwen and I took her home, surrounded her with all sorts of stimuation and helped transform her into a human being who is about to turn 18 and who is enough of a human being to argue with ME on a regular basis.

Gwen never had a choice about being partnered with a woman - it was that or celibacy. I had a choice. So what?

I am also far from Godless. I am an ordained minister who really gets what Jesus was up to. It was radical. We try to live it out.

I have also earned a masters degree in developmental genetics and am ABD in biochemistry so please don't think you could ever win an discussion with me about genetics, nature and nuture. Whoever you were you were right to bow out before you were shamed. Sure, there isn't one gay gene. Instead, dear friend, there are many! And many environments too that shape us. And it's all beyond your ability to calculate.

Finally, the truth is God delights in all of it.

[donald...really]

Oh, how fun. I certainly won't win any prizes for my writing style, but I can at least share a little about my "homosexual lifestyle".

Scott and I have been together 11 years this July 28. Luckily we live in the great state of Massachusetts and we were legally married last year on the 10th anniversary of the day that we met. Yes, WE are the threat to traditional marriage that everyone is talking about!

I knew Scott and I were meant for each other as soon as I met him, but it took me about 10 months to know that I loved him. What I didn't realize is that I would love him more each day we spend together. He truly is one of the most caring, funny, honest, wonderful people I have ever met, and I am so lucky he is letting me share a life with him. On Thanksgiving we tell each other what we are thankful for. My list has one item on it: "I am thankful that I wake up each morning and get to spend another day with you in my life."

How is this for a wild and crazy "lifestyle": we get up during the week at 5:15am and are out of the house at 6:30 for our two hour commute into the city. We don't get home from work until 6:30pm (I am a graphic designer and Scott is a university administrator). We cook dinner, take our pugs Fester and Weasley for a walk at the local dog walking farm (if they weren't in doggy day care that day), come home from the walk, get ready for bed, and are in bed by 9:30. We haven't had television for close to two years now because we don't have time to watch it. On Saturday I work in a home for severly mentally challenged adults as a massage therapist, where I massage the residents. And on Sunday we host the Newburyport Pug Club (see the website link in my signature) which we started a few years ago. And when we aren't working or hosting a dozen or two pugs in our back yard, we are doing laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing the car, etc. etc. etc.

We have never been to Gay Days at Disney World, haven't been to a gay bar in ages, haven't been to a gay pride parade in about 10 years, have never been on a gay cruise. I really can't think of the last time we did anything "gay". We are the least "gay" gay people I know.

Anyway, that's our story. Sorry to have bored you all with my wild and crazy "gay lifestyle".

[OrlandoMike]

My partner and I have been together over 10 years now.

We get up, feed the cats, fish, fill the bird feeder, feed the fish in the pond outside and go to work.

When we get home we either cook dinner, or go out for a nice meal and some shopping. On our days off we pay bills, do yard work, laundry, house work, and visit with friends.

Bored yet?

Ya I know, no Disco's. No orgys. No "agenda". Ah if only our lives were exciting as the other side makes us out to be! But to be honest, when we get done with work, maintaining the house, and visiting with friends, who has time to change the world!

PS we also live in Florida, the one and only state where we cant even adopt a child, and in our state there are thousands of children waiting for a home, go figure!

By the way, I have a 28 year old cousin who just moved into the area, she leaves the house nightly at 11 to go out "dancing" and doesn't return till 3:00 the next afternoon! Yet my "lifestyle" is the one under a microscope! Go figure!

Pretty sure if the "moral majority" group met us, they would be pretty bored with our lifestyle!

Mike

[DVC~OKW~96]

Gosh, another boring couple here. We've been together for nearly 11 years. We are both employed in the social service (private not for profit, not public funding) sector. One for hospice one in the training and gerontology field.

We own our own home. Have one car that needs to last at least one more year! It's still getting over thirty miles to the gallon (will be ten next year!) but really is looking pretty scruffy.

We grow culinary herbs, roses and plumeria, have APs for WDW, don't care for US/IOA, are sometimes seen at Seaworld, and never at BG.

Her Mom lives nearby. We visit her every Sunday and do odd chores for her that she no longer can. We actually moved in with her to take care of her post op cardiac and post op tkr.

Our house is little, but a two story and we have a pool. It's where we spend much of our time. We grill on the lanai, swim and float in the pool and have been known to have a refreshing drink or two.

We have relatives in Jax who come to visit, but not often enough. Relatives also visit (but not often enough!) from California, Arizona, Ohio, New York, New Jersey and other areas of Florida.

We love seafood, but prefer that it come from the cold waters of the north east.

We are both degreed professionals.

Hmmmm... what else...

Oh, yes. We are so unoriginal in appearance we have both been mistaken for nuns. It's our private little giggle.

We don't have many friends outside the family as we really keep our home space incredibly private.

We are not hugely political (anymore) but will don a logo shirt from time to time, are members of HRC, stop in at Gay Days in WDW if there is time (but we don't wear red because it's too darn hot in June).

No pets.

We love to walk, ride bikes, read, surf the 'net...

Are you asleep yet? LOL!

[DVC~OKW~96]

OH! Nearly forgot!

We are addicted to browsing office supply stores and Home Depots! LOLOL!

Hey, it's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!

[SandraVB79]

What?? No orgies, wild parties, ....?????

Just kidding! As if your life style would be different from mine. The only difference I have noticed once in a while, is that many times gay couples have more money to spend than hetero couples. Don't know what the deal is (would like to find out about it, though, maybe it's not a gay-exclusive thing!)

[MrVisible]

What?? No orgies, wild parties, ....?????

Just kidding! As if your life style would be different from mine. The only difference I have noticed once in a while, is that many times gay couples have more money to spend than hetero couples. Don't know what the deal is (would like to find out about it, though, maybe it's not a gay-exclusive thing!)
Maybe that's your experience, but don't make the mistake of believing that it's the norm. We aren't, as a social class, any better off than anyone else. Personally, I have... um... fourteen dollars to last me until next Tuesday. And that's a bit better than last week.

It's common to believe that gay people are better off than straight people, and it's used as a basis for a lot of anti-gay resentment. Here's some statistics from an interesting article in The Village Voice (http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0125,hollibaugh,25699,1.html):
# Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals do not earn more than heterosexuals, or live in more affluent households.

# Gay men earn 13 to 32 percent less than similarly qualified straight men (depending on the study).

# Though lesbians and bisexual women have incomes comparable to straight women—earning 21 percent less than men—lesbian couples earn significantly less than heterosexual ones.
The second one hits home pretty hard for me. I had a great job a few years back, doing IT work for a hospital. One morning my boyfriend dropped me off at work, and I gave him a quick kiss goodbye. My boss saw us. Three weeks later, I was laid off, for entirely unrelated reasons of course.

That's the least of it. There's no official count, but there are estimates that nearly half of the homeless people under 18 are gay or lesbian.

The wealthy gay people are the ones people notice, just like people notice rich straight people. But trust me, there are plenty of gay people just struggling to get by, or just not getting by at all.

[wallyb]

Paul and I live in Boston...right in the city.
We have another (tiny) home in Maine - right on a lake.
My whole family lives on that lake as well.

We’re mostly home bodies, but we do go to a few nice restaurants and the theater from time to time.

I’m a designer and Paul works for the state.

We got "officially/ legally" married a year ago (hope I did'nt get that wrong and it was actually 2 years ago -
I'm so bad with that stuff - any way, no matter that was just the state recognized one). Our REAL anniversary -
when we first met and started to live together is this spring - will be 25 years.
We met in college and just seemed to fit.

We love to go to Vegas for the pageantry, restaurants and shows.
We love to go to WDW for the pageantry, restaurants and shows (and rides).
I paint as a hobby for myself and friends.
Paul reads books at breakneck speed.
We have an English Bull Terrier named Stella that we indulge every whim.
We spoil my 2 nephews as much as possible.
And oddly - we don’t have a lot of gay friends - and I’m not sure why but most of our friends are straight.

[LauraAnn630]

PS we also live in Florida, the one and only state where we cant even adopt a child, and in our state there are thousands of children waiting for a home, go figure!

This is REALLY upsetting to find out about! It makes me mad! There are so many children that need good families and guidence. Its ok for people to give them up? But its not ok for a decent human beings to raise them? None of its ok in my book!!

My 9 yr old just asked me the other day what gay meant. I told him the truth. I said some men decide to live the rest of there lives with another man. Sometimes a women will decide to live the rest of her life with another girl.

I went on to say...it dosent matter as long as you are happy. I dont care if you decide to share your life with a black or white person. If you find love, happiness, honesty and respect with another human being then you are lucky!! So many people get divorced these days.

Funny, this is not how I was raised. Id like to think Im breaking the chain of ignorance in my family!

[Nisa]

OK, I'll add to the mix. My partner & I have been together for 10 years this December. Before that we were best friends from the moment we met when I got a job at the same company she worked for. Unfortunately I was married and it took me a while to realize that I didn't have to live a life of abuse and a life that "everyone" expected. Two years after I got divorced I "made my move" on her and the rest is history. We live in NC; just bought a new house (our second), I work for the state and she's an accountant. We have a dog, cat, several fish and most importantly a 13 year old son, who is into soccer, lacrosse, football, hockey and recently got certified to scuba dive. He and my partner both have an amazing sense of humor and our house is usually filled with laughter from someone telling a joke or trying to "get" the other. We get up at 5 and are gone to work by 6:30. Home from work around 5, cook dinner, go to any sport activity that is currently in, clean up, pick up dog poop, homework, watch TV and then to bed. Most of our friends are straight but we have met some gay people lately. We don't go to gay bars (or any bars), no gay parades, no gays days, nothing. We do go to Disney every year and LOVE it! We eat and ride rides and eat some more. That's about it....pretty boring but I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Saxton]

Another boring **** here! I head up an IT department (yes, I’m a geek) and since I work in a very conservative environment I look like any other business professional wearing a suit and going to the office - I would blend in to any crowd. I own a small brick ranch style house in the suburbs. Yesterday was a pretty typical day - I got up at 5:45am, exercised, showered and went to work. I left the office at around 6:00, went to BJs (that’s were I can get lost!!), took out the garbage, worked in my garden for a while and watched the Yankees. Pretty exciting! I rarely go out to the bars and if I do it will be for happy hour with a few friends. I spend a lot of time taking care of my house, tending my garden, reading and listening to music. I also travel quite a bit. I love good food and good wine, in fact, some friends of mine own a winery and I help them out a bit when I can. My parents are elderly so I try to spend time with them and usually have dinner with them on Sunday. Oh, and I go to church every week & I’ve never gone to any gay parade.

The media tends to focus on those with outrageous behavior so that’s what most people think of. However, I think the majority of us live quiet, contented lives and we are the norm - we are the invisible homosexuals!

[Saxton]

Funny, this is not how I was raised. Id like to think Im breaking the chain of ignorance in my family!

Good for you!! Hopefully, with more people like you the next generation will make the world a better place.:thumbsup2

[BigTiggerGuy]

Well, while we are not big party boys or anything but I like to think that Paul and I still have a fun social life(I'm a YOUNG 35 and he is 32). July 4th will be our 8 year anniversary. We live in a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhouse just outside of Atlantic City with our two cats. We both work in the casinos(me-HR and Paul in Marketing). Our friends are a good mix of gay and straight. Actually, tonight we are having 3 of our gay friends over for a dinner party(filet mignon and martinis on the back deck!)
We like to spend our money on vacations(not the most pratical thing, I know, but we work very hard and taking trips makes us happy :goodvibes ) When I'm not working I usually can be found at the gym, the beach or hanging out with my friends. Sorry, I don't go out and party until 4am or do any kind of drugs. We are just two regular guys going about our lives and trying our hardest to be "good" people........although I have a tendency to be all about ME! :Pinkbounc (I've always been an attention hog and luckily Paul would rather fade into the background!)
Anyway, that's us in an oversized martini glass............. :goodvibes

[mickeyfan2]

We both share a fascination with office supplies, so we tend towards those sections of the stores.
DH makes fun of me when he finds me in the office supplies. I love to look at the Staples and Office Max back to school sales. He says my other dream job (Disney is first) is to be an supply cabinet person. I could spend the entire day deciding about office supplies. :rotfl:

[mickeyfan2]

That's the least of it. There's no official count, but there are estimates that nearly half of the homeless people under 18 are gay or lesbian.
I have heard this too. It is so sad and probably a result of their parents not accepting them.


This is just a question, no offense ment. Is the word gay only a term for homosexual men? Also where did the term straight come from for us heterosexuals? I tend to not like that word, but it could just be me.

[RickinNYC]

Wow, you folks really are pretty boring! LOL! Just like Joe and I.

We've been together for more than 15 years and not a night goes by that we don't give each other a hug and kiss goodnight followed by a sleep "I love you." He's my absolute best friend and one of the most caring, loving, outgoing people I know, bar none.

We live in Forest Hills, Queens with Bill, the dog from Hell. He's not really evil, just a bit grumpy from time to time. He's been a part of our life for more than 10 years and we pray every day for at least 10 more. He's already starting to get a bit creaky in the knees when we take him for his evening constitutional. And yeah, we do focus our lack of children on Bill. No, that doesn't mean we dress him up in clothes or put bows in his hair. I think he'd kill us in our sleep if we ever did that. We just smother him with affection and buy him more cookies and toys than he knows what to do with.

Joe and I met through another friend many years ago when we both happened to be at the same bar. I thought he was a nice guy, but I had just gotten out of a relationship the year prior and didn't want to commit myself to anyone, nor did I want to date. I just wanted to concentrate on my career.

Joe, however, told me that when he saw me, he knew I was the one. He said he immediately saw my eyes and thought, "emeralds." When we first met, we went to the movies, out to dinner, met friends for drinks but I wouldn't give him a kiss. I knew he liked me and I didn't want to mislead him by sending mixed signals. But one night I just knew it in my heart that I couldn't fight it any longer and after nine (yes NINE) dates, I finally kissed him. More than 15 years later, we're both reaching 40 and we still hold hands and haven't run out of conversation at the dinner table. To this day, when it's quiet, he still looks at me and very quietly says "emeralds" and it makes me melt.

Joe spent 16 years at the same publishing house, working in contracts in their legal department. He did well, but never felt rewarded by what he was doing. He had always wanted to be an English teacher but never made the effort to make the career switch. I'm proud to say that he finally has and is teaching 7th grade English at a local junior high. He has a BA and Master's in English, is certified to teach in NY state and is currently getting his second Master's in Education.

I have a BA in psychology and sociology, with a minor in childhood and behavioral development. Somehow I also minored in play writing but have yet to figure out how I managed that. In any case, I spent 12 years as a national account manager in sales and marketing, doing a lot of travelling for work and chasing the almight commission. I did well financially but never really loved what I was doing.

Five years ago in September, 2001, I did a huge amount of soul searching and did a career switch. I worked for a non-profit in food rescue, managing more than 1,500 volunteers. I now work for another non-profit that provides direct service to homeless men and women in New York City. At the time I was hired, they did not have a volunteer program to speak of, so they brought me on to create a deparment. Today, we have more than 200 very active volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. I have the best job in the world, surrounded by enthusiastic and energetic people who want to make a difference in the lives of others.

Joe and I spend our time reading, watching movies from Netflix. I have a bizaare fascination with all things horror in terms of books and movies. Joe loves the classics as well as contemporary authors the likes of John Irving. I call his books "wuss books" while he calls my movies "screaming girl movies." We both love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and rue the day they cancelled both.

Joe comes from New Jersey and was raised with his twin sister and older brother by a single mom on welfare. Unfortunately, both his parents died when they were young. His life had its hardships, with government cheese, donated clothes and free lunches. Yet, he's one of the happiest people I know and have the pleasure of being with.

I was raised in San Diego, Boston, Yokosuka (Japan) and Jacksonville, FL by a Naval officer anesthesiologist father and Japanese stay at home mother. I have an older brother and younger brother and all three of us are completely different. But we get along well. My parents were strict in raising us and made sure we appreciated God and went to church every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation. I was an altar server for years as well as a lector at our church when I was older. I want to go back to church, I miss it. But I can't right now because it makes me too angry to this day.

Joe was on the track team growing up, I swam and played baseball. I was in the Boy Scouts. Joe desperately wanted to join but his family couldn't afford the uniform. He was the first to go away to college in his entire family and was a fraternity boy in college. I was in student government, an orientation leader, student activities board, an RA and more.

We are surrounded by great friends, most of whom are happily partnered or married heterosexual couples. I do have one close friend who's gay, as does Joe. But that's about it.

I do go out with my best buddy from time to time for happy hour drinks but otherwise I head straight home for dinner. Joe is a horrible cook, while I've been known to be pretty good so I have to make sure he gets something to eat.

I'm incredibly neat while Joe crosses over into the "Holy Mother how can you live like this?" territory. I straighten up our home every single night before I go to bed. I have to or I get antsy. Joe can sleep surrounded by every item of clothing he owns lying on the floor and around him. Joe walks Bill for the most part while I cook. We share all other chores about the apartment.

A good day is spending it with Joe, doing nothing much. Maybe going to Target so I can stock up on cleaning supplies, or heading down to Barnes and Noble. We both get a little wierd if we don't have a stock of books on hand to select from so the pile never gets too low.

Our home is filled with lots of laughter, dog hair and a lot more love.

[Viki]

We love Buffy, Angel and (nonslasher) horror films!!!

[wallyb]

THIS - right here - is the BEST Gay Pride Parade I've ever seen!
:rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow:

It makes me happy to see so many "Normal" gay human beings.
"Hey look over here! - We're not freaks!"

Thanks Mr V for starting it! ;)

[PghLybrt]

I hate to break this chain ........but I guess my girl and I are the ones your mother warned you about!!

We have been together now almost 11 years and we have worked together at my company for most of them. I own a swimming pool company so we literally work our behinds off all summer (Last night I got home at 1030 and I started at 7am) but its all worth it because it gives us the freedom to be able to travel during the winter months and we do so extensively. We never miss our yearly pilgrimage to Disney. This past year we have been spending a lot of time in San Diego and we have some really good friends out there. We love Olivia (which is the lesbian vacations) they are an absolutely wonderful time. The only time where you are totally surrounded by people like yourself and totally at ease. We do like to party , we are the ones out at the bars till 3 am. I love to entertain and every year we have at least one big blowout (caterer, band, ect ect ...the kind of parties the neighbors hate) We live in a small town and a very conservative one at that so its fun to see the reactions to my girlfriends Mohawk or my ink and piercings or even us kissing for that matter.
Now we are not always gallivanting around and partying. We bought and renovated a 100 year old house ( my mother was appalled by my color choices). My girl is an artist so she spends much of her time in her studio and I really love putting together videos of our home movies. I recently just put a promo together of our last drag king show to run in the bar to promote the next one ( and yes we do that too). We love to spoil our nephews but have no inclination of ever wanting children ourselves. I enjoy being able to give them back to their parents. Even so we have 3 godchildren so our friends must think we are responsible enough to handle them!

[RickinNYC]

I hate to break this chain ........but I guess my girl and I are the ones your mother warned you about!!

We have been together now almost 11 years and we have worked together at my company for most of them. I own a swimming pool company so we literally work our behinds off all summer (Last night I got home at 1030 and I started at 7am) but its all worth it because it gives us the freedom to be able to travel during the winter months and we do so extensively. We never miss our yearly pilgrimage to Disney. This past year we have been spending a lot of time in San Diego and we have some really good friends out there. We love Olivia (which is the lesbian vacations) they are an absolutely wonderful time. The only time where you are totally surrounded by people like yourself and totally at ease. We do like to party , we are the ones out at the bars till 3 am. I love to entertain and every year we have at least one big blowout (caterer, band, ect ect ...the kind of parties the neighbors hate) We live in a small town and a very conservative one at that so its fun to see the reactions to my girlfriends Mohawk or my ink and piercings or even us kissing for that matter.
Now we are not always gallivanting around and partying. We bought and renovated a 100 year old house ( my mother was appalled by my color choices). My girl is an artist so she spends much of her time in her studio and I really love putting together videos of our home movies. I recently just put a promo together of our last drag king show to run in the bar to promote the next one ( and yes we do that too). We love to spoil our nephews but have no inclination of ever wanting children ourselves. I enjoy being able to give them back to their parents. Even so we have 3 godchildren so our friends must think we are responsible enough to handle them!


You rabble rouser you!

[joanjett1976]

Well, I must admit that since the addition of a 50' flat screen tv to the family, we have been living a non-exciting lifestyle :happytv:

Me and Val have been together for almost 4 years and living in Montreal (but evaluating a move to Toronto or Miami)

I work in a music television station which allows me three great things:
a-an expense account
b-frequent travels
c-the opportunity to corrupt teenage minds with loud music, scantily clad hoochies in hip hop videos and various reality shows starring paris hilton

I purchase shows and i pick music videos. But it is mostly a blurry sequence of meetings and emails.

Val just graduated university with a BA, specialty: fibres (not as in cereal but as in fabric). She is gearing up for a career in fashion design or styling.

We like travel, fancy foods, fashion, fancy drinks, movies & roller coasters.

We used to be quite interesting and run with the wolves (ok, ok, drink a lot of jack daniels and close the clubs at 4am).

Recently, only the following can push us out the front door:
a- a disney trip (planning, anticipating, purchasing...)
b- a cocktail party/opening featuring an open bar and gift bags
c-tonight's madonna concert!!

[mickeyfan1]

Dang, with all this excitement, I am sure that there will be a rush of people choosing to be gay now!

LOL, there are wild ones in every crowd and there are those who are stay at homes and everything in between. All the gay people I know are pretty much the stay at home, play with the kids and pets, do the usual house upkeep kind of people. Sounds pretty "normal" to me.

[MissMichelle]

Wow, you folks really are pretty boring! LOL! Just like Joe and I.

More than 15 years later, we're both reaching 40 and we still hold hands and haven't run out of conversation at the dinner table. To this day, when it's quiet, he still looks at me and very quietly says "emeralds" and it makes me melt.

Our home is filled with lots of laughter, dog hair and a lot more love.

REACHING 40??? How long ago was that pic taken? You both look amazing ;)

Gotta love the dog hair, I have enough lil white spikes (2 white boxers) to make 10 more boxers!

I am loving this thread. I am surrounded by friends, and couldn't imagine a day going by without them. I have never thought of Justin and Brad as "my gay friends", but as 2 of the funniest guys I know. I have also never thought of Linda and Becki as my lesbian friends, just the sweetest chicks and the best brownie makers.
So I don't get where the whole "Gay and crazy" comes in. I think I am much more wild then some of my ahem *gay* friends ( and I am pretty flippin boring). Wouldn't make much sense to call me "straight and crazy" now would it?
This is why I love reading this forum, the acceptance and realness that I find is refreshing.

[donald...really]

You know, while reading this thread one thing really stuck out at me, and that is how many gay and lesbian couples have been happily together for a LONG time. When you think about all of the heterosexual couples that get divorced after a few years (or weeks if you are a celebrity) it really is amazing. Especially when you consider the fact that most of us are not legally connected to each other (married or have kids), so we are really staying together because we love each other, treat each other with respect, and enjoy each other's company. Maybe that is why people consider gay couples a threat to traditional marriage. Who needs to be married to live happily ever after?

[PghLybrt]

You rabble rouser you!

I know i try!

And donald....really
Those pugs are adorable!!!

And I agree, we stay together because we really enjoy , support ,and love each other.

[ryanmilla]

I have to say, I'm quite disappointed in all of you. I mean if we straight people can't live vicariously through your supposed "wild party lifestyle", then whose can we live through. I'm just crushed here. :rotfl2:

Seriously though, I applaud all of you on your longevity and emotion towards your husbands/wives/partners. Straight couples could learn a thing or two for your relationships.

Fortunately, my DW and I share a similar lifestyle and love for each other that you all have described. We have been together for 8 yrs now and enjoy our two little ones (DD5 and DS2). And like you we share our friendship with both straight and gay couples....let me rephrases that....we share our friendship with other loving couples.

Heres to you guys and many more years to happiness. :wave:

[Doctor Pedantic]

Our lives are very interesting because we have three kids, the product of my first, hetero marriage. (More details on the Gay=Nutz threads for anyone who's interested....) I have a 50/50 custody arrangement, so half the week, and every other weekend, we have the kids, and the rest of the time we don't.

When we have the kids, we are a typical suburban couple. We live in a small town just 15 miles north of Los Angeles. We are involved with, and I tend to believe well liked at, the kids' school. We ferry them around to school, soccer, play dates, birthday parties, etc., etc., and make sure they do their homework and chores every night. I am a lawyer and my partner Kevin is a company manager at a Local Theatre, so I usually leave earlier and come up earlier on the days we have the kids, and if he's running late at the theatre the kids get to stay up a little late so they can read to "Daddy" (I'm "Dad") and kiss him goodnight. We say grace before dinner every night and are in church every Sunday.

When we don't have the kids, we typically both work longer hours, but also make sure we have "date nights" with just the two of us. Sometimes we like to just collapse in front of the TV at the end of a long day, but a lot of time we never end up finishing what we started watching because we end up........
talking. We laugh a lot and never get tired of hearing or saying "I love you." The line that makes me melt? "You're my favorite." :lovestruc We also like to travel when we don't have the kids....whether a big trip (our first one together was Washington, D.C., and that was amazing), or a small one (wine tasting near Santa Barbara).

I spent 13 years with the "wrong" person, who happened to be a woman, and now am with the "right" person, who happens to be a man. When I was married and people would talk about their spouses being their "best friend" or their "soul mate," being a rational kind of guy, I thought that was overly romantic, sentimental B.S. But that is now exactly how I feel about Kev. And no one -- no one -- gets to tell us that's not legitimate or real. I am putting together possible "proposal" scenarios, and we are going to have a big church wedding next year, sanctified by God and in the presence of our friends and family, to celebrate our commitment to each other.

We aren't really all that different from many families.....we work hard, play when we can, and are doing our best to raise these amazing kids. Call it boring or not, it's our life, and we love it!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is REALLY upsetting to find out about! It makes me mad! There are so many children that need good families and guidence. Its ok for people to give them up? But its not ok for a decent human beings to raise them? None of its ok in my book!!


What is more sad is the state contradicts itself (unless they changed the law when I wasn't looking).

It is my understanding that a gay couple can foster a child.

So they can be trusted to be "babysitters" but not parents. :confused3



(And I do know fosters are more than babysitters---just being derogatory about the state).

[DVC~OKW~96]

You are right, Lisa. Florida allows gay couples to foster children, but will not allow them to adopt the children.

We've looked into adopting... :guilty:

[wallyb]

Okay since you’re all sharing the mushy stuff -
I’ll let you guy in on one of our odd ones -
But I warn you Get out your Insulin!
So Paul and I do this odd thing from and old Chip & Dale / Donald Duck cartoon.
The dialogue goes like this:
Dale: Apple core!
Donald - Baltimore!
Dale: Who's your friend?
Donald - You are!

We might do the whole thing or Paul might just say "Apple core" to me in a store or some other crowded place that us saying
"I love you - your my best friend" might make others feel uncomfortable or we might get attitude.

I don’t known why we pick this "sonnet" or exactly when but it’s been going on for a long time.

We changed the end from the original- I think - and we don't do the voices- but I thought this was apropos for the DIS

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You are right, Lisa. Florida allows gay couples to foster children, but will not allow them to adopt the children.

We've looked into adopting... :guilty:

That's what I thought.

That's none for my brother then. :(

[mickeysaver]

The usual totally unfabulous lives of two fluffy lesbians in love......

Gabby is 32 and I am 38. We have been together for about 7 years now. We have 4 Chihuahuas and 4 cats. BC was our first pet....BC is short for black cat. Soon enough George(c), Deuce(d), Cha-Cha(c), Beanie(d), Arwen(c), Perdita(d), and Cindee(d) came along. The animals are a lot of work, but we do love them all. Deuce and Beanie have health issues that require extra attention and Cindy is still so young and so small that she too needs extra attention. I coudn't imagine my life without them though.

At the beginning of this year, Gabby started a job with a medical software company that requires her to travel a lot. This is a huge lifestyle change for us, but it's all starting to fall into place for us as a routine instead of the..... OMG, what do we need to adjust to make this work better for next week....oh, and we need to get this sorted out in less than 48 hours so that we can get her back on another plane. :crazy: But enough about our exciting lives over the last few months. I have worked in the same pediatric medical office for almost 11 years. I am a medical assistant and am the one that knows more and does more in the way of keeping the back office working. I am no one's boss and I don't want to be the boss, but I do many little things that keep the wheels turning. (FYI - I am on vacation this week and I was told that it's job security because the place is running rough this week. :teeth: )

Anyway, Gabby and I bought our first 30 some odd year old home last year. It's a 4 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath split level brick ranch. We have one bedroom that we use as an office/craft/music room and one guest bedroom is the Disney room. The master bedroom decor is calm, but boring and the other guest room has a lodge theme going on. We are working on updating the features of our home as time and money permits, but we love our home.

Gabby used to work for Home Depot when we met, so with all of the home improvement projects, we go there quite a bit to shop and dream of renovations to come. Gabby is also oddly attracted to office supplies, so she loves going to Staples and Office Max. We both love shopping at Target, but find it a necessity to shop at Walmart because the nearest Target is not as convenient to our home as we would like.

A typical week....Sunday, at some point Gabby loads up her truck and either drives for hours to her week's job site or drives to the airport to fly out to the site. Monday thru Thursday or Friday, depending on Gabby's travel schedule, I get up at 6:45am, shower, dress, walk the dogs, and I go to work at 7:45 am and don't return home until after 6:15 pm. Every hourin the evenings, the dogs get walked. I read the DIS and a couple of other boards along the way. Chores get done and at 10:00pm, the dogs get a "nite nite walk" and crated. I talk to Gabby on the phone and then I go to bed. Gabby comes home late either on Thursday or Friday nights. We spend Saturday together taking care of shopping, bills, and general errands. Sometimes we take in a movie at our local AMC theater or have dinner out. And then it all begins again.

We are on vacation this week, but we didn't plan to go anywhere. We did go through a Basic Motorcycle Rider Safety Course at Honda during the last 3 days. OMG, it was so hot that I got pretty sick the first day....I was trying to stay hydrated, but it just was brutal without a breeze and in full gear. I understand the need for full gear, but long pants, long sleeves, a full helmet, gloves, and over the ankle boots in 96+ degree weather and high humidity is just not easily tolerated when you are super pooh sized. Gabby has her license to ride motorcycles already, but wanted to take a refresher course for safety's sake since she hasn't ridden in about 4 years. I never had ridden before, so I needed this training. We both passed the course. I have a lot of training to do on my motorcycle before we take any big trips, but I am hoping that I will feel more comfortable by the fall so that we can go riding up in the mountains to go leaf looking when the colors are changing. I really didn't think that I was going to make it through the program due to heat and fatigue, but I did. I am kinda proud of myself, but I know that I would have never made it if she had not been there with me.

Gabby and I are definitely mushy. I can't go through the day without hearing or saying "I love you" and the song, "You are my Sunshine" has special meaning for us.....just the good part, not the sad part. I sleep better when I hear "you too" it's Gabby's usual response to me saying "have sweet dreams" and quite often is the last thing that I hear at night. I was truly blessed when God put this woman in my life. I prayed for many years for someone as wonderful as she is to come into my life. "Now That I Found You" is our song...the Terri Clark version. Although, there is a lot of truth to the song "God Blessed the Broken Road" when I think of our relationship too.

Oh yeah, most of our friends are straight, with a few gay men friends scattered around the metro area. We are pretty private people, but not anti-social. I am looking forward to meeting new people when we ride our motorcycles.

One last thing....if you haven't seen my sig....We both support the Bert's Big Adventure charity every year. Not only with money donations, but have over the last 3 years collected and donated enough pins so that all the kids going on this once in a lifetime trip to WDW can have a pin filled lanyard and will be able to pin trade if they want to and will have a neat souvenier of their trip. I love this charity!


Ok, there ya' have it. The details are just shocking aren't they? :confused3 Maggie

[exDS vet]

Wow! I am so amazed at how many people have been happily together for so long. I am also surprised by how exciting everyone's lives are. It's no wonder why the right-wing hates us. So here's my snoozer.

My partner Joseph and I will reach 6 years together this September 16. We met online while we were living in the SF Bay Area. Not at a bar or at Pride. Living in Gay Mecca, I went to only 1 Pride parade, and only visited 2 bars, ever! I was the Store Manager at The Disney Store on Pier 39 in San Francisco until my boss found out that I was gay and fired me for "other" reasons. So we left SF and moved to the other gay mecca of Phoenix, where we spent 3 years and bought our first home. So I went back to work for Starbucks as a Store Manager. I was actually a manager with them before Disney.

Joseph and I will both turn 40 next year. He is the youngest of 12 kids from a Filipino family. I am the oldest of 2 from a caucasion family. We now live in the U.S. Gay Capitol known as Colorado. While our town shares the same name as Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) it's definately not magical. We bought our home here in 2004, but it just isn't home. After I left Starbucks last year, I went to work as the General Manager for a laser tag company called Laser Quest. The job is just Okay.

I have Diabetes and for the past year I have struggled with major vision problems, including being struck with total blindness from October of last year through January of this year. Today, one eye is good, while the other is still mostly blind, but getting better.

Through the Diabetes, blindness and having Shingles in 2004, my constant support has been Joseph. He's my rock. If I didn't have him, there's no telling what I would do. The support and love are constant and never ending. He often says that he believes God brought him to me so that he could take care of me. Through 7 eye surgeries, Joseph was right by my side. The love we have for eachother is no different than many of you. It's pure and it's real. All of us who have shared our stories on this thread are so lucky.

Our Colorado family also includes Viktor and Jack. Viktor is our black and white "tuxedo" cat. Jack is the beagle. While our people struggle for equal rights and the right to marry, you will be happy to know that as long as you are straight, a guy can marry at the age of 14 and a girl at the age of 12 in this lovely state.

So Joseph and I are going to go full circle very soon. We are moving back home to the Bay Area as soon as our house sells. It's on the market and I am leaving my job next week. After we get situated in California, catch up with family and travel to Europe, Joseph will get a new job, and I get to work on realizing my dream of owning my own coffee house.

Oh yes, the home life. We are both homebodies. Summer is rough without American Idol, The Amazing Race, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives and the rest of our shows, but we get by. We just saw X-men 3 last week. Our first movie in a theater since the last Star Wars. Yes we do the Netflix thing, but I returned my DVD's on Monday and still haven't received "Brokeback Mountain" yet. What's up with that.

Joseph does most of the cooking, and loves to paint rooms. I do most of the home improvement stuff and sell Disney memorabilia on ebay. I guess we are among the most un-gay gays here. But we don't need to flaunt it. Actually we can't flaunt it here or we could get shot. :rotfl2:

Anyway, that's part of our story. Thanks everyone for sharing. I look forward to reading others' stories. And for those who feel uncomfortable sharing your stories. You are among friends here.
Jerry

[bransworld]

Well I am in an unusual relationship. There are three of us. We have been together for 7 years as the three. Joey and i were together for a year before we met Andrew, but when we met him, (and don't get me wrong we weren't looking to add to our household, it just happened) we knew that we loved him just as much as we loved each other.

We bought our 1st house together this past year and boy did we get funny looks with three guys all signing the paperwork. I am curious if the people with the builder figured anything out. Someone did ask if were opening a fraternity house.

My whole family knows about the 3 of us and all of them are very accepting. It was funny, well kinda embarrassing to when my Grandma found out. I had gone back home for my grandpa's funeral. He was really my step grandpa but he and my grandma got married 1 month before i was born so he is my REAL grandpa in my heart. Anyhow, he had kids that were older than my mom and aunts and uncles so we never knew them but they had come to Phoenix for the funeral as well. I didnt really care if they knew i was gay or not seeing how i probably will never see them again. Anyhow, my mom's best friend who i hadnt seen in years asked how Joey was doing and i started to tell her. My mom yells (and loud enough for everyone to here) well tell her about Greg. And my grandma says well who is Greg? My mom then yells well he is in a 3way. I turned bright red. My grandma just said as long as you are happy that is all that matters. It felt really good to hear that from her.

Joey's family knows about us but the fact that we are gay isnt spoken about.

Andrew's siblings know he is gay and knows that he is in a relationship but they think that it is just with me. His siblings have all told him to not tell his parents.

As for what we do for fun, we go to alot of movies, and eat out atleast once a week. We like to shop and travel. We very rarely go to gay bars, never gone to a pride parade or a "Gay Day".

We have 2 dogs, a cocker Spaniel named Oatmeal and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Snickers. They are adorable.

I am a customer service manager for a fulfillment company, Joey is a Printng Supervisor for another fulfillment company and Andrew is a Financial Manager for a big pharmaceutical company.

We are Disney Vacation Club members and are going to take our first vacation with the club in April of 2007 to stay at the Saratoga Springs Resort. We are really looking forward to it. We have 5 friends that are going to go with us as well.

Well that is about it for now.

Brandon

[MrVisible]

Well I am in an unusual relationship. There are three of us. We have been together for 7 years as the three. Joey and i were together for a year before we met Andrew, but when we met him, (and don't get me wrong we weren't looking to add to our household, it just happened) we knew that we loved him just as much as we loved each other.

Okay, now that's just...


that's just...




that's just flippin' COOL!

[RickinNYC]

Ok, for some reason, I have this urge to go to Staples and see what I'm missing. Is there a super secret room with a disco ball and cocktails?

[RickinNYC]

REACHING 40??? How long ago was that pic taken? You both look amazing ;)



Awww, thanks Michelle! But that pic was taken a year and a half ago at Pleasure Island so it's not too old at all. And yep, Joe and I are turning 40 this August. Him on the 22nd and me on the 28th.

[mickeyfan2]

Awww, thanks Michelle! But that pic was taken a year and a half ago at Pleasure Island so it's not too old at all. And yep, Joe and I are turning 40 this August. Him on the 22nd and me on the 28th.
Are you guys having a big dual 40 bithday bash?

You look great for 40!!!! :cheer2:

[MrVisible]

Ok, for some reason, I have this urge to go to Staples and see what I'm missing. Is there a super secret room with a disco ball and cocktails?
I've never really tried to explain this; Nick is the only person I've ever really shared it with, and he just gets it instinctively. Hmm...

Office supplies, to me, are all about the feeling of potential accomplishment. Every pen has a novel in it somewhere, every notebook could be the home of a poem I'd never forget I'd written. The desks promise to support whatever projects come into my mind, and the reams and reams of paper just cry out to be filled, as brilliantly as I can fill them.

Don't get me started on the software aisle.

I guess it's silly to wax poetic about such prosaic surroundings, but there's something about being surrounded by all these things that are used to create the world we live in, and the worlds we dream of, that makes me feel confident and inspired.

[RickinNYC]

I've never really tried to explain this; Nick is the only person I've ever really shared it with, and he just gets it instinctively. Hmm...

Office supplies, to me, are all about the feeling of potential accomplishment. Every pen has a novel in it somewhere, every notebook could be the home of a poem I'd never forget I'd written. The desks promise to support whatever projects come into my mind, and the reams and reams of paper just cry out to be filled, as brilliantly as I can fill them.

Don't get me started on the software aisle.

I guess it's silly to wax poetic about such prosaic surroundings, but there's something about being surrounded by all these things that are used to create the world we live in, and the worlds we dream of, that makes me feel confident and inspired.

Dude, you're wierd. :thumbsup2

[RickinNYC]

Are you guys having a big dual 40 bithday bash?

You look great for 40!!!! :cheer2:

I'm not 40 yet! Don't push it missy! LOL!

We were talking about having a combined party and think we might have found a place in midtown. Not sure though.

In the meantime, we're going to WDW from 8/23-30 and staying at AKL. Meeting up with friends, etc... I'm sending the other b-day boy to Richard Petty so he can do a ride along experience, and also sending him to Saratoga Springs for a massage as his b-day gifts. We're also going to Victoria & Albert's for dinner one evening.

Anyone have ideas of a nice b-day gift that I can give him? He muttered something about a Palm Pilot to help him with his class schedule (he teaches) and other class stuff. He's not a techie like me though.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. FYI, I've already given him a ring!

[mickeyfan2]

I'm not 40 yet! Don't push it missy! LOL!
Since I am over 40 it is now my right to push it!!!!! :rotfl:

Have a great time in WDW.

[wallyb]

Office supplies, to me, are all about the feeling of potential accomplishment. Every pen has a novel in it somewhere, every notebook could be the home of a poem I'd never forget I'd written. The desks promise to support whatever projects come into my mind, and the reams and reams of paper just cry out to be filled, as brilliantly as I can fill them.


Do you ever look at a blank page (I’m looking at 2 blank canvases right now)and up till the moment you start just get a bit of trepidation?

For me it’s not "the doing" as much as deciding "what to do".

[olbear]

We are on vacation this week, but we didn't plan to go anywhere.

I wish you could have come down to WDW!! I would so love to see you and Gabby again. It's been forever!!

Blessings to you both!
Winnie

[wallyb]

REACHING 40??? How long ago was that pic taken? You both look amazing ;)


Okay Rick, we don't have any reverse Dorian Gray action going on here do we?
I myself rely on soft lighting and fog filters. Or there's always Glamour Shots.

[MrVisible]

Do you ever look at a blank page (I’m looking at 2 blank canvases right now)and up till the moment you start just get a bit of trepidation.
Trepidation? How about waves of crippling terror?

A friend of mine and I have challenged each other to write a novel apiece in eight weeks. That's 1500 words a day, starting tomorrow. I need to be finished with my outline and writing by midnight tonight. And instead, I'm reading the DisBoards.

Trepidation? I'm looking at panic, here.

(Oh, and I also have a canvas that's not currently cooperating with me. My very first attempt at a still life in acrylics. Turns out I do great spoons, and a terrific apple, but my oranges are a hopeless mess.)

[olbear]

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Here is a fun idea I've done for people turning 40. If they have something fun there into or collect, buy them 40 of it. That is providing it's not something reallly expensive. I gave a friend of mine 40 froggy keychains. She collected frogs and keychains.

By the way, are you doing the "Chef's Table" at V&A? It's looks so fantastic!!!
Have great time no matter what!

Blessings,
Winnie

[wallyb]

Trepidation? How about waves of crippling terror?

A friend of mine and I have challenged each other to write a novel apiece in eight weeks. That's 1500 words a day, starting tomorrow. I need to be finished with my outline and writing by midnight tonight. And instead, I'm reading the DisBoards.

Turn your "total trashing" over at GAY/ NUTZ into a book.
I'd read it.

[wallyb]

oops I mean thrashing - AKA vanquishment.

[DVC~OKW~96]

Get the Palm Pilot for him! It's a wonderful thing to have. Keeps life bits all neat, tidy and orderly.

Three person relationship? Wow!!! You know, the way you explain it, seems like it works well. Love, respect and hey, if Grandma approves, who is anyone else to butt in, eh? :thumbsup2

[Tony-NJ]

Well here goes - My story is so different than all of you!!!!!

ok - it's not at all....

Let's see - I've been with Chris for 11 years this month. We own a house in lovely Bloomfield NJ and have a house "down the shore" on Long Beach Island. We also own 2 separate DVC contracts. Our closest friends are straight / married. just 2 real gay friends that we don't see very often... Chris manages a customer service area for a bank and I'm a sales executive for a marketing company. Chris hate shis job but gets great benefits and a kick A** 401K. I like my job - most of the time - travel often. We spend most of our non work time working around the house - in the yard or down the shore. We go to WDW at least once a year (accept this one where we decided to pay off the CC's). I just got a really nice raise so we booked a cruise in sept :yay: - we are going with good friends (CSP). Our familes are great - we spend a lot of time with his Mom - take her to WDW with us most of the time - we also plan on going with our CSP friends too. Havn't been to a gay bar in years - or gay pride for that matter...

Chris could spend hours in ay store - loves the supermarket. I have no patients shopping with him - I get too nervous when we have to look at the same things 2 or 3 times...

That's about it - sorry no orgies / staying out all night etc. We do have a pretty cool Holiday Party every year - we had over 40 ppl last year - it's a great time with lots of alcahol consumed...

Hey Ryan - your just a couple of towns over from us!

[lillielil]

I'm a little bit younger than most of y'all, so our story's a little different... we have an absolutely thrilling life!

Kristen and I met in college, and were best friends for more than 4 years before we became a couple (I was dating someone else the entire time - the less said about that sordid affair, the better). We've been together for a little over a year now.

We're getting married this December, so there's a lot of wedding talk these days. We're both wearing pretty dresses.

Kristen works for a USAID contractor. I manage a gym. We both work ridiculously long hours. We have a hound dog named Pinto. We live in a tiny studio apartment. Our favorite thing to do on weekends is drive around and go to open houses that we can't afford (which is all of them). On weeknights we watch tv and cuddle with the dog and read to each other.

We love a good Pride Parade, but most of our friends are straight. We each have a few tattoos and some extra holes, all very tasteful and mostly hidden. Even my mom thinks they're pretty.

Well... I thought I had a lot to write, but it turns out we're even more boring than I thought we were! Maybe I'll think of something later and have to edit this...

[ryanmilla]

...

Hey Ryan - your just a couple of towns over from us!


ROCK ON Northern NJ! :cool1: MY DW was actually looking at a teaching job in Bloomfield, NJ.

I see you guys are also DVC members. Gotta love DVC! :thumbsup2

[Tony-NJ]

yup - we own 2 contracts at OKW. We're banking this year's points for a LARGE / Long vacation next year!

[unfreshdiva1]

Here's our story - mixed race couple (me - white, Aaron - African America). Been together 8 years this Halloween. Own home in Raleigh, NC but putting house up for sale next week as we are moving to South Florida (Aaron will be getting his Master's Degree in Theatre at FAU). My job involves lots of travel (90% of time I am out on the road doing business consulting). Aaron travels with me when he can (working in Las Vegas next week, so Aaron is coming with me and enjoying spa days while I'm off at work). Have great circle of friends (all CSP), but do miss out having gay friends. Both were in fraternities in college. Have supportive siblings, but not supportive parents. Did the party scene, did the orgy scene (okay, just kidding on that one). Really enjoy where we are in life right now. Happy, healthy, and financially secure. Love Disney and go often. Did Gay Days for second time this year and can't wait for next year! Smooches :love:

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Darn! None of you are any more exciting than the gay and lesbian friends I already have! ;)

Where do people get their ideas about GLBT folks, anyway? I don't know anybody who goes out and parties. Everybody is responsible, well educated, gainfully employed, devoted to their partner. I just don't see how being gay and boring is any different than being straight and boring. :confused3

[aidensdad]

Well on tuesdays and Fridays are DW and mines orgies nights It's pretty much just a whole street party hundreds of people great time, all other nights of the week we just hit every bar in town of course we wait for our DS Five to fall asleep we usually get home around six in the morning just in time to wake DS up to go to school and for us to go to work, but usually about three days a week were to hung over to go anyway. Well that's mine and the wife's story, oh wait you said Gay life style sorry ;) :teeth:

[RickinNYC]

Well on tuesdays and Fridays are DW and mines orgies nights It's pretty much just a whole street party hundreds of people great time, all other nights of the week we just hit every bar in town of course we wait for our DS Five to fall asleep we usually get home around six in the morning just in time to wake DS up to go to school and for us to go to work, but usually about three days a week were to hung over to go anyway. Well that's mine and the wife's story, oh wait you said Gay life style sorry ;) :teeth:

Gary! :rotfl: Oh my God dude, iced tea everywhere!

[MrVisible]

Darn! None of you are any more exciting than the gay and lesbian friends I already have! ;)

Where do people get their ideas about GLBT folks, anyway? I don't know anybody who goes out and parties. Everybody is responsible, well educated, gainfully employed, devoted to their partner. I just don't see how being gay and boring is any different than being straight and boring. :confused3
There are a lot of gay people who go out and do the whole bar scene, the circuit parties, that sort of thing.

What people don't realize is that basing your opinions of gay people on those things is like basing your opinion of straight peoples' behavior on strip clubs, swingers bars, and wife-swapping. Sure there are people who do all that, and that's their business. But it's not, by any means, the norm.

[ryanmilla]

There are a lot of gay people who go out and do the whole bar scene, the circuit parties, that sort of thing.

What people don't realize is that basing your opinions of gay people on those things is like basing your opinion of straight peoples' behavior on strip clubs, swingers bars, and wife-swapping. Sure there are people who do all that, and that's their business. But it's not, by any means, the norm.

Ahhh, do you happen to have any of their addresses by the way.....whoops, did I say that out loud.... :rolleyes1

[oelpa]

My bf an me live in Vienna, Austria. I m a tax lawyer and he is a doctor. I only work from Monday to Wednesday because i believe one should not spend most of their life in an office. My bf always teases me about being lazy but what can you do :cool1: But he never complains when on thursdays and fridays when he comes home from work i have cooked him a fabulous dinner. Which i can 't do on the days i work. We love to invite our friends for dinner parties. I love to plan the meals and to shop and prepare everything (well you see not much time for the office) and to mix martinis. Furthermore we love to travel to Florida (of course), Barcelona, Sydney, London and Rome. And we like to eat out with friends (straight and gay) or have some drinks with them. Well i'm sorry that our life is not more exciting and i would love to tell you about some weekly orgies :smooth:
But apperently our "gay life" doesn't differ much from the one you lead across the atlantic.

[PghLybrt]

Well on tuesdays and Fridays are DW and mines orgies nights It's pretty much just a whole street party hundreds of people great time, all other nights of the week we just hit every bar in town of course we wait for our DS Five to fall asleep we usually get home around six in the morning just in time to wake DS up to go to school and for us to go to work, but usually about three days a week were to hung over to go anyway. Well that's mine and the wife's story, oh wait you said Gay life style sorry ;) :teeth:

So we are having a party in July that sounds right up your alley! :rotfl:

Ok well the next door neighbor thinks that is what our party entails....he already informed us he is calling the police when it starts!! Ahh you got to love your neighbors.... I didn't know how to invite the hot lesbian cop...and now he is doing it for me!!!!! I got to get him a really good thank you gift...any suggestions?

[aidensdad]

just put some pictures in his mail box he will be you best buddy :teeth:

[PghLybrt]

just put some pictures in his mail box he will be you best buddy :teeth:

One would think so.....but with this neighbor, not a chance.
I think he dosen't like us....? Maybe he is jealous of our crazy lifestyle :lmao:

[vegasnw]

We both work in the same casino here in Las Vegas and are very busy most of the time. After being together for over 20 years I can tell you we are far from being boring...LOL although I will admit, I'd love a little boring every now and then.

We both work swing shift which is 8pm to 4am so we are home by 5a and in bed by 6-6:30a.... up by 1p and out of the house most of the time by 3p. most days... Both of us have hobbies and projects we work on plus keeping the house clean... well you know the drill... so our lives are far from boring.

[mikelan6]

Here's another "boring" gay lifestyle for you.

Adam and I have been together for only 21 months, not even two years yet. I'm a travel agent and he's in the IT field, and currently gets to work from home, so he does most of the household stuff. Not that I'm complaining.

We have a kitty and we both love playing "catch" with her.

We love to travel and have been to lots of places around the world, including Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Lets see ... Mondays is cooking night, Tuesdays is leftovers night, Wednesdays is our movie night. Thursdays is anything can happen night and Fridays is Shabbat dinner with my family, over at my parents place. We're usually shopping or at the movies on the weekends, if we're not travelling someplace.

We have a few gay friends, but don't socialize all that much any more.

We're both turning 40 next year (we were born 3 days apart), so we're going to "escape" on an Alaska cruise!

Boring, huh?

[Tony-NJ]

Doesn't sound that boring Mike! :)

[MagneticxBoy]

Me and my boyfriend have been together for almost three years (august 25th will be three) and have lived together for two years.. and were only 20.. lol

We both go to the same college.. I have a job as a host at a resturant and I'm self employed with my websites.. He has two jobs right now for the summer, and just has one during school.. We work.. go to school... and the little time we do have we eat out or watch a movie..
Most people say I'm boring because I dont like to party or drink really, but I guess I like being boring :rotfl:

[George Kaplan]

BF and I have been together for ten years. We'll do wine with dinner, but don't drink much otherwise. Don't do drugs or smoke cigarettes at all. We live in San Francisco, close to the Castro district (party central), and we have a couple of friends who are into the bar scene and will sometimes ask us to go along -- and for a while we would from time to time, just to be "social", but we just got so bored with it and so tired of coming home smelling like second-hand smoke that we've pretty much stopped altogether now. We'd rather be traveling or going to the theater or for a drive (day trips, family in Sacramento, Home Depot!) or going for nice, long, exhausting bike rides. And if we're at home, and I'm not on one of my writing projects, then it's working on the continuing saga that is our living space, or watching DVDs or something on the DVR, or playing with the kitty. I suppose our "gay lifestyle" is almost indistinguishable from anyone else's "straight lifestyle" and really doesn't separate us at all from straight friends and relatives. Our "vegan lifestyle", however, is another matter entirely! :banana:

[Viki]

It's very good to see so many new people posting. Welcome all!

[kaweb]

I love reading about these "alternate" lifestyles you all are living--please, make room for me in the fast lane!! :rotfl2:

Seriously, I hope we have been successful in teaching our kids that love is wonderful and valuable, and necessary in everyone's life...and that it can take many forms. My DS's godmother and her partner are our dearest friends, and my kids take their relationship totally for granted (as normal).

In my "real life" and job, I am very active in a number of ally roles & organizations, I hope you don't mind me hanging out on this thread now and then. :wave:

[Sillyminny40]

Hey I'm straight and I loved your stories! Great to see couples happy and thriving together. Vacations are a great priority and happy couples plan and enjoy them. I don't think many unhappy couples would be at this site.

I think my dh and I are "boring" too but ...

don't you think a lot of "exciting" people are looking for what you already have?

God Bless you and your families!

[Snapcat]

John and I have been together for almost 3 years now. I make mascot costumes on the side and back then I have made a black tiger which had been shown in various costuming conventions and masquerades. He sent me an e-mail one day practically begging me to sell it to him. After some convincing, I did.

We chatted online from time to time. He was in Michigan, and I am in Nebraska. We dated a few times and before ya knew it, he was packing his stuff to move to Omaha. He's 6'5" and I am 6'7" so we're hard to miss. At the time, I was working for the Zoo in Omaha and John got this wild idea that we become truck drivers. We went over the road for a while, but it wasn't the life for us. After finding a local job driving a truck, we got a bigger place (with my own room for costuming *woo!*) and are taking it as easy as we can. To relax, he enjoys a glass of wine and I enjoy lots and lots of cigars.

We attend costuming conventions together now. We spend our free time working on costumes, taking long walks downtown and in the forest, going to the zoo, and planning for WDW trips. We're wierdos... wearing really colorful stuff while on vacation. Why should 3 year olds get all the attention when 30 years olds crave it too? ;)

thats all I got.

[Tony-NJ]

Good for you snapcat LOL

Off Topic - my company was just bought out by a large company in Omaha!!!! Oh joy!

[Snapcat]

Good for you snapcat LOL

Off Topic - my company was just bought out by a large company in Omaha!!!! Oh joy!
Omaha is one of those places that nobody seems to know a thing about except for Mutual of Omaha and where Warren Buffet comes from. Its amazing the rich folk and the corporate conglomerations we have here. Hope it works out to be a good thing for ya.

[Tony-NJ]

Thanks - me too! It wasn't Mutual of Omaha. InfoUSA...

Actually we have a coupld of clients there too. I'll be heading out there in the next couple of months...

[Caradana]

Too funny, my fiance and I will be heading out to Omaha in 2008 for USA Swimming Olympic Trials. He's a sportswriter, I freelance, and we already booked our room for the princely sum of $109 per night (and I fell in love with Omaha the minute the clerk started apologizing for the price. I mean seriously.)

[Snapcat]

wow! didn't even know Omaha was holding the trials! how cool is that?
Go Omaha!

[disneegrl4eva]

hmmm lets see what am i?????Im a single 40 yo female ( bring out the tissues) which sometimes sux...Im gonna say if I find love(around here I doubt it)it has to be with someone who loves Disney the way I do and wants to go as much as we can...I guess at this point it doesnt matter what the gender is as people are people and we all love the same, hurt the same, bleed the same and I dont really want to put labels on people although I have..I have a almost 20 yo daughter who *sniffs* has betrayed me by boycotting disney ( the ugrateful tramp)...someone send me a magical lover puleeeeeeeeeeeeez pixiedust:

[Melora]

Hi all

Thought I'd drop in to say hi and this seemed a good thread.

I'm not gay myself. but my 17 year old daughter, Emily, has recently let us know that she is gay. My husband and I have no problem with this and last weekend my husband took her and her girlfriend to a gay pride parade in San Diego.

She says she is very happy that we love and accept her no matter what.

I want her to be happy and enjoy a full life. I think my first thought when she told us was fear that she would be hurt by stupid people.

My hubby said the people at the parade and festival this weekend were some of the nicest people he had ever met.

Em is looking forward to going to Disneyland this October as I think they are having a "Gay Days Weekend".

As for her lifestyle (in the futre) she says that she wants to get married (maybe one day she can do that legally) and wants to have lots of kids.