The Education of Grandpa - 7. Fun in Vermont 

“My big question: How do I develop a relationship with another man? How do I find him? What do I do with him? Now my only role models are porn actors and guys in stories.”

For a moment Jason was speechless. A few minutes earlier, he was planning to escape from this guy whom he assumed was bigoted. Geoff’s revelation was mind-blowing. “Holy shit! I never saw that coming. I never considered you might be into guys. When you did not reply after I mentioned my partner, I assumed you were disgusted with my lifestyle. Now I realize you needed a few moments to get your thoughts together. You asked for my advice. Let me think about it. Let’s take a walk while I collect my thoughts. There is an ice cream parlor nearby that has my favorite - amaretto ice cream with cherries. If I am really decadent, I’ll have that as a hot fudge sundae, not just a cone.”

Sitting at a small table on the sidewalk in front of the parlor, Jason savored his amaretto – cherry hot fudge sundae, while Geoff, waited in anticipation while licking his moose tracks ice cream cone. “There are numerous ways you can meet like-minded men. Unfortunately, for every Mr. Right, there are many Mr. Wrongs. Possibly, your reading stories on the Gay Authors website has enlightened you. Let’s review some of your options: I do not recommend gay bars. For every Mr. Right, there are probably fifty Mr. Wrongs. Until you have more experience in the world of gay men, I believe a bar would be extremely intimidating to you.”

“Visiting a cruise place could be dangerous. There are sex stores with backrooms containing video booths showing porn where guys can get together in a booth. Men can also meet in cruising areas in public parks, roadside rest areas and toilets in malls or stores. I have a friend who met the love of his life in the sauna of a health club. These places are dangerous because you don’t know if you are going to meet a hustler or be robbed or arrested on a public indecency charge. You never know.”

“There is a gay cruise / recreation place, Rock River in southern Vermont, about ten miles north of Brattleboro. I was not truthful when I implied that I met Chris, the love of my life, when I hired an electrical contractor to do upgrades on my home. Chris did do the upgrades, but after I met him. One hot summer Saturday, friends of mine suggested we visit Rock River. I had never heard of the place. They told me there was a secluded gay beach along a river about an hour-and-a-half from my home near Pittsfield. While I was apprehensive about visiting such a place, I was also intrigued. While I had never had sex with either of them, we had watched porn together and to be honest, I had jerked off thinking of both of them. I knew they were in a monogamous relationship. While they had described Rock River, I really could not comprehend what I would actually see and do. We arrived at a parking area along Route 30. There were at least 20 cars there. Then the long walk, maybe a half hour, began. We hiked a well-used trail. In a few minutes we arrived at the riverbank. There were a number of people swimming, sunning and picnicking. These included families, teenagers and children of various ages. All wore swim suits. As we continued our hike along the river, we came to another area with families. As we continued, there was a sign stating the path was now clothing optional. Occasionally, we would pass naked female/male couples sunbathing. If any couples were doing more than just sunbathing, I assume they took a short walk into the forest. Eventually we arrived at the gay area. Across the river there were a number of men, all nude. There were singles, couples and groups. They were sunbathing, chatting or playing in the water. At this point we took off our shoes and waded across a shallow area of the river.”

“The three of us found a sandy area between some bushes about 25 feet (8 meters) from other guys. We placed towels on the ground, got naked and ate sandwiches we had brought, and then laid in the warm summer sun. My friend suggested I take a walk to observe nature. He told me to follow the path that went up a hill away from the river and ‘see what I could see.’ Wearing only sneakers, I strolled up the hill. There were a number of well-worn paths. As I walked, I encountered other naked guys. They ranged in age from twenties to seventies with all body shapes. A couple of them smiled at me as I passed, one licked his lips and a guy, probably in his fifties, smiled, tweaked his nipples while displaying a not too impressive hard, cut dick. Taking a side path, I encountered two guys, one on his knees sucking the other. Then I found a path that I thought would go back to the river. I saw a group of about five guys standing around watching something. Joining them, I saw what held their attention. A guy was leaning on a log while a really hot, buff guy, probably in his thirties, fucked him. Eventually there were moans of ecstasy. He pulled his cum dripping cock out, smiled at the group and walked toward the river. Immediately another guy, this one wearing a condom, stepped up to the guy at the log and shoved in. Following his pleasure, he pulled out and another was ready. I had no intention of getting in line, with or without protection. As I turned to walk back to the river, a guy joined me.”

“He chuckled, ‘That was interesting. Not my kind of loving’.”

“I replied, ‘Agree, absolutely’.”

“I turned and as I looked at his face, he smiled back. I had already checked him out while watching the fuck-off. While not super buff, he was attractive, about my age, thirties, nice package, firm ass, killer smile, penetrating brown eyes. I immediately noted his kissable lips. As we continued our small talk about nothing important, I became infatuated with him. As we walked our hands touched, by accident - or probably not by accident. Hand in hand, we walked back to his place by the river. He offered me his towel to sit on while he sat on his T shirt. We discovered we were both from western Massachusetts. He was an electrician, working for a contractor with an office about ten miles from my home. He told me he had been in a five-year relationship and had broken up about a year earlier. Although he visited Rock River about once a month in the summer, he never got involved with a guy except, as he said, ‘a few moments of pleasure.’ After his breakup he was leery about new relationships. I told him that I rarely hooked up and that this was my first visit to Rock River, having come with friends. Suddenly, we both got quiet. As his penetrating eyes looked into my soul, he suggested we take ‘a walk in the woods.’ There was no question as to our mutual desire. Hand in hand, with rising dicks, we found a little used path. Finding a grassy spot behind some bushes we discovered just how compatible we were. Later, he offered to drive me home. After introducing him to my friends, I grabbed my towel and clothes. After wading back across the river, we began our hike to his car. We were naked, still in the clothing optional part of the trail. He stopped, pulled me into an embrace. Our dicks rose to the occasion and we found a secluded spot between the river and the path. Our newfound friendship was consummated again.”

“On our way home, we stopped for dinner at the Chelsea Royal Diner, west of Brattleboro. Since then, at least once a year we visit Rock River to commune with nature and observe mating habits of men. We enjoy being in nature with each other. We do not need or want to hook up with other guys. We always have dinner at Chelsea Royal where we enjoy a meal ending with tasty desserts, including a selection of delicious pies, while celebrating our togetherness.”

“When we arrived at my home about an hour later, I invited him in for a beer. Jason stayed the night. Within three months he moved in and my electrical wiring was updated. We will soon celebrate twenty-five years together.”

“In May of 2004, Massachusetts was the first USA state to recognize same-sex marriage. The weekend following the recognition of gay marriage, Jason and I plus two other couples, including the couple who had taken me to Rock River, had a triple marriage ceremony, officiated by a Justice of the Peace, in the garden of our home. Since that fateful day that I met Jason, I have had no desire to be with any other man.”

“Let’s return to your desire to meet a guy. Probably the most significant change since I met Jason, in how a man meets a man, is the use of websites. You told me how you were recently introduced to the wonderful world of the web. That is something we should explore. But now I must return to the hotel to prepare material to drop off at the publisher in the morning. Also, I want to call Jason to discuss the day and have a virtual hands-on goodnight encounter. I hope we can continue our discussion tomorrow and discuss your quest to find a guy.”

“There are Boston sights I want to share with you. Could we meet for breakfast, then do a quick stop at the publisher’s office, followed by sightseeing and most important, discuss meeting the right guy? When I call Chris this evening, I’ll ask him for his suggestions concerning your quest.”