"Actually I fancy going out of the city," said boyfriend number 2, "I think we both know NYC itself well enough!"
After mulling over the possibilities, we decided to look into the idea of spending time on Fire Island. Many gay readers will have heard of Fire Island, but for anyone who hasn't, it's a place about 2 hours outside of New York which is a magnet for gay men who want to escape the city at weekends. Actually that's a bit of an understatement, it really is THE magnet. To get there, one drives or takes the train to Sayville on Long Island, from where it's a 20 minute ferry ride over to Fire Island itself. There are several communities on Fire Island but in two of them, Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, the population must be about 99% gay, if not more! All the houses there seem to be gay owned, and are either owner occupied, or rented out for the season which lasts from Memorial day in May to Labor day in September.
But finding somewhere to stay on Fire Island at short notice can be problematic. All the houses which are available for rent are usually booked months in advance. As luck would have it though, boyfriend number 2 was able to find a house to rent for a few days in Fire Island Pines, although I had to take it for the week just to get it for a long weekend.
"This place sleeps six", I said to boyfriend number 2 after I'd reviewed the description of the house, "so have you got any friends in NYC that you'd like to invite to join us?"
"Sure, that's a great idea, there are a few guys I could try :-). But I don't want them to find out about boyfriend number 1," he adds, "I've got no idea what they'd think about the situation, and I don't want to find out!"
Unlike boyfriend number 2, I had actually been to Fire Island a few times before. A few times during my banking career I've found myself in NYC at a weekend, and a trip to Fire Island is a great way to relax. It's always a very uplifing experience too, because in the language of one of my previous posts, the place is full of guys at black belt level of gay lifestyle confidence :-). I really can't think of anywhere else like it!"Can we do low tea AND high tea?" asks boyfriend number 2 on the ferry over to the island on Friday evening.
"Um, OK, what are you talking about?" I ask, sounding slightly confused.
"Well I've been asking around, and apparently everyone goes to a tea dance in the early evening, and then there's another later in the evening too. The first is 'Low Tea' and the second is called 'High Tea' for some reason. It's one of the local rituals!"
Once we've unpacked, we head into the central area of Fire Island Pines to try and find something to eat. The best place looks to be the Blue Whale, which doubles as a bar as well, and soon we're sitting down and being attended to by quite a cute looking waiter.
Ever since the weekend away with boyfriend number 2 last month, I'd been worrying that he was secretly hoping that one day we'll be able to live together full time. The subject comes up over dinner:
"I've got to be realistic GB," says boyfriend number 2, "I know you're not going to leave boyfriend number 1".
"I'm glad you said that," I say. "I love being your part time boyfriend, but it's very unlikely that I'd ever be able to take that role on a full time basis."
"It is great having you around though :-)."
"Sure, but I definitely think you should try and find someone who can share your life with you more consistently that I can."
The next day, boyfriend number 2's friends don't arrive until lunchtime by which time we've settled in, done the shopping, and worked out where Low Tea will be in the evening. Apart from lots of great looking guys wandering around, I also notice that many of the guys have one (or more) pet dogs, especially the couples. I get on well with boyfriend number 2's friends, and over the next two days we all have a nice time, chilling out together.
Instead of my usual Sunday morning run with the guys from the gym in London, I end up going for a run with a couple of boyfriend number 2's friends instead. After running for 20 minutes along the beach, we decide to head slightly inland for the return journey, so that we won't have the sun glaring at us in our faces all the time on the way back. Initially this takes us into Cherry Grove, the other gay community on the island, but soon we find ourselves in the wood that lies between Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines.
"This area is known as the meat-rack," I tell my running companions sounding knowledgeable, "it's an infamous outdoor cruising area, but if we stick to the main path we probably won't get involved in anything."
But gradually the main path peters out. Soon we're lost, in so far as one can be lost on an island that's only about 200 yards wide. While looking for the way back to Fire Island Pines, we find two naked guys at the end of a cul-de-sac with one guy kneeling in front of the other, and they look mildly annoyed to be disturbed while engaged in activities. They don't stop what they're doing, and we just turn back to try and find another route. Why did they look annoyed though, I thought the possibility of having other guys around and perhaps joining in was one of the pleasures of outdoor cruising?
Overall it's a lovely weekend. However on the last night, in spite of the conversation that we had over dinner on Friday night, boyfriend number 2 suddenly asks me a question while we're cuddled up in bed trying to get to sleep.
"What happens if you never able to come and see me again?" he says out of the blue, with an anxious tone in his voice.
Where on earth did that thought come from? Nothing remotely connected to that subject had been talked about all day, nor had either of us said anything for at least five minutes as we'd been trying to fall asleep in each other's arms.
"Don't worry," I say sleepily, "of course I'll be able to see you again :-)", and with my arms wrapped around him I squeeze him tightly.
It's clear to me now that boyfriend number 2's attitude to our relationship depends on his mood. Sometimes, he's very realistic and fully appreciates that I'm unlikely to ever be available on a full time basis. But at other times, he relies on me heavily, and when he's in that mood his love for me somehow prevents him from looking at other guys, except to fulfill his short term sexual needs.
Previously I was worried about whether I was playing with his affections too much, but now I think I should focus my concerns elsewhere. I know that he understands that I'd be very happy for him if he finds a full-time boyfriend that's not me. But until that happens, I reckon I need to try and ensure that I've got sufficient resources to take care of both boyfriend number 1 and boyfriend number 2.
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