Would You, Or Will You Do Anything Different

[rocky]

Well sometimes I feel like I spill my "big" bear guts out here but why not, we're all family. So, the new year, the holiday, there's young, middle aged, elder (like me); pros, etc on this site. My question; would you have done anything different when you recognized you were gay (younger/older) as far as telling people, doing things, etc; and will you do anything different in the year to come. So here I am, yeah I would have done something different when I was 30 years younger, now I'm 62, and reached out more to the gay community, be more of a part of it at least knowing someone other than me was gay. Now for 2016-, anything different; yup; I'm going to come out selectively and I will probably make some changes with my long term escort relationships. I don't want to be left behind so to speak when suddenly a long term escort decides this is it. anyone care to share or just shut me up? Anyhow, Happy Holidays.

[+ Truereview]

A www, Rocky! I love your post, seriously. This time of the year makes me all gooey inside too.

 

(Taking sip of my 3rd martini)

 

What would I do differently? I would have been more sexually confident than I was in my teens and twenties. I bypassed so many awesome experiences that when I look back, I think, why the hell didn't you act on it, TR? I was out, but not confidently. I have gone back and closed some open chapters...like sleeping with my straight college roommate. He turned out to be bi and we had a hoot.

 

Next year? I plan to be more bold (not obnoxiously). Maybe I will bed a girl or two.

 

I applaud your courage rocky! Go get them, you cuddle bear.

[Brian Kevin]

would you have done anything different when you recognized you were gay (younger/older) as far as telling people, doing things, etc; and will you do anything different in the year to come.

 

https://www.facebook.com/dredee1983/videos/1684250788456081/

[+ sync]

Well sometimes I feel like I spill my "big" bear guts out here but why not, we're all family. So, the new year, the holiday, there's young, middle aged, elder (like me); pros, etc on this site. My question; would you have done anything different when you recognized you were gay (younger/older) as far as telling people, doing things, etc; and will you do anything different in the year to come. So here I am, yeah I would have done something different when I was 30 years younger, now I'm 62, and reached out more to the gay community, be more of a part of it at least knowing someone other than me was gay. Now for 2016-, anything different; yup; I'm going to come out selectively and I will probably make some changes with my long term escort relationships. I don't want to be left behind so to speak when suddenly a long term escort decides this is it. anyone care to share or just shut me up? Anyhow, Happy Holidays.

 

We older gays should not be hard on ourselves for not being more open in our youth. In the early days coming out was/would have been very different from what it is now. In addition to possible rejection by family and friends, there were issues of employment, housing, religious affiliations, and physical attacks more blatant than they are today. Rocky, I like your positive attitude and wish you well for 2016 and beyond.

[bigvalboy]

We older gays should not be hard on ourselves for not being more open in our youth. In the early days coming out was/would have been very different from what it is now. In addition to possible rejection by family and friends, there were issues of employment, housing, religious affiliations, and physical attacks more blatant than they are today. Rocky, I like your positive attitude and wish you well for 2016 and beyond.

 

+1

I agree. Things were much different when I was growing up. The level of tolerance was not as great as it is today. Somewhere back a few decades, I was forced out by a co-worker. Life did become infinitely better, and I wished that I had come out sooner. How much sooner I should have come out, is something I will never know. I don't like dealing in regrets. Regrets are a waste of time, and an anchor to the past.

[+ WilliamM]

I agree. Things were much different when I was growing up. The level of tolerance was not as great as it is today. Somewhere back a few decades, I was forced out by a co-worker. Life did become infinitely better, and I wished that I had come out sooner. How much sooner would have been better, is something I will never know. I don't like dealing in regrets. Regrets are a waste of time, and an anchor to the past.

 

I agree completely.

 

And if you change things for gays, I would want the same changes for minorities such as: Aftican-Americans, Asians and Latinos too

[N13]

Perhaps living in NYC from the time I was 20 (the long distant past) and the accompanying sophistication therein made coming out a non-event. I decided that I was going to be myself and "let the chips fall where they may." I never flaunted or denied my sexuality. I never lost a friend or an acquaintance. I never was the recipient of intolerance or ridicule. As a result most of my friends are straight straight and gay men and women and straight and gay couples. The ratio reflects the population percentages; a lot of straights and some gays. We went on double dates, entertained a mixed crowd and sex was never a big topic of conversation. I didn't ask them what they did in bed and they did not ask me. In my business life, if everyone knew I was gay, it was never talked about. Neither did it stop me from part the bowling league or the weekly poker game. My family used it to show how liberal they were...and that I regret. I would have preferred them to simply accept me for being me without turning it into their medal of honor for being such understanding and forward thinking people. Overall regrets are wasted energy unless they become a teaching tool. For the future I just want to continue my life without intentionally hurting anyone. The best thing I can say is that a lot of straight people learned from us that gay is a bedroom thing and does not have to be a life style. Being an example can be heartening.

[Rudynate]

Well sometimes I feel like I spill my "big" bear guts out here but why not, we're all family. So, the new year, the holiday, there's young, middle aged, elder (like me); pros, etc on this site. My question; would you have done anything different when you recognized you were gay (younger/older) as far as telling people, doing things, etc; and will you do anything different in the year to come. So here I am, yeah I would have done something different when I was 30 years younger, now I'm 62, and reached out more to the gay community, be more of a part of it at least knowing someone other than me was gay. Now for 2016-, anything different; yup; I'm going to come out selectively and I will probably make some changes with my long term escort relationships. I don't want to be left behind so to speak when suddenly a long term escort decides this is it. anyone care to share or just shut me up? Anyhow, Happy Holidays.

 

I allowed myself to feel "less than" around straight guys, which manifested itself as limiting my earning capacity. When I realized that I was as deserving of a share of the pie as anyone else, It propelled me straight through that glass ceiling.

[seaboy4hire]

I wish I wouldn't had trusted others so much in my early 20's.

 

Hugs,

Greg