skinster

Correct, Bio party issues a security wrist band attached in parallel to your clothes checked bag. Still, it is a manually-identifiable mark for in-house billing, like a hand-written shoulder/arm number at other places. But I don't believe I had ever had such thing as a 'drink card' there - you get the wrist band for that. By the looks of it you'd be the only one playing with a backpack attached for those pickpockets. I say lose the gear and play naked, the place gets packed like sardines in play areas as is. And have sturdy footware on.

It's a bare ass/ naked party. The less you wear the better, but do have sturdy footwear. White trainers/sneakers would defeat the purpose. A wrist wallet is an idea, but bar billing happens per number written on your shoulder (common German practice), so it is also not really helpful. A few will have minor fetish gear on, but it really only gets in the way when you jump down to business. ID things like wrist/arm bands to show what you are will be helpful, but not much else.

CU parties vary too much between locations in quantity and quality of demographic in attendance. As any social event, the vibe depends too much on attendance and is never consistent. And traveling that far having done it myself is not really worth it - the hype is far too greater than the catch. Plus your own fantasies are at play in your own head. If you were local, you could have hit it time after another to arrive to your own experienced opinion. And I have been to CU events at home and away - my advice is something in tune with "the grass is always greener.." Go to Berlin when they have Coffe & Cream party (spelling theirs) or Biohazard. That is hardcore. They run a group on GayRomeo with event messaging and a separate listserv on BH website. Usually it is held monthly and at Mutschmanns, on big occasions- at Connection. You will have much more fun there, guaranteed. Plus people are much more open in exhibitionist kinda way, not as puritanically fucked in the head and legislation as in all over US. Also, have a look at this thread on here - I am sure there others too - https://breeding.zone/topic/31107-bareback-berlin/ Enjoy yourself.

I think they get capacity issues at times, on and off. I've had problems connecting on a rare occasion, but it has always been times of peak weekly traffic.

As long as smooth (or shaved that) - any. Tighter is better, loose ones are just too tedious to work with to start proper friction going. Rimmed a lot of them before and after, and color doesn't really matter, lights are dimmed anyway. Rimmed and fucked enough of smooth black ones too. It's the skills in the rest of the ass that the hole is attached to.

For a fun-oriented bottom - definitely!

Thick and slick WET Original (water-based) or Platinum. Gun Oil is second favorite. Even Crisco for authentic vintage smell.

There are many hints and signs: Guys taking rooms - usually bottoms, pissy bottom queens, or vers wanting comfort. Lockers - tops, or vers tops. (except, probably, Wash, DC - it spooked me - tops taking rooms and getting offended if you touch them. I mean, WTF?) Ass up anywhere, or standing face to the wall - bottoms. Same with grabbing dick or doing anything related - bj, rubbing other's, etc. - in common areas - steam room, dark room, video lounge, etc. Rubbing your own dick (under or above towel), flying full mast, grabbing others ass - top, or feeling like it. Also, speed of navigation in hallways - I find it relative that bottoms are moving much faster, almost darting, and tops scanning for a willing potential. Mixed signals - nipple play. Some bottoms do it to check if get you excited and to signal that he is game, and some tops do as a sign that they are getting the same on their own inviting you to take part down there.

Agreed - Steamworks Chicago: likely. Palm Springs - a bit iffy to my taste for crowds, and I was there for an event, not a random stay. Europe - def Berlin. Better if with a major event on calendar. Crowd is from all over the continent, no need to pick and guess other destinations. A lot of French there, but I don't know if that's the culture in Paris and alike. Europe with sun/beach involved - Gran Canaria. Or Barcelona (may be?).

I concur - Biohazard blows everything I've seen out of the water in free-wheeling sex parties. I know what 380 people on coatcheck list can do. All buck naked, even so the large place they had was packed. Plenty of people from not-Berlin places. But again, that's not Amsterdam and not Fickstuten. I guess that's why people travel there. Biohazard, Fickstuten and Coffe & Cream (Berlin, and that's their spelling) used to post a lot of event info on BarebackCity.info, which was primarily German. But ever since I heard the owner died, the website went into disrepair and eventually died itself. I believe both groups run 'club' groups on GayRomeo/PlanetRomeo. The most frequent (I think) they have is monthly parties. CC posts upcoming party info as club newsletter, Biohazard emails directly. I think both are promoting and developing only as word of mouth and newsletters. But again, it is a different format sex party. Fickstutenmarkt is very much different, and as such gives entirely different thrills. And speaking of that, may be I need to do a new search for bare clubs on GR - they do have the category.

I concur - without pouring out too much vintaged emoution - in my experience, people in the Friends' zone (and vice versa) do not smoothly traverse to <mutually-desired> fucking or other full-on sex practicex. For the most part. Most vivid but opposite examples I can share: One (who I actually lived with and fallen for pretty hard) have put the breaks on the whole emotional thing upon my confession to him, but since recovered back to again a Friends' zone. I did get my heart broken, too many things clicked for me in this, along with the chemistry. Again, my-single-sided view. We regularly talk and meet when there is a chance - he's moved out and away away since. Another, who initially was a long time friend with no plans for benefits, somehow crossed his brain wires that I wanted to fuck him and decided to brag on it as if a won conquest to our mutual acquantances (granted more 'his' than 'mine'). So much so that I've heard about it from a 3rd party and put full stop on that nonsense myself pretty much on the spot. And refused to have had a word for years since. I have no further interests in that person.

No questions - commando. Even bars and other socials.

Hopefully that would be more than just 2 people

Gripfast is a very old-school brand and is totally bad ass. Note that the stamped size is in US scale, not UK. Full sizes only. That is the only brand that I know to be from England not in UK scale. Similar to Prada footwear - made in Italy but in UK sizes. By all means trying on in person will trump any online suggestion, that's if you're lucky enough to get your hands on them in person. You have better chances with Corcorans at a surplus store, but damn they are just such a bitch to break in. And not very grippy - it's a jump boot, it is supposed to prevent ankle twists when parashooting. Martens do have a UK-made line. Very rare availability and overseas shipping hassle is just not worth it for me. I've had one too many times when Royal Mail was not very royal in treatment. Or USPS. And I am not that hot to get more of them either - have had a few. With Martens I am not liking the changes in soles of late - quicker and more asymmetrical wearouts. Also, much earlier misshaping and stretching of the last - I guess hide tanning even for assembled-in-England still has to happen also in England. No such issues with Gripfasts, they're just sexy. And aside from many a name that are gone in the bootmaking business, most things sold now in fetish and online shops are sourced from Asia and such. Even Grinders are off - they gawddamn smell of solvents and who knows what pertroleum. Ugh. All brands with a G used to be quite good - GettaGrip, Gladiators, Grinders. Only Gripfasts IMO remain. No Walmart shit - that's just unsanitary for long wear. Even if you get to a scat party - proper boot would still keep you upright at all times. Wash it off, dry, buff to shine and you're off yet again. But ... if you're up to more of proper boots 'porn', there is a semi-historical site (I've come across them from very early days) - http://www.hotboots.com/ (http://www.hotboots.com/retail-s.html). Brands, stores, info, tons of stuff. Enjoy

Attending, visiting or passing through?

Totally. Original British (as in 'Made-in-England' British), if you can still find a pair - too many knock-offs. Gripfasts are my favorite, original army last. That's how the empire got built (don't ask how they fucked it up later). Thick hides, triple-stiching, thick curved non-skidding sole. 10-eye minimum. 14's are the best - perfect fit. You can walk whole day and not be tired at all. Metal toe cap for kicking ass. A lot of copycats on those - if it doesn't say England, it ain't it. Buck naked with those boots - they will keep up with you anywhere you venture. Corcoran jump boots, if you're into stiffer rigid type. A bitch to break in. Very good US quality and goes forever. Altamas and Danners are ok but they are tactical. Unless you have some uniform on, they are a bit off. Engineer's, CHP/Dehner and Wescos are not my thing. Docs are ok but have changed their ... everything, they are mostly fashion now. Plus they have more than 1 fit where even sizing is different - how's that for consistency? That's what happens when you don't own your brand. But I still have a few those, English and non-english. Have a few pairs for different reasons and purposes - in's, out's, dirties, different laces and styles. It saves time and aggrevation. And adds tons of fun. Have all of it.

There 2 sides to the coin. Not having a reliable bottom, granted if not 'all-the-time' available but like 'mostly available', is just as destabilizing to a top with strong sex drive looking for a sub to use. I'd say the best IMHO would have been if there was a relationship going - trust, cohabitation, time together and not - something steady - and the guy was willing to downgrade to a flexible part-time job to accomodate inflexibilities and responsibilities of mine - I'd take it. There is more to being alive than your earning potential. But rigidness of schedules is always the evil in one's way. Is telecommute possible/available to what you do? You'd have more service time.

Gee, I can't remember when I was asked last - nobody's that much curious lately - got to be def over a year now and then some. My regulars take it any which way, and one-offs just enjoy bb as an activity. One kid volunteered that he was (previously) neg some time after I creamed his ass (like days after) - he wanted to hook up again. It must be some skewed demographic in my account, but I did note a more dismissive attitude to status disclosure in recent time.

Nothing. Just drop the trou and bend over.

I've had a few bottoms suggesting it to me once the train got going. I guess it is a more common expectation than not.

Good luck with it, RT. Invest into a decent search feature, across profiles and posts.

Last coupla years - always commando. Just drop trou and go at it! An easy favorite.

I've got a few myself. What I figured along the way is that just a one harness (along with say denim and boots, etc) is basically never enough. If it gets your heart going, and those heads turning, you will want and get more pieces, trimmed and plain, and arm bands, and vest. Thicker or wider, and then another one. You see where it is all going, eh? But what you really want is quality. Things that will not rip or thread while you're out and about. Trust me - that's why it is out of leather - think of durability, it may be pulled or grabbed by full body weight. A good one will be able to handle it. And it is still riveted or sawed together. And most of things should fit snug or near-tight. I will strongly advise in-person fitting wherever you decide. Do not feel shy, you intend to wear it, and people selling it are not seeing you as a pervert. You do need the right fit, most reputable places can do minor alterations on the spot. AND while in store you can see it on yourself (mirrors) and decide if it is the right/ proportionate design before you separate yourself with your money. I do have pieces from Mr.S in SF. All of them are well-made. Solid leather quality. Along with other leather pieces that work together most of the time. You will want the same versatility from your gear. It is an investment, do it right. It will serve for many years. For stores - Mr.S (SF), Mr.B (Berlin and Amsterdam), Spexter (Munich), RoB (Amsterdam, London, Paris, Manchester). By all means it is far from a complete list of quality sources, just some that I know personally.

I hope you're right with this outlook. But a leap of faith is all in the eye and is just that - a leap of faith. On the same prevention note it can be argued that PReP is a treatment course potentially used for an intentional exposure, and anybody attempting homosexual relations is deliberate in such exposure. Thus not a subject to be covered, not a pre-existing condition; and any intentional action, or that can be labeled as intentional, by a subject of insurance business can be excluded from compensation by letter of a law argued by a lawer for either side. Insurance is a game of numbers, and if something is not listed explicitly, like same experimental /pre-approval stage treatments, and may be PReP will not fall into that category, and it will turn out to our barebacker benefit. All for it, just haven't seen it affirmatively in writing anywhere. That's how much of a fringe we are. What we are doing here is only speculating (since neither you nor me are medical professionals, have a law degree, or otherwise involved in legislative process writing these damn laws) on what so many nameless and directly involved specialists, analysts and quasi-professionals will be doing in any given situation SOMEHOW keeping our gay best interests close to their heart. Don't forget, I am in the same boat as you are, I've just been disappointed one too many times. There is a lot of vested interest, and we all want it to happen. But I am not about to pull up the green glasses and pick up on the yellow brick road. Good for him. It just says that some companies have enough business sense to keep their subscriber base and continue making money from them. I have not seen any competitiveness (to my current employer rate) in rates provided through few exchanges online though. Granted, no discounts/subsidies were applied, and don't think I'd qualify for those anyway, I just looked them up today. As far as cancellations - demographics is also a numbers game, just like insurance. Admitted by all sides in the debate, 5% of insured will loose coverage due to ACA 'non-compliance', whatever. 5% in this country is 15 mil. people. In a pool that big you can find some very good outcomes in policy changes, and absolutely worst outcomes with flat cancellations for a policy change, and everything in between. Just one sample out of ~15,000,000 potentials is not very statistically noticeable. It's not about strikes, RT, unless you want it to be. The nature of cost calc includes income level, residence county and state, and breadth of coverage level by a plan for starters. It begins from catastrophic coverage, when like only extreme situations are included. All these 4 variables that I remembered from before are not included in your argument, not that I am counting. NYS runs it's own exchange, quotations from it are not referenced in portals for federally run or subsidized exchanges. Feds do show New Jersey. Do you know how much is a sample for a 50-yo? I didn't either. It's $391.21 regardless of county. 27-yo - a bit better - $229.56. A child - $139.09/month. A couple w/o age listing - $559.88. New York is not that far away territorially and in terms of cost of living nor income. I doubt insurance costs are any significantly different, it's not cars nor real estate. But if you can afford them - more power to you. I can't. I won't call it affordable either, and one needs to compare apples to apples. I do admit I did not look up rates for NYS. Where does a 60-yo with a $50 for a policy fit here? I don't think we live where she does. And her husband is insured separately for some reason. I hope political affiliation did not play into it. PS: You need to look at the numbers in whatever is it you're getting for coverage. Instead you chose to get personal. I am sad to learn you have AIDS. May be it is not that far along, and you just want more bragging rights in public or a higher moral ground. But I can't call it an achievement. Keep it pithy.