(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Looking for Love in America. Part 4: San Francisco. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-06-07 [Part 1, Part II] I bid goodbye to Scott in San Francisco. My boss in England confirmed that I could stay on, provided I made myself available on two week’s notice. My friend the lawyer, Marc L___, put me up for a few days and then I lucked out: a room became available at the Ansonia Residence Club, which is on the edge of the Tenderloin. I asked why the name: was it because people in the area had tender loins as a result of all the casual sex? No, it was from the meatpacking district! My room had a shower, was decent and clean, and even came with an evening meal. All for $10 a day! How things have changed. Marc told me there were five available girls for every straight guy in San Francisco. My task should not be too difficult, then? I ventured out in what I thought of as my American clothes, namely, the Western chic I bought in Fort Worth, Texas. I had little idea of the different neighborhoods. The Castro, what was that? North Beach wasn’t next to a beach. I began mooching different parts of the city at random. I was wandering down Market Street, dressed in antelope cowboy boots, Levis, a silver concho belt, panel-embroidered snap-button cowboy shirt, bolo tie and black leather California Gambler’s hat. Strangely, some guy began following me in an open-top Mercedes sportster. What the hell, now he was blowing kisses! I escaped and on Geary, ducked into a bar called Googies. At around 3PM it was deserted except for the barman, so I sat down and began drinking fake beer (Coors Light). More people arrived and by 5PM, it was pretty active. The barman leaned over and said to me, “I guess you’re a tourist, right?” “Yeah.” “Do you know what kind of bar this is?” Hmm… “Seems like a bar to me!” I laughed. “That’s not what I meant. Do you see any women in here?” I looked around. Everyone was now staring at me and the hum of conversation had died. “Er no… I don’t.” “So you had no idea you were in a Gay Bar?” I felt my cheeks blush and had no idea what to say. “Don’t worry, we won’t molest you!” Everyone began laughing. “We know you’re not one of us. But wearing that outfit, I did wonder. You look like the cowboy in The Village People!” He grabbed a photo from behind the bar. “This is me. Diana is my name.” In a blonde wig and tight dress. The ice having been broken, I had a fun time then, as dusk fell, returned to the Ansonia to change out of my Village People costume and into something more in tune. Diana had given me a badge, or button maybe in the US: “Googies On Geary”. I had no idea how useful an item this would prove to be. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2023/6/7/2173987/-Looking-for-Love-in-America-Part-4-San-Francisco Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/