Outside Greene, NY 3576

Several miles east of Greene was where my friends, John & Tom, lived in this old farmhouse. John was a librarian for the university and Tom had been a Catholic monk at a monastery in the area, but when I met them Tom had left the church. John had owned the house for many years, dating back to when he had been married and he and his wife had raised three kids there. When I had met them, the house was in relatively rough shape -- much like it had been as a farmhouse for many years. Bare wood floors; giant, wood-burning, cast iron stoves that served as both heaters and ovens; and old and worn furniture -- a very comfortable place for small gatherings of gay men to collect lightning bugs in the summer, or bring together a winter holiday dinner (I made the mince meat pies, from scratch..).

Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set