The summer after my first year at college, I got a job at a state park located on the river. I was staying at a little guest house belonging to friends of my aunt and uncle. The rent was free and the place was very small; one of those "modern" style two room jobs made almost entirely out of glass and built in the late 1960s. I usually worked through the week and had weekends off and would sometime stroll along the docks near my place. This area included a number of medium sized and large houseboats and cruisers belonging to the wealthy. I usually roamed along the docks just looking for something to do or someone new to meet.
When I wasn't working or hanging out along the docks, I spent my time trying to get a tan. I say trying because I have a very fair complexion and blonde hair. I burn easily. My little place sat right on a bluff overlooking the river and I would lie out and attempt a sun tan and stare out at the boats cruising up and down the river. Often I tanned in little or nothing and sometimes got a response in the way of a distant shout of approval or a fog horn would blow its approval.
One afternoon, I was strolling along the docks when I heard a fairly deep voice call out to me asking why I wasn't out sunning. I looked up at a rugged forty-plus year old guy with a goatee and a broad, tanned and well-cut hairy chest smiling down from the deck of his houseboat. I answered and told him there were other things I liked to do. He smiled even more broadly, informing me that I made a nice sight on that bluff and looked even better closer up. I didn't quite know how to respond to this come on. I had not yet defined my sexuality and was quite unsure about where I was heading. But you know what they say, "just wing it." So I did. I looked my new friend in the eye and told him that actually I was just thinking about how nice it would be to lie on the deck of a boat and do a little tanning. Thinking that I was either baiting him or taking his bait, I was welcomed aboard.
My new friend extended his strong hand informed me that his name was Steve. I told him my name was Jay. After a few pleasantries, Steve informed me that he was planning to cruise out into the river and stay a while and that I was welcomed to go along and he would be happy to let me catch some rays from atop his boat. I took him up on it and as we made our way out into the river a couple of miles we talked and got to know one another. The ride went quick and as he slowed to a stop, Steve informed me where to find the tanning oil in the bathroom and showed me up to the top deck.